During the War of the Austrian Succession, he fought successfully the French (under the command of "Maréchal" de Belle-Isle) and Bavarians between Prague and Munich; through the actions of his troops he managed to close and besiege de Belle-Isle men in Prague. Later, he was appointed as the Governor of the Duchy of Milan (1743–45). Subsequently, he became the commander-in-chief of the Habsburg forces in Italy, where he lost the Battle of Velletri (1744) against the army of King Charles III of Spain.