In 1423 he served in the French army against England, wielding the sword of Bertrand du Guesclin, a symbol of Breton support for France. He had inherited the sword from his maternal grandmother, Jeanne de Laval, who was the widow of the famous constable. In 1428 André was taken prisoner by John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, after the capitulation of Laval, which he was defending. After paying his ransom he was present with Joan of Arc at the siege of Orléans, at the Battle of Patay, and at the coronation of Charles VII. He was made admiral of France in 1437 and marshal in 1439.