He enlisted as a volunteer soldier, in the infantry in 1806, in the "Legion du Midi". He graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1806, and left the following year as second lieutenant of infantry, participating in the campaigns of 1807 and 1809. He was wounded at Battle of Wagram, earning the Legion of Honour. From 1810 to 1811, he was in Spain as a lieutenant in the Young Guard. On 24 June 1811 he joined the Grenadiers of the Old Guard. Although injured, he left for the Russian campaign using crutches. Promoted to Captain of Infantry, he fought at Lützen and Bautzen in May 1813 and was wounded with the bayonet, three times at the Battle of Montmirail. On 15 March 1814, Napoleon appointed him commander of the 24th Infantry Battalion of the line. During the Hundred Days, he was appointed Adjutant to General Gérard.