He inherited titles in the Jacobite and Spanish nobility on the death of his father in battle in 1734 at Philippsburg, (near Karlsruhe, presently located in the German "Bundesland" of Baden-Württemberg), during the War of the Polish Succession.
In 1688, the whole family was greatly excited by the first campaign of the young marquis de Grignan, Mme de Grignan's only son, who was sent splendidly equipped to the siege of Philippsburg.
Formerly, there was a fortress located at the town, whose location was mentioned by Carl von Clausewitz.
The first European use of ricochet fire (tir à ricochet) has been accredited to the Marquis de Vauban during the siege of Philippsburg in 1688.
At the beginning of the War of the Grand Alliance, he volunteered in the army and was wounded in the siege of Philippsburg in 1688.