 Nothing is known of his early education.As a 14-year-old he escaped from home to join the legitimists during the Third Carlist War; twice rejected due to his age, he was eventually admitted to Real Cuerpo de Ingenieros; the structure was commanded by his own father.Already as an adolescent nominated alférez following the battle of Ripoll, he took part in various skirmishes in Catalonia until transferred to the Northern Front; he entered personal guard of the claimant and after the 1875 battle of Lumbier he was awarded Cruz del Mérito Militar.