 Born in Segorbe, he studied Physical and Natural Sciences at the University of Valencia but abandoned these studies to join the Army.He first graduated from the Academy of Cavalry (1875) and then from the Academy of Military Engineers at Guadalajara (1882).He traveled to Morocco in 1877 and published a book called "Geografía militar de Marruecos" in 1884, and the Army commissioned him in 1884 to explore this area once more.