Born in Barcelona, as an infantry officer, he fought in Cuba during the Spanish–American War and received the Cruz del Mérito Militar.

He participated in the War in the North resulting in the conquest of Biscay, Cantabria, and Asturias.

He was named minister of National Defense in the first government of Francisco Franco (February 1938), at the same time he was promoted to lieutenant general.

He organized the Aragon Offensive[1] campaign to isolate Catalonia and participated in the campaign of the Maestrazgo, the Battle of the Ebro and the Catalonia Offensive resulting in the final conquest of that region.

[2] In August 1939 he received the post of captain-general of the II Military district and the headquarters of the general staff.