Rodić was born in Vrginmost, Habsburg Croatia, and raised as a devout Serbian Orthodox believer, but did not express a Serb nationality and instead devoted his life to service in the Austrian imperial army, like many others in their day.

The following year he was made a member of the Croatian ban Josip Jelačić's cabinet during the 1848 Revolutions.

When the army of Croatia-Slavonia crossed the Drava to retake Međimurje, Rodić was appointed assistant to the ban's adjutant general.

In the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, he was made an attached Feldmarschall-Lieutenant in the Army of the South (Südarmee) in Italy.

He commanded the V Corps in the Battle of Custoza, and after this victory he was officially promoted to the rank of Feldmarschall-Lieutenant and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresia.