He was born in Milan on 20 August 1874, the son of Alberto Gabba and Giulia Sozzani, both belonging to the Milanese nobility.

After promotion to colonel, he was head of a military mission in Transcaucasia, and then held the position of director of the Royal political agency of the Kingdom of Italy in the republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia from 28 February 1920 to 16 March 1922.

[2][3][4] Promoted to brigadier general in May 1926, in 1927 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the designated army command of Florence.

[3][4] From March 1935 he took part in the war in Ethiopia as Chief of Staff of the East Africa High Command, headed by General Emilio De Bono.

[1][3][4] In May 1940 he was promoted to army general, and two months later he retired from active service due to reaching age limits.