He was born in Lapithos in then British-ruled Cyprus, to Christophis Tsangaridis, in 1887. In 1904 he went to Athens for studies in chemistry, but quickly abandoned them and volunteered for the armed bands of the Macedonian Struggle (1904–08). On his return he enlisted in the Hellenic Army, and, after studies at the NCO School, was commissioned as a cavalry officer.