He was born in Athens in 1866. He was the great-grandson of the Greek War of Independence commander Hatzimichalis Dalianis. After studies at the Hellenic Army Academy, he was commissioned as an Engineers 2nd Lieutenant in 1889. He fought in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 on the Epirus front, served as a captain in the General Staff during the First Balkan War of 1912–13, and, promoted to Major, fought with the 1st Infantry Division during the Second Balkan War soon after.