Born in Bergerac in Dordogne, he was admitted into the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1878, studying for the infantry. He campaigned in Algeria and Tunisia from 1880 to 1885, then returned to Saint-Cyr, teaching until 1899. He served as colonel in the 46th Infantry Regiment from 1910 to 1914, but was wounded on at Vassincourt during the First Battle of the Marne, which required the amputation of his right leg.