Carlos Coloma was born in a noble family with strong connections to the military. He was the fourth son out of 14 children from the third marriage of Juan Coloma y Cardona, 3rd Sieur and 1 Count of Elda. His father was also a soldier and an writer. He joined the army as an ensign in 1581 and campaigned in Portugal, Sicily, the Netherlands and Germany, eventually making his way up to the rank of maestro de campo general. He played an important part in the Siege of Doullens (1595).