The revolt was initiated by Delibaş Mehmet Agha, who was tasked by Haydar Bey, the Governor of Konya, to recruit for the nationalist Kuva-yi Milliye after he was put in the rank of a major by girding a sword. Delibaş Mehmet Agha, a native of Alibeyhüyüğü town in Çumra, Konya, was a respected daredevil in the region. He recruited around 500 local citizens, and entered Çumra with his troops on October 2, 1920 with the intention to fight against Mustafa Kemal's nationalist movement in the Turkish War of Independence.