when he was still young he worked as an armatole in corinth under the command of halil bey for four years. he developed close connections with some of the most influential families of the peloponnese and soon accumulated significant power himself, to the point of influencing the choice of the ottoman governors (vali) of the peloponnese. during his four years of service under halil bey, he developed the plan of driving the turks out of the peloponnese. he became close friends with the renowned klepht panagiotaros. in 1762 he quit his job as an armtole, climbed the mountain taygetus and with panagiotaros's help he built a fort at kastanitsa of mani and two small houses close to it. from there he began launching raids against the turks.