He was born in 1745 in Melpeia of Messinia. He developed an early anti-Ottoman activity and in 1770 he participated in the Orlov Revolt. He was a friend of Theodoros Kolokotronis father, Konstantinos. Later, he participated in the preparation of the Greek War of Independence in Messenia and when that begun, he was at the side of Theodoros Kolokotronis, whom he followed in the military operations in Arcadia. Despite his advanced age, he participated in the Battle of Valtetsi in May 1821 as the head of the fighters of Androusa and Leontari. Positioned on the western bastion of the Greek camp together with Ioannis Mavromichalis, P. Kefalas and Dimitrios Papatsonis, he was distinguished for the repulse of the repeated attacks of the Ottoman cavalry. Later he participated in the siege and conquest of Tripolitsa. In 1822, he participated in the operations against the expeditionary force of Mahmud Dramali Pasha. For his contribution, he was named a chiliarch in 1823. During the Greek civil wars of 1824–25, he supported Kolokotronis's side and for that, he was arrested and jailed by the government forces of the Georgios Kountouriotis in the monastery of Prophet Elias on Hydra Island. Soon after his release in May 1825, he became a general and took part in the operations against Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt.