At age seven, he was given as a foster son to a wealthy man from Levadeia, but the menial labour and beatings he endured were, in his own words, "his death". Thus, in 1811 he left for Arta to stay with an acquaintance who maintained close relations with Ali Pasha. There, still a teenager, he was involved in trade and, according to his memoirs, became a wealthy man.
At the age of seven, he was adopted by a wealthy individual from Levadeia. The menial work and beatings he endured were described as "his death". In 1811, he relocated to Arta to live with an acquaintance who had close ties to Ali Pasha. As a teenager, he engaged in trade and, according to his memoirs, became a wealthy man.