[6] During the time of the Septinsular Republic (1800–1807), Romas conspired with military leaders from the mainland, who had fled to the Ionian Islands and served in the Russian-sponsored Greek Legion, for an uprising against Ottoman rule.

Romas gained the backing of the Kolokotronis family and of the Moreot Turkish notable Ali Farmaki, but the Russian ambassador, Giorgio Mocenigo, refused to support the idea.

Romas gained access to senior members of the French government, including Napoleon himself, and was awarded the Legion of Honour.

[9] Under the subsequent British rule, Romas served as a member of the Ionian Senate in Corfu, before being dismissed in 1817 due to his liberal and nationalist views.

Politically, Romas was hoping to get the British onside for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire (on the eve of the Greek War of Independence).

[14] Romas was engaged in support of the war from Venice,[13] advocating for the Greek cause to the Great Powers and Pope Pius VII.

[15] Romas became more active from 1824 on, when he returned to Zakynthos, and founded, along with fellow Etaireia members and freemasons Panagiotis Marinos Stefanou and Konstatinos Dragonas, the so-called 'Zakynthos Committee'.

Using Zakynthos as their base, the Committee organized the shipment of volunteers, correspondence, supplies, equipment and ammunition to the Greek rebels.