The revolt received the support of various western powers and was instigated through local leaders, scholars and clergy as well as Greek military figures in their service.

[5] Metropolitan bishop Athanasius I of Ohrid, an ethnic Greek who originated from Mani,[6] was an influential personality in the area of his religious jurisdiction and took initiatives to stir up in revolt Epirotes and Albanians.

[9] Due to the Ottoman-Venetian peace treaty sign at 1573 various uprisings in the Balkans and especially in Epirus received encouragement by Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.

As such Athanasius' attempt received the support of the local nobility, scholars, clerics as well as from Greek military figures under the command of western powers.

[11][better source needed] Athanasius sent a letter to the provveditore and captain of Corfu, Angelo Basadonna, in January 1596, about wanting to meet up and discuss "very important things".

[11][better source needed] Athanasius sent his minister to Naples to ask for weapons and 2,000 soldiers from Spain, and to establish the whole plan of the uprising.

[7] The Neapolitan vice-king, the Count of Olivares, sent one of his captains, the Albanian stratiot Miguel Bua, to oversee the coastal fortresses of Bari and Otranto,[14] as well as the events that were occurring in Himara, and to get to know the real intents of the people.

[11][better source needed] Bua brought ammunition and equipment for the insurgent inhabitants of Himara, and served as the captain and colonel of 2,000 Albanians.

[18][dubious – discuss] The revolt was active in July and August,[19] with initial success, the rebels managing to control the coastal towns.

A number of Greek and Albanian captains in the service of the Spanish in Naples also participated in this operation, such as Miguel Bua, Giovanni Golemi, Esteban Bublia, Nicodemos Konstantinos, etc.