He originated from village of Ribnik, near Karlovac and was a serf on estates of Stjepan Frankopan of Ozalj.

He also earnt his salary as a soldier on Croatian Military Frontier, under command of captains Lenković and Semenić.

Three years later, as a semi-professional soldier, he raided Ottoman territories by order of Tahy's wife Jelena Zrinski.

He somehow managed to get a hold on some axe, and break his shackles, which allowed him to escape again, after which he returned to Croatia in 1572.

[1] Due to his previous military experience, rebel peasants elected him as the captain of their army.