His figure is based on the historical person who initially was a hajduk,[2] then - serdar (kapidan is corruption of captain) in service of Dželadin-bey (Albanian: Xheladin bej Ohri), a governor of Ohrid kaza at the beginning of 19th century.
[7] He is commemorated in numerous epic songs, including O Armatolos, an award-winning poem written by the 19th-century Bulgarian poet Grigor Parlichev.
Its governor was Dželadin-bey who had to maintain balance between Ottoman porte on one side and Ali Pasha, the leader of the bands of brigands in the neighbouring Pashalik of Yanina, on another.
Dželadin-bey belonged to influential group of Ottoman officials at western Balkans who resisted reforms to protect their possessions they forcible confiscated from other people.
[10] When Kuzman died his son Đore inherited his position and continued to protect their kaza with his forces consisting of both Albanians and Macedonian Slavs.