[1] Markos Antonios Katsaitis was a Greek[1][2][3][4][5] who was born on the Ionian island of Corfu in 1717 to a noble family.

[1] In his early adolescence he moved to Constantinople where he lived for several years.

He became associated with the Phanariotes, a Greek elite based in the Fanar district of Constantinople.

He traveled to Wallachia with the entourage of the Wallachian rulers son Constantin Cantemir.

When he finally reached Wallachia he met Mavrokordatos who accepted Katsaitis, the young nobleman into his Court.