In his youth at November 1637, he tried to abduct his love Sára Tarnóczy de Királyfalva, with the help of his brothers, János and Pál and their servants, however they were caught in the act.
As a result the Mikes brothers were sentenced to death and confiscation of property in 1638, but they fled to Moldavia, where served voivode Vasile Lupu.
[citation needed] Mikes functioned as commander of the Transylvanian artillery in 1644, then served as envoy to Warsaw besides Ferenc Bethlen in 1647 to ask the Polish throne for George I Rákóczi.
The Ottoman Empire did not tolerate its vassal the Principality of Transylvania's autonomous foreign policy, therefore started a punitive campaign against Rákóczi.
Ákos Barcsay marched into Gyulafehérvár (today: Alba Iulia, Romania) and expelled, among others, Mikes from Transylvania on 24 May 1659.