[1][2] When the 1878 Greek Macedonian rebellion began, she asked to join his forces, which he initially declined.

[2] One day, the Ottomans visited her to take her for interrogation, but she managed to escape dressed as a man, and went to find her brother in order to join his forces.

[1][2] Peristera (18 years old at the time)[1] was then proclaimed unanimously as the new commander of the rebel group, which consisted of over 40 men, and became known as "Kapetan Spanovangelis".

[2] Her actions became known outside Greece, and the French newspaper Le Papillon called her, the Joan of Arc of the 19th century.

[1][3] This amnesty was violated by the Turks, and Peristera was forced to leave Macedonia (which was still under Ottoman rule) and take refuge in Thessaly.