Nikoulitzas Delphinas wanted to tell Konstantinos X of a coming revolt in Hellas but was stopped by Georgios Korinthios. He thought this was because the meeting was public, and demanded a private interview. Angry at a month without response and scared by rumours of an attack by Robert Guiscard and a comet, he left the capital. At Larissa he learnt more about the revolt, wrote to the emperor without reply and dared not arrest the rebels without his orders. He went along with the rebels Ioannes Gremianetes and Gregorios Bambakas, hoping to change their minds. He feared that if he punished them they might torture him, burn his house and murder his family. At the house of Beriboes he persuaded the Vlachs that rebellion would endanger their harvest, livestock and womenfolk. But the people of Larissa made the conspirators change their minds again. He refused many requests to head the revolt but was finally forced to accept. He camped at Pharsala with a large army of Vlachs and Bulgarians, sending men to capture Kitros. He reminded the emperor by letter of his warnings over the plot, revealed he was now its leader and advised him to cut taxes to stop it. He captured Servia, refusing to be called basileus. He received an icon and a terrible oath from the emperor, who exonerated the rebels and revoked tax rises. Nikoulitzas read out the emperor's oath to the army and advised peace. When they refused he arrested their leaders Sthlabotas Karmalakes and Theodoros Skribon Petastos and took them to Andronikos Philokales, katepano of Bulgaria at Peteriskos, forgiving the rest