Background
He was the grandson of Nikulitsa, the governor of Servia and archon of the Vlachs of Hellas.
Byzantine magnate governor of Servia
He was the grandson of Nikulitsa, the governor of Servia and archon of the Vlachs of Hellas.
He took part in a revolt initiated by the Vlachs of Thessaly in 1066. The younger Nikoulitzas bore the rank of protospatharios, but is not known to have had any official position. Nikoulitzas had his own fortress with a garrison of men, and was one of the most powerful lords of Thessaly.
The Vlachs and Slavs of the region started planning a revolt in 1065, prompted by the taxation increases and corruption in the same area.
When Nikoulitzas heard this from his spies he went to Constantinople to warn the Emperor Constantine X Doukas, but the Emperor dismissed him and no measures were taken. Upon returning to Larissa Nikoulitzas saw the growing movement and tried to talk the rebels out of lieutenant
They insisted on Nikoulitzas becoming their leader, as he had a fort and a private army. The rebels however forced Nikoulitzas to take a leadership position and the revolt began.
The revolt ended by negotiation, but the Emperor captured Nikoulitzas and imprisoned him in Amaseia, on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor.
