The life of Katsantonis is a typical example of how klephts came to dominate the mountains of Epirus. An injustice (real or imagined), an infraction of the law, or family tradition often sent a young man to the mountains. Once there, klephts fought for survival and amnesty. In both cases they had to establish a reputation for violence and terror by robbing the wealthy and the poor alike. They made themselves feared and at the same time discredited their enemies by demonstrating their incapacity to arrest them. The peasants were loath to cooperate with the authorities to hunt them, but at the same time were often exposed to their depredations.