 Vladimirescu made his first Oltenian stop at Ocnele Mari, then moved in on the Gorj capital, Târgu Jiu, where he stayed at the house of a tax farmer, Vasile Moangă (or Mongescu).His first action as a rebel was to arrest or take hostage the local "Ispavnic", Dinicu Otetelișanu, on January 21.On January 22, he and his Arnaut guard captured Tismana Monastery, turning it into a rallying point and prison.