The_birth_of_nationalism_and_of_Macedonian_identities Macedonia_(region)

ethnic composition map of balkans french ethnographer guillaume lejean (1861)

over centuries macedonia had become multicultural region. historical references mention greeks, bulgarians, turks, albanians, gypsies, jews , vlachs. claimed macédoine, fruit or vegetable salad, named after area s mixed population, witnessed @ end of 19th century. middle ages 20th century slav-speaking population in macedonia identified bulgarian or greek , serbian.

ethnic map of balkan peninsula 1877, french cartographer a. synvet. considered pro-greek later historians.

during period of bulgarian national revival many bulgarians these regions supported struggle creation of bulgarian cultural educational , religious institutions, including bulgarian exarchate. eventually, in 20th century, bulgarians came understood synonymous macedonian slavs and, eventually, ethnic macedonians . krste misirkov, philologist , publicist, known work on macedonian matters (1903), heralded macedonians 1 of founders of macedonian nation , stated:

some ask why speak of breaking away bulgarians when in past have called ourselves bulgarians , when accepted unification creates strength, , not separation. and, anyway, sort of new macedonian nation can when , our fathers , grandfathers , great-grandfathers have been called bulgarians?

after revival of greek, serbian, , bulgarian statehood in 19th century, ottoman lands in europe became identified macedonia , contested 3 governments, leading creation in 1890s , 1900s of rival armed groups divided efforts between fighting turks , 1 another. important of these bulgarian macedonian-adrianople revolutionary committee (bmarc, smaro 1902) (an alternative version says consisted of macedonian revolutionary organization (mro, tmoro 1902), under gotse delchev in 1903 rebelled in so-called ilinden-preobrazhenie uprising, fighting autonomous or independent macedonian state (before 1902 bulgarians join, afterward, invited macedonian or odrinian, irrespective of nationality, join ), , greek efforts 1904 until 1908 (greek struggle macedonia). diplomatic intervention european powers led plans autonomous macedonia under ottoman rule.

evolution of territory of greece. macedonia shown greek province.

the restricted borders of modern greek state @ inception in 1830 disappointed inhabitants of northern greece (epirus , macedonia). addressing these concerns in 1844, greek prime minister kolettis addressed constitutional assembly in athens kingdom of greece not greece; part, smallest , poorest, of greece. greek not inhabits kingdom, lives in ioannina, or thessaloniki, or serres, or odrin . mentions cities , islands under ottoman possession composing great idea (greek: Μεγάλη Ιδέα, megáli idéa) meant reconstruction of classical greek world or revival of byzantine empire. important idea here greece, macedonia region large greek populations expecting annexation new greek state. @ time, region today known republic of macedonia part of kosovo vilayet.

map of region contested serbia , bulgaria , subject arbitration of russian tsar

the 1878 congress of berlin changed balkan map again. treaty restored macedonia , thrace ottoman empire. serbia, romania , montenegro granted full independence, , territorial expansion @ expense of ottoman empire. russia maintain military advisors in bulgaria , eastern rumelia until may 1879. austria-hungary permitted occupy bosnia, herzegovina , sanjak of novi pazar. congress of berlin forced bulgaria, newly given autonomy 1878 treaty of san stefano, return on half of newly gained territory ottoman empire. included macedonia, large part of given bulgaria, due russian pressure , presence of significant numbers of bulgarians , adherents bulgarian exarchate. territorial losses dissatisfied bulgaria; fuelled ambitions of many bulgarian politicians following seventy years, wanted review treaty – peaceful or military means , reunite lands claimed had bulgarian majority. besides, serbia interested in macedonian lands, until greece bulgaria s main contender, after addition of thessaly greece in (1881) bordering macedonia. thus, berlin congress renewed struggle turkey in europe, including so-called macedonia region, rather setting permanent regime. in following years, of neighboring states struggled on turkey in europe; kept @ bay own restraints, ottoman army , territorial ambitions of great powers in region.

serbian policy had distinct anti-bulgarian flavor, attempting prevent bulgarian influencing inhabitants of macedonia. on other hand, bulgaria using power of religious institutions (bulgarian exarchate established in 1870) promote language , make more people identify bulgaria. greece, in addition, in advantageous position protecting interests through influence of patriarchate of constantinople traditionally sponsored greek-language , greek-culture schools in villages few greeks. put patriarchate in dispute exarchate, established schools bulgarian education. indeed, belonging 1 or institution define person s national identity. simply, if person supported patriarchate regarded greek, whereas if supported exarchate regarded bulgarian. locally, however, villagers not able express freely association 1 or other institution there numerous armed groups trying defend and/or expand territory of each. locally recruited , self-organized while others sent , armed protecting states.

the aim of adversaries, however, not extend influence on macedonia merely prevent macedonia succumbing influence of other. violent attempt persuade people belonged 1 ethnic group or pushed people reject both. severe pressure on peaceful peasants of macedonia worked against plans of serbians , bulgarians make them adopt ethnic idea , social divide became apparent. british ambassador in belgrade in 1927 said: @ present unfortunate macedonian peasant between hammer , anvil. 1 day comitadjis come house , demand under threat lodging, food , money , next day gendarm hales him off prison having given them; macedonian peaceable, industrious agriculturist , if (serbian) government give him adequate protection, education, freedom malaria , decent communications, there seems no reason why should not become serbian in sentiment bulgarian 10 years ago . result of game of tug-of-war, development of distinct macedonian national identity impeded , delayed. moreover, when imperialistic plans of surrounding states made possible division of macedonia, macedonian intellectuals such misirkov mentioned necessity of creating macedonian national identity distinguish macedonian slavs bulgarians, serbians or greeks.

ethnic composition of balkans according atlas général vidal-lablanche, paris 1890–1894. henry robert wilkinson stated ethnic map, ethnic maps of time, contained pro-bulgarian ethnographic view of macedonia.



the nationalities of southeastern europe in late 19th century represented in pallas nagy lexikona, 1893–1900:

baptizing macedonian slavs serbian or bulgarian aimed therefore justify these countries territorial claims on macedonia. greek side, assistance of patriarchate responsible schools, more maintain control, because spreading greek identity. same reason bulgarians, when preparing exarchate s government (1871) included macedonians in assembly brothers prevent ethnic diversification. on other hand, serbs, unable establish serbian-speaking schools, used propaganda. main concern prevent slavic-speaking macedonians acquiring bulgarian identity through concentrating on myth of ancient origins of macedonians , simultaneously classification of bulgarians tatars , not slavs, emphasizing macedonian characteristics intermediate stage between serbs , bulgarians. sum serbian propaganda attempted inspire macedonians separate ethnic identity diminish bulgarian influence. choice macedonian ethnicity . bulgarians never accepted ethnic diversity slav macedonians, giving geographic meaning term. in 1893 established internal macedonian revolutionary organization (vmro) aiming confront serbian , greek action in macedonia. vmro hoped answer macedonian question through revolutionary movement, , instigated ilinden uprising (1903) release ottoman territory. bulgaria used internationalize macedonian question. ilinden changed greece s stance decided take para-military action. in order protect greek macedonians , greek interests, greece sent officers train guerrillas , organize militias (macedonian struggle), known makedonomahi (macedonian fighters), fight bulgarians. after obvious macedonian question answered war.

boundaries on balkans after first , second balkan war (1912–1913)

the rise of albanian , turkish nationalism after 1908, however, prompted greece, serbia , bulgaria bury differences regard macedonia , form joint coalition against ottoman empire in 1912. disregarding public opinion in bulgaria, in support of establishment of autonomous macedonian province under christian governor, bulgarian government entered pre-war treaty serbia divided region 2 parts. part of macedonia west , north of line of partition contested both serbia , bulgaria , subject arbitration of russian tsar after war. serbia formally renounced claims part of macedonia south , east of line, declared within bulgarian sphere of interest. pre-treaty between greece , bulgaria, however, did not include agreement on division of conquered territories – evidently both countries hoped occupy territory possible having sights set on thessaloniki.

in first balkan war, bulgaria, serbia, greece , montenegro occupied ottoman-held territories in europe. bulgaria bore brunt of war fighting on thracian front against main ottoman forces. both war expenditures , casualties in first balkan war higher of serbia, greece , montenegro combined. macedonia occupied greek, serbian , bulgarian forces. ottoman empire in treaty of london in may 1913 assigned whole of macedonia balkan league, without, specifying division of region, promote problems between allies. dissatisfied creation of autonomous albanian state, denied access adriatic, serbia asked suspension of pre-war division treaty , demanded bulgaria greater territorial concessions in macedonia. later in may same year, greece , serbia signed secret treaty in thessaloniki stipulating division of macedonia according existing lines of control. both serbia , greece, bulgaria, started prepare final war of partition.

macedonia s division in 1913

in june 1913, bulgarian tsar ferdinand, without consulting government, , without declaration of war, ordered bulgarian troops attack greek , serbian troops in macedonia, initiating second balkan war. bulgarian army in full retreat in fronts. serbian army chose stop operations when achieved territorial goals , bulgarian army took breath. during last 2 days bulgarians managed achieve defensive victory against advancing greek army in kresna gorge. @ same time romanian army crossed undefended northern border , advanced towards sofia. romania interfered in war, in order satisfy territorial claims against bulgaria. ottoman empire interfered, reassuming control of eastern thrace edirne. second balkan war, known inter-ally war, left bulgaria struma valley , small part of thrace minor ports @ aegean sea. vardar macedonia incorporated serbia , thereafter referred south serbia. southern (aegean) macedonia incorporated greece , thereafter referred northern greece. region suffered heavily during second balkan war. during advance @ end of june, greek army set fire bulgarian quarter of town of kilkis , on 160 villages around kilkis , serres driving 50,000 refugees bulgaria proper. bulgarian army retaliated burning greek quarter of serres , arming muslims region of drama led massacre of greek civilians.

in september 1915, greek government authorized landing of troops in thessaloniki. in 1916 pro-german king of greece agreed germans allow military forces of central powers enter greek macedonia attack bulgarian forces in thessaloniki. result, bulgarian troops occupied eastern part of greek macedonia, including port of kavala. region was, however, restored greece following victory of allies in 1918. after destruction of greek army in asia minor in 1922 greece , turkey exchanged of macedonia s turkish minority , greek inhabitants of thrace , anatolia, result of aegean macedonia experienced large addition population , became overwhelmingly greek in ethnic composition. serbian-ruled macedonia incorporated kingdom of serbs, croats , slovenes (later kingdom of yugoslavia) in 1918. yugoslav macedonia subsequently subjected intense process of serbianization during 1920s , 1930s.

during world war ii boundaries of region shifted yet again. when german forces occupied area, of yugoslav macedonia , part of aegean macedonia transferred administration bulgaria. during bulgarian administration of eastern greek macedonia, 100,000 bulgarian refugees region resettled there , perhaps many greeks deported or fled other parts of greece. western aegean macedonia occupied italy, western parts of yugoslav macedonia being annexed italian-occupied albania. remainder of greek macedonia (including of coast) occupied nazi germany. 1 of worst episodes of holocaust happened here when 60,000 jews thessaloniki deported extermination camps in occupied poland. few thousand survived.

macedonia liberated in 1944, when red army s advance in balkan peninsula forced german forces retreat. pre-war borders restored under u.s. , british pressure because bulgarian government insisting keep military units on greek soil. bulgarian macedonia returned rapidly normality, bulgarian patriots in yugoslav macedonia underwent process of ethnic cleansing belgrade authorities, , greek macedonia ravaged greek civil war, broke out in december 1944 , did not end until october 1949.

after civil war, large number of former elas fighters took refuge in communist bulgaria , yugoslavia , described ethnic macedonians prohibited reestablishing former estates greek authorities. of them accused in greece crimes committed during period of german occupation.