ENGLISH

A Macedonian History of Macedonia

By Victor Bivell

Thank you to Dushan Ristevski and the Macedonian Literary Association Grigor Prlichev for inviting me to launch this much-needed book, Short History of Macedonia, by well-known Macedonian Canadian author, Risto Stefov.
The book is 300 pages long but it seemed shorter than that as I enjoyed reading it. It’s a very good narrative; it tells an interesting story; it held my attention; it was easy to read; and it’s quite fast paced, almost racy in places. Overall it was very enjoyable.
The book is a good introduction to Macedonian history. The story is very accessible, and no prior knowledge is needed to understand it and enjoy it. So it would make a good introduction for young English speaking Macedonians, and for general English readers with little prior knowledge about Macedonia.
But the book also has a lot to offer more knowledgeable readers. Because the book is a "short history", many people, Macedonians in particular, may feel they know enough about Macedonia’s history to skip this "short" version, but that would be a mistake.
For my own part, even when the book is talking about parts of history that I’ve already read quite a lot about, such as Alexander the Great or the Greek Civil War, I didn’t feel any sense of repetition. Rather, I still wanted to keep reading because the story is told in an interesting way and with many facts and historical snippets that I didn’t know.
The book is useful for both knowledgeable and unknowledgeable readers because it does something that most books don’t do - it gives a 2,800 year overview of the major events in Macedonia’s history. Particularly its political history. It starts at around 800 BC and ends in 2007. In this massive time line, the author does a good job of picking the key events in Macedonia’s political history and telling them in a logical, informative and interesting way.
A little over a third of the book is about the early Macedonians from Kings Philip and Alexander to the end of the Macedonian Empires. A little under a third is about the Roman occupation through to the end of the Ottoman occupation. And a little over a third is about the struggle for freedom in the modern period including the Greek, Bulgarian and Serbian occupations and the development of the Republic of Macedonia.
Although the book is a short history, the section on Philip and Alexander is crammed with action and facts and is quite detailed in places, enough to give me the impression the author is particularly keen on this part of Macedonian history and has spent a lot of time researching it. Even through I’ve read about Philip and Alexander before, I still found out many things I didn’t know and found this section very interesting.
If I can quote one example of both the strong narrative and the plethora of facts:
"The news of Philip’s murder attracted the attention of the whole world; especially the City States who rejoiced in knowing that he was gone. Alexander was quick to let them know that he expected from them the same loyalty that they had for his father. He reminded the City States that the Treaty of the League of Corinth was perpetual and gave him a legal claim to be Hegemon, the same as his father. But Alexander’s words did not please the City States in the least, for in Athens they were dancing n the streets with joy. Demosthenes, intoxicated with the prospect of liberty, appeared in council dressed in white with a wreath on his head making offerings to the gods for the joyful news. The call to freedom from Athens spread like wildfire to the rest of the City States. The Aetolians recalled all those exiled by Philip, the Ambraciots expelled the Macedonian garrison, the Thebans took up arms to liberate Cadmeia and there were signs of rebellions in Peloponnesus, Argos, Elis and Arcadia."
As you can see - a fast, information-packed, action-packed and colorful narrative.
I particularly liked the section after the death of Alexander and the breakup of his empire, as it is a part of Macedonian history that for a long time I have wanted to read more about but I haven’t yet had the chance. This section gave me a good overview of the main political characters and events, and the intense political intrigues and maneuverings of the era. With a better understanding of the times, I now feel I can come back to this period with more confidence and fill in the details.
In the middle section, the book gives an essential outline of the main historical events: the conquest and occupation by Rome, the coming of Christianity, Byzantine Macedonia, Sts Kiril and Metodi, Sts Kliment and Naum, Tsar Samoil, the Ottoman occupation, Marko Krale, the Karposh Uprising, the breakup of the Ottoman Empire and the political instability of the 19th century.
Although this section covers a long time span and covers most topics briefly, it is full of interesting facts and colorful snippets about the characters and events.
For example: "It was during the reign of Byzantine emperor Michael III (842- 867) that Solun had definitely established itself as the religious and philosophical centre of the empire. This was the time when Kiril (Cyril) and Metodi (Methodius) set off on a series of missions to spread the doctrines of Christianity to various places in Eastern Europe and Asia."
"I just want to mention here that, by the eighth century AD, the Macedonian eparchy was controlled by a Macedonian Archbishopric with its centre located in Solun and bishoprics existed in eighteen towns including Lerin, Kostur, Voden and Serres."
Another example centuries later about the failed Karposh Uprising under the Ottomans:
"Karposh was brought before Selim Giray who at the time was standing on the Stone Bridge over the River Vardar. Selim used him for target practice and impaled him with his Tartar lances. He then had his body hurled into the Vardar River. Karposh died early in December of 1689 and with him the Karposh uprising.
For the rebels who survived the battles there was no salvation from the Ottoman backlash except to leave Macedonia. Many fled north beyond the Sava and Danube Rivers. Some even went as far north as Russia and joined the Russian military. There they formed the "Macedonian regiment" which became part of the regular Russian army. The failed Karposh uprising depleted the local population of northwestern Macedonia, opening the way for large scale Albanian immigration."
"Just as the Karposh revolt was winding down in Macedonia, on April 6, 1690, Leopold I issued a manifesto inviting "all peoples of Albania, Serbia, Mysia, Bulgaria, Silistria, Illyria, Macedonia and Rashka to join the Austrians in taking up arms against the Ottomans". Then on April 26, 1690 he issued a letter making Macedonia and her people his protectorate. It has been said that Leopold acted on the advice of Macedonians Marko Krajda of Kozhani and Dimitri Georgija Popovich of Solun. Among other things the letter stated that "we graciously accept the Macedonian people, in its entirety in every respect, under our imperial and regal protection". Another letter was issued on May 31, 1690 extending Austria’s protection to Bulgaria, Serbia and Albania. Unfortunately, all these good gestures were too little too late for Macedonia which by 1690 was back under tight Ottoman control."
There are plenty other of these sort of easy-to-read and informative snapshots of history. Many, like the last two, also re-affirm the historical existence of the Macedonian people.
When we get to the start of the Ilinden Uprising and the Macedonian struggle for freedom, the book and the narrative contain so much information that again I get the feeling that, like many Macedonians, myself included, this is a period of Macedonian history in which the author is particularly interested. This also comes out in his biographical treatment of some of the key Macedonian revolutionaries - Damian Gruev, Gotse Delchev, Krste Misirkov, Nikola Karev, Yane Sandanski and Dimo Hadzhi-Dimov.
This detailed interest continues with the discussion of the division of Macedonia in the First and Second Balkan Wars, the impact of the First and Second World Wars, the founding of the Republic of Macedonia, and the Greek Civil War. There is also a very good account of Macedonian leader and freedom fighter Mirka Ginova, and the evacuation of the child refugees from Greece.
The book ends with the independence of the Republic of Macedonia from Yugoslavia and the continuing struggle for recognition and human rights in Greece and Bulgaria and to a lesser extent Albania.
Overall, as a short history of a land with a very long history, the author has picked the right points of history to discuss. All the main events, characters and themes are here.
Another good feature of the narrative is that the author sticks to information and facts. The little commentary that accompanies it is usually short, relevant and credible.
This contrasts with histories of Macedonia written by some non- Macedonians, such as the Greeks and many Oxford-Cambridge University academics. The book is free of the history-by-assertions, history-by- cliches, and history-by-slogans that the Greeks are so good at. Examples are "Philip united the Greeks" and "Alexander spread Hellenism". There is none of that debatable propaganda here.
A final example. While the modern Greeks are committing cultural genocide against the modern Macedonians by asserting "There were no Macedonians in Macedonia" and "There is no Macedonian minority in Greece", their British academic accomplices are committing cultural genocide against the ancient Macedonians by writing them out of history. Instead of using terms like "Macedonian Empire" or "Macedonian Period", they use "Hellenistic Period" even though the term "Hellenistic" was coined less than 200 years ago, that is, nearly 2,000 years after the end of the Macedonian Empire.
If you said to Alexander the Great that he left behind not a "Macedonian Empire", not a "Macedonian Period", not an "Alexandrian Empire", not even a "Post-Alexandrian Period", but a "Hellenistic Period" he would not know what you were talking about. Given that Alexander founded a large number of cities and named almost all of them after himself and none after anything in Greece or anything Greek, it is unlikely that he would have named his legacy to mankind after anything but himself. He would certainly not have named it a "Hellenistic Period", that is, a "Greekish Period".
There is none of that politically motivated cultural genocide here. This is not a Greek history of Macedonia, not a Bulgarian history of Macedonia, not a British ivory tower history of Macedonia. It is a Macedonian history of Macedonia. This book is a strong affirmation of the unique history and identity of Europe’s first nation state and its much-loved land.

Short History of Macedonia can be purchased from the Macedonian Literary Association Grigor Prlichev by contacting Dushan Ristevski on dristevski@optusnet.com.au and phone 0425 231 335

MACEDONIANS

What is like to feel of being a Macedonian from the Aegean part, which has been illegally occupied since 1913 by Greece, "the so called cradle of democracy"?

How sad it is to watch the Macedonian people to be terrorized and locked in cruel goals. All the people crying clothed in black and shedding tears of blood.
This has been the tragedy of our Macedonian people that were torn apart by the European powers of France, Britain, Germany and Tsarist Russia. They donated Aegean Macedonia to Greece, Pirin to Bulgaria, Vardar to Serbia and Prespa to Albania.
When the than powers divided our country Macedonia, the illegal occupiers signed certain treaties under the Bucharest Agreement, but not one of them carried out their obligations.
1. All ethnic Macedonians (and others) were to have schools in their own language.
2. Freedom for all cultural activities.
3. To have their own churches to worship and sermon and liturgy in Macedonian.
Not one of these illegal occupiers carried out their obligations.The righteous European powers pretend to be blind and deaf to the abhorrent treatment meted out to Macedonians.
Only one part is free, the other 3 still remain suppressed, denied the very basic human rights under the tyrannical illegal occupiers.There appears to be one law for their favored friends and for everyone else.
European powers - Britain, France, Germany, Russia and now USA. No parts of your land have been given away by others without your approval or consent.
Had this happened I feel sure you’d raised hell and heaven in protests!
During 1924-1925 the League of Nations called on Greece to produce and print the Abascedar book in the Macedonian language but Latin letters.
In July 1925 a meeting was held in the Balkans.Greece distributed the Abescedar book to the Bulgarian and Serbian delegates. They furiously rejected the document because was printed in the Macedonian language. Not in Serbian, Bulgarian or Greek.
Vasilis Dandramis a very high ranking Greek Government delegate produced maps and other evidence and argued that Macedonian exist, existed, and have their own language, they are neither Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbian or anything else.
Why is the Greek government so adamantly trying to deny the above?"Have they have forgotten to clean out the skeletons from their cupboard of 1925??"
Macedonians are one of the oldest indigenous people that have lived in Europe and the Balkans.
Alexander the Great of Macedon conquered the world with great military deeds which to this day have never been equaled.
Has been acclaimed as Commander of Commanders, what more need we say.The younger historians the world over have now much better knowledge, confirmed evidence about the true historical facts.
Myths and falsified history is gradually been cast aside.
The history of Europe will have to be turned upside down.
Falsifiers will meet their Waterloo.
Greece with its unjust, unsustainable claim "Macedonia is Greek" reeks with hypocrisy to say the least. "The so called cradle of democracy of Greece: doesn’t exist there. Terror (Tromokratia) yes.
Until 1991 the word Macedonia was anathema to all former and present Greek Governments.
Always Voria Ellada was their norm. Historically it is well documented that ‘the clever Greeks’ are masters in falsifying, changing and stealing other countries heritage and names.
Example in 1825 they got their first king in history, he was a Bavarian Prince, named OTTO, low and behold in no times his name become OTTHOS!.
These ‘clever Greeks’.
They will stoop to any low level as long it Glorifies Mega Ellada.Their credibility is sinking fast.
Macedonians are peace loving people, are prepared to forgive, the Bulgarians, Greeks, Serbs, Albanians and others for their wrongs committed.
We are part and parcel of the Balkans and Europe.
We are looking forward towards a peaceful future, where friendly relations ill benefit all.
So allow me to conclude with an old valid Macedonian ILINDEN cry - Ne barame bogatstvo, ne barame pari, BARAME SLOBODA I CHOVECHKI PRAVDINI).

Aegean Macedonian Association of Australia
Mihail Velovski
Atanas Strezovski

DR MILE TERZIOVSKI

Past President and Life Member of the Macedonian Council of Victoria and Past President of the Macedonian Council of Australia

President Janko Kalincev, Members of the Association of Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia, distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen. Please accept our apologies for not being with you this evening due to a Family commitment in Wollongong. We wish to congratulate Janko and his hard working Committee for successfully organising this evening's function to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the tragic expulsion of more than 40,000 children from their homeland after the "Greek Civil War "
I wish to take a couple of minutes of your time to reinforce the significant role that the Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia will play in the so-called "name issue." The real issue is the modern history of the Ethnic Macedonians in Greece and you the Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia. As far as Greece is concerned, there is no minority in Greece called Macedonians and there are no Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia. Unfortunately, Greece has been allowed to get away with such falsification of history and reality. Greece's denial is like the world saying that there was no holocaust.
The Refugee Children, a large number, which are present here tonight, would like to return to their homeland after many decades. However, the Greek Government, on many occasions, has denied the Refugee Children entry into Greece. Greeks that were repatriated from various parts of Europe after the Civil War currently occupy this land, which is estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Under international law, the Refugee Children are entitled to claim the land previously owned by their parents.
Greece is trying to force the Republic of Macedonia to change its constitutional name. Such a name change would provide a 'way out' for Greece and will close the chapter on the Macedonians in Greece and the Refugee Children. Furthermore, any change to the constitutional name will change our rich Macedonian history and our identity. There is no law in the world that can force a country to change its name. It is absurd.
Australia has an important role to play, particularly in helping Greece to realise that their current discriminatory views are not representative of 21 Century Europe. We all applauded the historic event on 13 February this year when the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd apologised to the Australian Aborigines for the wrong doings of previous Australian Government decisions with the so called "Stolen Generation.' Mr Rudd showed compassion on this particular issue.
However, Mr Rudd is not consistent when it comes to the Macedonian Community and the Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia. Mr Rudd must realise that we are treated like second-class citizens in this country since the Former Keating Government imposed the offensive term "Slav" in 1994 as a directive to describe the Macedonian Community, despite our strong opposition to such offensive term.
We remind the Rudd Government that 124 member countries of the United Nations have recognised The Republic Macedonia under its constitutional name, which includes some of Australia's closest allies. I call on the Rudd Government to become the 125th country to recognise Macedonia under its constitutional name "The Republic of Macedonia" as a matter of priority. Furthermore, we call on Mr Rudd to exercise his good will with Greece, to allow you the Refugee Children of Aegian Macedonia to return to your homeland.
The Macedonian Community and the Refugee Children from Aegian Macedonia must not continue to suffer in silence. As Refugee Children you are entitled to return to your homeland and claim your land left by your forefathers. Please do not wait until it is too late. The world must know the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH.
The Republic of Macedonia is right behind you, as are the millions of Macedonians around the world. Hold your heads high. Truth and justice will prevail.
Thank you and have a memorable evening.

Dr Mile Terziovski