Misplaced Pages

Macedonia (terminology): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 01:22, 23 August 2006 editVerrai (talk | contribs)Administrators8,748 edits Further reading: </div> tag← Previous edit Latest revision as of 03:15, 27 August 2024 edit undoCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,405,274 edits Misc citation tidying. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | #UCB_CommandLine 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Use of the name 'Macedonia'}}
{{Macedonia intro}}
{{About|the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives|specific uses of the term|Macedonia (disambiguation){{!}}Macedonia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{italic title}}
] is not ''officially defined'' by any international organisation or state. In some contexts it appears to span five (six counting ], disputed with ]) current sovereign countries: ], ], ], ], ], and ]. For more details see the ''boundaries and definitions'' section in ]{{image reference needed|date=December 2022}}]]
The name '''''Macedonia''''' is used in a number of competing or overlapping meanings to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples in a part of south-eastern Europe. It has been a major source of political controversy since the early 20th century. The situation is complicated because different ethnic groups use different terminology for the same entity, or the same terminology for different entities, with different political connotations.


Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the ] peninsula. Geographically, no single definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted by all scholars and ethnic groups. Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as ''Macedonians'': two, a ] and a ] one at a regional level, while a third ] one at a national level. Linguistically, the names and affiliations of languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the rights to the extent of the use of the name ''Macedonia'' and its derivatives has led to a ] between ] and ]. After using the provisional reference of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM), Greece and the then-Republic of Macedonia reached an ] that the latter would change its name to ''North Macedonia''. It came into effect on 12 February 2019.
The definition of '''Macedonia''' is a great source of confusion due to the overlapping use of the term to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples. Ethnic groups inhabiting the area use different terminology for the same entity, or the same terminology for different entities, which is often confusing to other inhabitants of the region and foreigners alike.


== Etymology ==
], the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula. ], no single definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted by all scholars and ethnic groups. ], it is mainly inhabited by three ethnic groups. A ] group self-identifies as ''Macedonian'' at a national level, while a ] one does so at a regional level. ], the names and origins of the languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. ], the use of the name ''Macedonia'' has led to a diplomatic dispute between ] and the ]. Despite intervention from the ], the dispute is still pending full resolution.
The name ''Macedonia'' derives from the ] {{lang|grc|Μακεδονία}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|Makedonía}}),<ref>, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> a ] (later, ]) named after the ], from the Greek {{lang|grc|Μακεδόνες}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|Makedones}}), 'Macedonians', explained as having originally meant either 'the tall ones' or 'highlanders'.<ref>{{OEtymD|Macedonia}}</ref> The word {{lang|el|Μακεδνόν}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|Makednon}}) is first attested in ] as the name which the Greek ] was called (which was later called ]) when it settled around ] mountain range.<ref>Herodotus, ''Histories'', : "ταῦτα γὰρ ἦν τὰ προκεκριμένα, ἐόντα τὸ ἀρχαῖον τὸ μὲν Πελασγικὸν τὸ δὲ Ἑλληνικὸν ἔθνος. καὶ τὸ μὲν οὐδαμῇ κω ἐξεχώρησε, τὸ δὲ πολυπλάνητον κάρτα. ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ Δευκαλίωνος βασιλέος οἴκεε γῆν τὴν Φθιῶτιν, ἐπὶ δὲ Δώρου τοῦ Ἕλληνος τὴν ὑπὸ τὴν Ὄσσαν τε καὶ τὸν Ὄλυμπον χώρην, καλεομένην δὲ Ἱστιαιῶτιν: ἐκ δὲ τῆς Ἱστιαιώτιδος ὡς ἐξανέστη ὑπὸ Καδμείων, οἴκεε ἐν Πίνδῳ Μακεδνὸν καλεόμενον: ἐνθεῦτεν δὲ αὖτις ἐς τὴν Δρυοπίδα μετέβη καὶ ἐκ τῆς Δρυοπίδος οὕτω ἐς Πελοπόννησον ἐλθὸν Δωρικὸν ἐκλήθη."</ref> {{Lang|grc-latn|Makednon}} is related to the ] adjective {{lang|grc|μακεδνός}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|makednós}}), meaning 'tall, slim',<ref>, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> attested in ] and ] in its feminine form {{Lang|grc|μακεδνή}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|makednē}}), meaning 'long, tall'.<ref>Homer, ''Odyssey'', </ref><ref></ref> It is cognate with the words {{lang|grc|μακρός}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|makros}}, 'long, large')<ref>, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> and {{lang|grc|μήκος}} ({{Lang|grc-latn|mēkos}}, 'length'),<ref>, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> both deriving from the ] {{Lang|ine-x-proto|*mak-}}, meaning 'long, slender'.<ref>, Etymonline</ref> Linguist ] claims that both terms are of ] origin and cannot be explained in terms of Indo-European morphology;<ref>{{citation |first=Robert |last=Beekes |author-link=Pre-Greek substrate |title=Etymological Dictionary of Greek |volume=II |pages=894 |publisher=Brill |year=2010 |location=Leiden, Boston}}</ref> however, De Decker argues the arguments are insufficient.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=De Decker |first1=Filip |title=An etymological case study on the and vocabulary in Robert Beekes's new etymological dictionary of Greek |journal=Studia Linguistica Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis |date=2016 |volume=133 |issue=2 |doi=10.4467/20834624SL.16.006.5152}}</ref>


== History ==
Regardless of the borderless, historic nature of the region, Macedonia can be safely considered as lying in the heart of the ] peninsula. Therefore, the reason for this ], ] and confusion can be summarised in ]'s words: ''"The Balkan region has a tendency to produce more history than it can consume."'' <ref name=ciaonet>{{cite web| url= http://wwics.si.edu/ees/special/2003/nlinde.pdf| title= Enlarging the Euro-Atlantic Space: Special Issues for Southeast Europe| author= Linden, Ronald H| accessmonthday= July 18 | accessyear= 2006 | format= pdf |pages =120}}</ref>
{{main|Macedonia (region)#History|l1=History of the region of Macedonia}}
{{multiple image
|perrow=2
|header=Historical Macedonia
|width=162
|image1=LocationMacedonia-MAC-3-z.png
|alt1=Map of ancient Macedon
|caption1=Ancient Macedon
|image2=LocationMacedonia-ROMAN-z.png
|alt2=Map of Macedonia as Roman province
|caption2=Roman province
|image3=LocationMacedonia-BYZ-1-z.png
|alt3=Map of Macedonia as Byzantine province
|caption3=Byzantine province
|image4=LocationMacedonia-OTT-2-z.png
|alt4=Map of Macedonia during the Ottoman Empire
|caption4=Late Ottoman period
|footer={{plainlist|1=
* ]: Approximate borders of the kingdom ''c''. 350 BC, before expansion to conquer the whole known world, according to archaeological findings and historic references.
* ]: ] occupied areas outside the contemporary geographical area to the West (approximate borders of maximum extent). There was also a later ].
* ]: ] excluded ] and occupied only the Eastern part of the contemporary geographical area (approximate borders).
* ] period: Macedonia did not exist as an ] of the ] (approximate borders). During the first four centuries of the Ottoman period, western scholars thought of Macedonia in terms of Greco-Roman geography. In the early 19th century, the definition of Macedonia by most scholars, approximately matched the contemporary region, with occasional variations.<ref name="wilkinson"/>
}}}}


The ] has been home to several historical political entities, which have used the name ''Macedonia''; the main ones are given below. The borders of each of these entities were different.
== Etymology ==
:''Main article: ]''


=== Early history ===
There are three theories for the etymology of the name '''Macedonia'''. According to ancient ], '''Macedon''' was the name of the first ''phylarch'' (tribal chief) of the tribe that initially settled western, southern and central Macedonia and founded the kingdom of ]. Αccording to ], the ''Makednoí'' were a tribe of the ].<ref name=herod>{{cite web| url=http://perseus.uchicago.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0004:entry=macedonians | title= Perseus encyclopedia | work= ], ] 1.56, 8.43 | language= Ancient Greek & English translation | accessyear=2006 | accessmonthday= August, 3}}</ref> The name probably derives from the adjective '''{{Polytonic|μακεδνός}}''' ''makednós'', meaning "tall", which ] uses of a poplar tree, <ref></ref> and which the grammarian ] records as a ] word meaning "large" or "heavenly"<ref>], ''s.v.''</ref> Both the Macedonians (''Makedónes'') and their ''Makednoí'' tribal ancestors were regarded as tall people.{{citation needed}} A third hypothesis suggests that the name ''Makedónes'' may mean "highlanders", from an unattested ] ] '''*{{Polytonic|μακι-κεδόνες}}''' ''*maki-kedónes'' "of the high earth".{{citation needed}}
==== Ancient Macedonia ====
{{main|Macedonia (ancient kingdom)}}
] or ''Macedon'', the ancient ],<ref name="Definition of Macedon">{{cite web |last1=Mark |first1=Joshua J. |title=Macedon definition |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/ |website=Ancient history |publisher=]}}</ref> was located on the periphery of ] and ], and later became the dominant state of ]. It was centered on the fertile plains west of the ] (today north-western ]); the first Macedonian state emerged in the 8th or early 7th century&nbsp;BC. Its extent beyond the center varied; some Macedonian kings could not hold their capital; ] expanded his power until it reached from ], across ] to Gallipoli, and from ] to the Danube.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lane Fox |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Lane Fox |title=Alexander the Great |publisher=Allen Lane |location=London |year=1973 |pages=17, 30 |isbn=978-0-7139-0500-7}}</ref> His son ] conquered most of the land in southwestern Asia stretching from what is currently Turkey in the west to parts of India in the east. However, while Alexander's conquests are of major historical importance as having launched the ], Macedon as a state had no significant territorial gains due to them. Alexander's kingdom fell apart after his death in 323 BC; several of his ] attempted to form a kingdom for themselves in Macedonia; the kingdom formed by ] contained all the land Philip II had started with and controlled much of what is now modern Greece; it lasted until the Romans divided it into four republics in 168&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rostovtseff |first=Michael Ivanovitch |title=History of the Ancient World (translated by James Duff Duff) |publisher=Biblo & Tannen Publishers |volume=II |year=1926 |page=78 |isbn=978-0-8196-2163-4}}</ref>


==== Roman Macedonia ====
{{clear}}
{{main|Macedonia (Roman province)}}
{{see also|Diocese of Macedonia}}
The ancient Romans had two different entities called ''Macedonia'', at different levels. ] was established as a ] in 146&nbsp;BC. Its boundaries were shifted from time to time for administrative convenience, but during the ] and the ] it extended west to the Adriatic and south to ].


Under ], ], including parts of ], was split off to form a new province, and the central and southern Balkan provinces were grouped into the ]. At some point in the 4th century (first securely attested in 370) this was divided into two new dioceses, the mostly Latin-speaking ] in the north and the mostly Greek-speaking ] in the south. Under ], the western part of the province of Macedonia was also split off to form the new province of ]. After Constantine's death, the western Balkans, Macedonia included, became part of the ].<ref>{{harvp|Roisman|Worthington|2010|pp=547–548}}</ref>
==In history==
{{Historical Macedonia}}
The ] has been home to several historical political entities; the main ones are given below. The borders of each of these entities were different. The area occupied by ancient ] approximately coincided with ].{{citation needed}}


With the exception of a short-lived division between ''Macedonia Prima'' in the south and ''Macedonia Salutaris'' in the north towards the end of the 4th century (attested only in the {{lang|la|]}}), Macedonia formed a single province until re-divided into southern and northern parts sometime in the late 5th century (the division is first securely attested in 482), although the province seems to have been reunified by 535. According to the 6th-century '']'', ''Macedonia Prima'', with ] as its capital and governed by a '']'', counted 32 cities, and ''Macedonia Secunda'' in the north, with ] as its capital and governed by a '']'', only eight. The approximate boundary between the two ran on a rough line from north of ] (which belonged to ''Macedonia Prima'') to the area of ].<ref>{{harvp|Roisman|Worthington|2010|pp=548–550}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Kazhdan|1991|p=1261}}</ref>
===In early history===
The borders of the region were progressively becoming more vague during the course of its early history. They started as a definite ancient ], ''Macedon'', which rapidly expanded to an ], occupying the whole known world. During the ] conquest, the borders of ''Macedonia'' province frequently shifted. The same happened during the ] period, and ''Macedonia ]'' was even moved in whole to the East, excluding the city of ]. The ] didn't include the ''Macedonia'' name in their territorial administration scheme.


==== Byzantine Macedonia ====
Historical political entities which have used the name ''Macedonia'' were:
{{main|Macedonia (theme)}}
During the 7th century, most of the Balkans were overrun by ] invasions, which left only the fortified towns and the coasts in the hands of the Greek-speaking ]. "]" was then used for a new ] in the late 8th century under ]. Geographically however it was located in ] and not in Macedonia, which was under the themes of ], ] and other smaller commands such as ] or ].<ref>{{harvp|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1261–1262, 1968}}</ref> Themes were not named geographically and the original sense was "army". They became districts during the military and fiscal crisis of the seventh century, when the Byzantine armies were instructed to find their supplies from the locals, wherever they happened to be. Thus the ] was considerably west of ]; the ] was in Asia Minor, not in Thrace.<ref>{{harvp|Treadgold|1997|pp=421, 478, ''et passim''}}</ref> The ] of the Byzantine Empire acquired its name from its founder, ], an ] by descent, who was born in the theme of Macedonia.<ref>{{harvp|Treadgold|1997|p=455}}</ref>


The interior of Macedonia remained in Slavic and later ] hands until the ] of ], which ended the existence of the Bulgarian state and extended Byzantine authority across the central and northern Balkans. Thereafter Macedonia remained under Byzantine control until the ] (1204). A short-lived ] ] was established which survived until 1224, when it was captured by ]. Most of Macedonia then came under the control of the ] in 1246, although its northern regions remained disputed with the ] and the ]. Most of the region was conquered by the Serbs under ] during the ]. Only Thessalonica and its environs remained in Byzantine hands. By the late 14th century, the ] in turn had conquered the region, although Thessalonica held out under Byzantine and later ] control ].<ref>{{harvp|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1262, 2072–2073}}</ref>
* ] (as an ancient ]) existed in the northern-most part of ], bordering the kingdom of ] on the west and the region of ] to the east. The first Macedonian state emerged in the ] or early 7th century BCE. Its notable ruler ] conquered all of the known world until his early death in 323 BCE. The empire lasted until the Roman conquest in 146 BCE.
* ] (as a ]) lasted from 146 BCE to c.284-395 CE . Its borders frequently shifted according to the administrational needs of the Romans. At its maximum extent, it incorporated the provinces of ], ], and parts of ] and ].
* ] (as a province of the ]) was an administrative division which largely occupied the region of ]. It was bordered by the provinces of ], ], ] and ]. The ] lasted from the ] split of the ] to ] and ], c.284–395, and ended in 1453, with the ] to the ].


]
*The Ottomans held Macedonia for five centuries; they did not keep Macedonia as an ]. The region of European Turkey lying between ] and ] continued to be called Macedonia, however. In 1904, when most of it was placed under international administration, it contained the districts of ], ], ], ], ], and ]. In 1912-3, this was divided among the Balkan states. <ref> {{cite book| first=Colin | last= Imber| title= The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1650: The structure of Power| location=Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK | publisher= Palgrave Macmillan |year= 2002}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref>{{cite book |first=Halil|last= Inalcik| title=The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300-1600 |coauthors= Translation by Norman Itzkowitz and Colin Imber | location= London | publisher= Weidenfield and Nicholson |year= 1973}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref> {{cite book|first=Donald Edgar| last=Pitcher| title= An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire | location=Leiden, Netherlands | publisher= E.J.Brill | year=1972}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref>{{cite book|last = Miller|first= William|title= The Ottoman empire and its successors|location = Cambridge |publisher = The University Press|year = 1936}} pp. 9, 447-9</ref>


==== Ottomans and geographical Macedonia ====
===In modern history===
{{Main|Ottoman Macedonia (disambiguation){{!}}Ottoman Macedonia}}
The provisional government of Greece claimed Macedonia as one of its divisions, but the ] set its northern boundary between ] and ]. <ref> {{cite book| first=John | last= Comstock| title= History of the Greek Revolution complied from official documents of the Greek Government... and other authentic sources| location= New York |year= 1829}} p.5</ref>.
{{See also|Macedonian Struggle|Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization}}


The Ottomans did not keep Macedonia as an ]:<ref>The region was not called "Macedonia" by the Ottomans, and the name "Macedonia" gained currency together with the ascendance of rival nationalism. Collective Memory, National Identity, and Ethnic Conflict: Greece, Bulgaria, and the Macedonian Question, Victor Roudometof, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, {{ISBN|0275976483}}, p. 89.</ref> since 1864 parts of ] lay in three ], which also comprised some non-Macedonian areas. The northern part was the Kosovo vilayet and then of ]; the ] (south), and the ] (western) were also created. This administrative division lasted until 1912–13, when Macedonia was divided among the Balkan states.<ref>{{harvp|Rossos|2008|p=67}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last = Miller |first= William |title= The Ottoman empire and its successors |location = Cambridge |publisher = The University Press |year = 1936 |pages=9, 447–49}}</ref>
When the ] started breaking apart, ''Macedonia'' was claimed by all members of the ] (], ], ] and ]; and by ]). As a result of the ], the arbitrary region of ''Macedonia'' was split into definite borders. The political entities that existed or still exist in this region, under the name ''Macedonia'' are:
*] (as a region of Greece) refers to a region of three ] in ], incorporated in 1913, as a result of the ], between the ] and the ].<ref name=poulton>{{cite book | first=Hugh | last=Poulton | year=2000 | title=Who Are the Macedonians? | publisher=Indiana University Press | id=ISBN 0253213592 | pages=85-86 | chapter=Greece |url=http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=8_zeaeTOz6YC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=85&prev=http://books.google.com/books%3Fq%3D%2522Who%2Bare%2Bthe%2BMacedonians%2522%2BPoulton&sig=NobKDU7Unvc2AqCZLCn0vSM5VIo }}</ref>
*] (as a ]) used to refer to the ] (previously known as the People's Republic of Macedonia), one of the constituent republics of the ], established in 1946.<ref name=LOC> {{loc}} {{cite web| url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/yutoc.html | title= The Library of Congress, Country Studies | work=Yugoslavia | accessmonthday = July, 17 | accessyear= 2006 }}</ref>
*] (as a contemporary ]) refers<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ Ref label|offensive3|3|a }} to the conventional short form name of the ], which held a referendum and established its independence from ] on ], ].<ref name= mkconst>{{cite web| url=http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/mk00000_.html | title=International Constitutional Law | work= Macedonia - Constitution |accessmonthday=July, 20 | accessyear=2006 |language= English translation}}</ref>


==In geography== === Modern history ===
{{main|History of modern Macedonia}}
]]
{{See also|World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia|National Liberation Front (Macedonia)}}


Since the early stages of the ], the provisional government of Greece claimed Macedonia as part of Greek national territory, but the ], which established a Greek independent state, set its northern boundary between ] and ].<ref>{{cite book| first=John | last= Comstock| title= History of the Greek Revolution| url=https://archive.org/details/historyofgreekre00coms | location= New York |year= 1829|page=|publisher=W. W. Reed & co}}</ref> When the ] started breaking apart, ''Macedonia'' was claimed by all members of the ] (], ], Greece and Bulgaria), and by ]. Under the ] that ended the ] the entire region, except Thessaloniki, was included in the borders of ], but after the ] in 1878 the region was returned to the Ottoman Empire. The armies of the Balkan League advanced and occupied ''Macedonia'' in the ] in 1912. Because of disagreements between the allies about the partition of the region, the ] erupted, and in its aftermath the arbitrary region of Macedonia was split into the following entities, that existed or still exist in this region:
] (as a current geographical term) refers to a region of the ] in ], covering approximately 67,000 square kilometers. Although the region's borders are not officially defined by any international organization or state, in some contexts, the territory appears to correspond to the basins of (from west to east) the ] (''Aliákmonas''), ] and ] rivers, and the plains around ] and ].
* ] (as a region of Greece) refers to three ] in ], incorporated in 1913, as a result of the ] between the Ottoman Empire and the ].<ref>{{harvp|Poulton|2000|pp=85–86}}</ref>
* Macedonia (as a ] within ]) used to refer to the ] established in 1946, later known as the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, one of the constituent republics of the ], renamed in 1963.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Yugoslavia: a country study|publisher=], ]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/91040323/|date=1992|editor-last=Curtis|editor-first=Glenn E.|edition=3rd|isbn=0-8444-0735-6|oclc=24792849|pages=xxxvi-xxxvii}}</ref> Between 1929 and 1941 this region was part of ] province in the ].
* ] (as a recent ]) referred{{#tag:ref|The former constitutional name of the country "''Republic of Macedonia''" and the short name "''Macedonia''" when referring to the country, would be considered vexatious by most ], especially inhabitants of the Greek province of Macedonia. The official reasons for this, as described by the ], were:


{{blockquote|
In a ], the region presents markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula, since borders were loosely defined according to the administrative requirements of its conquerors. Under the Ottoman conquest, which lasted five centuries, ''Macedonia'' was not an administrative division of the ].<ref name= mccarthy1> ] (2001) ''The Ottoman Peoples and the End of Empire'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0340706570</ref> H.R. Wilkinson, the geographer, suggests that the region "defies definition", but that many mappers agree "on its general location". Macedonia was well enough defined in 1897 for ] propose "Macedonia for the Macedonians".<ref name=oxford1>Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged &mdash; Draft Revision (Mar. 2005) &mdash; "Macedonian"</ref> The Balkan nations began to proclaim their rights to it after the ] in 1878, and its subsequent revision. Many ethnographic maps were produced in this period of controversy; these differ primarily in the areas given to each nationality within Macedonia. This was in part a result of the choice of definition: an inhabitant of Macedonia might well have different nationalities depending on whether the basis of classification was denomination, descent, language, self-identification or personal choice. In addition, the Ottoman census, taken on the basis of religion, was misquoted by all sides; descent, or "race", was largely conjectural; inhabitants of Macedonia might speak a different language at the market and at home, and the same Slavic dialect might be called Serbian "with Bulgarian influences", Macedonian, or West-Bulgarian. But they also differ somewhat in the boundaries given to Macedonia. Its only inarguable limits were the Aegean Sea and the Serbian and Bulgarian frontiers (as of 1885); where it bordered on Old Serbia, Albania, and Thrace (all parts of Ottoman ]) was debatable.<ref name= wilkinson>{{cite book | last = Wilkinson| first =H. R.| title = Maps and Politics; a review of the ethnographic cartography of Macedonia| url = http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/oclc/244268?tab=holdings| year = 1951| publisher = Liverpool University Press| location = Liverpool | id= {{LCC|DR701.M3|W5}} | pages =''(a)'' p.120, ''(b)'' pp. 2-4,99, 121ff, ''(c)'' pp.4,99, 137 ''(d)'' pp. 2,4}}</ref>
"The choice of the name Macedonia by FYROM directly raises the issue of usurpation of the cultural heritage of a neighbouring country. The name constitutes the basis for staking an exclusive rights claim over the entire geographical area of Macedonia. More specifically, to call only the Slavo-Macedonians Macedonians monopolizes the name for the Slavo-Macedonians and creates semiological confusion, whilst violating the human rights and the right to self-determination of Greek Macedonians. The use of the name by FYROM alone may also create problems in the trade area, and subsequently become a potential springboard for distorting reality, and a basis for activities far removed from the standards set by the European Union and more specifically the clause on good neighbourly relations. The best example of this is to be seen in the content of school textbooks in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."<ref name=GrFA>{{cite web |url=http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/South-Eastern+Europe/Balkans/Bilateral+Relations/FYROM/FYROM+-+THE+NAME+ISSUE.htm |title=Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=July 17, 2006 |website=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)&nbsp;— The Name Issue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708044400/http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/South-Eastern+Europe/Balkans/Bilateral+Relations/FYROM/FYROM+-+THE+NAME+ISSUE.htm |archive-date=8 July 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
}}|group=Note|name=offensive3}} to the conventional short form name of the Republic of Macedonia, after the aforementioned Socialist Republic held a referendum and established its independence from ] on 8 September 1991.<ref>{{harvp|Poulton|2000|p=14}}</ref> On 12 February 2019 the name of the state was changed to Republic of North Macedonia following the ratification of the ] negotiated with Greece, thus settling the ].


== Geography ==
The Greek ethnographer Nicolaides, the Austrian Meinhard, and the Bulgarian Kǎnčev accepted the ] and the ]; as had scholars before 1878.<ref name= wilkinson /> The Serb Gopčevič preferred a line much further south, assigning the entire region from ] to ] to "Old Serbia"; and some later Greek geographers have agreed to a more restricted Macedonia.<ref name= wilkinson /> In addition, maps might vary in smaller details: as to whether this town or that was Macedonian: One Italian map included ], where Nicolaides and Meinhard had drawn the boundary just south of it. On the south and west, ], ], and ] varied from map to map; on the east, the usual line is the ] river and then north or northwest, but one German geographer excludes ] and ].<ref name = wilkinson />
Macedonia (as a current geographical term) refers to a region of the Balkan peninsula in ], covering some 60,000 or 70,000 square kilometers. Although the region's borders are not officially defined by any international organization or state, in some contexts, the territory appears to correspond to the basins of (from west to east) the ] (Aliákmonas), ] and ] rivers, and the plains around Thessaloniki and Serres.{{#tag:ref|For an attempt to delineate the boundaries of the region, see Kontogiorgi (2006).<ref>{{cite book| last=Kontogiorgi |first=Elisabeth |title=Population Exchange in Greek Macedonia |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-927896-1 |pages=11–13 |publisher=] |chapter=Macedonia 1870–1922&nbsp;– The Regional Context}}</ref>|group=Note}}


]
Extremist ] ]s of the "]" movement have expressed ] claims to what they refer to as ''"]"'' (in ]),<ref name="Times">Greek Macedonia "not a problem", ''The Times'' (London), ] ]</ref><sup>, </sup><ref name="Patrides">Patrides, Greek Magazine of Toronto, September - October, 1988, p. 3.</ref><sup>, </sup><ref name="Currency">{{cite news
|first=Marlise
|last=Simons
|title=As Republic Flexes, Greeks Tense Up
|date=February 3, 1992
|publisher=New York Times
|url=http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F10611FC3B580C708CDDAB0894DA494D81
}}</ref> ''"]"'' (in ]),<ref name="Bulgaria">{{cite web | last = Lenkova | first = M. | coauthors = Dimitras, P., Papanikolatos, N., Law, C. (eds) | title =Greek Helsinki Monitor: Macedonians of Bulgaria | work = Minorities in Southeast Europe | publisher =Greek Helsinki Monitor, Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe | date = 1999 | url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF | format = pdf | accessmonthday= July, 24 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref> ''"]"'' (in ]),<ref name="Albania">{{cite web| url= http://www.florina.org/html/2003/2003_osce_albania.html | title=Rainbow - Vinozhito political party | work=The Macedonian minority in Albania | accessmonthday= July, 22| accessyear= 2006}}</ref> and ''"] and ]"'' (in ]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makedonija.info/info.html|title=Makedonija - General Information|accessmonthday=July, 22|accessyear=2006}}</ref> ], ], ] and ] form the overwhelming majority of the population of each part of the region respectively. These fringe groups have received no official encouragement from the government of the ], especially since 1995 when a constitutional amendment was added stating that there were no territorial claims on neighbouring countries.


In a ], the term ''Macedonia'' was used in various ways. Macedonia was not an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire; its entire territory was part of the ''beylerbeylik'' of ].<ref name="mccarthy1">{{cite book |first=Justin |last=McCarthy |author-link=Justin McCarthy (American historian) |year=2001 |title=The Ottoman Peoples and the End of Empire |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-340-70657-2}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Rossos|2008|p=51}}</ref> The geographer H.&nbsp;R. Wilkinson suggests that the region "defies definition" but that many mappers agree "on its general location".<ref name="wilkinson">{{cite book |last=Wilkinson|first=H. R. |title=Maps and Politics: a Review of the Ethnographic Cartography of Macedonia |year=1951 |publisher=] |location=Liverpool |id={{LCC|DR701.M3|W5}} |pages=''(a)'' p. 1; ''(b)'' pp. 2–4, 99, 121 ff.; ''(c)'' p. 120; ''(d)'' pp. 4, 99, 137; ''(e)'' pp. 2, 4}}</ref> Macedonia was well enough defined in 1897 for ] to propose "]"; ] argued that the phrase could not be used by a man of impartiallity, while ]s asserted that there are six different kinds of Macedonians, and only Turkish rule could prevail total anarchy in the region.<ref name=Rossel>{{cite book |last=Roessel |first=David Ernest |title=In Byron's Shadow |chapter=Pet Balkan People |page=146 |isbn=978-0-19-514386-7 |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> The Balkan nations began to proclaim their rights to it after the ] in 1878 and its revision at the ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Erickson |first=Edward J. |title=Defeat in Detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-275-97888-4 |chapter=The "Macedonian Question" |pages=39–41 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group}}</ref>
The ] is commonly divided into three major and two minor sub-regions.<ref name=danforth>Danforth, L. M. (1997) ''The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World'', Princeton University Press, ISBN 0691043566, p.44</ref> The name ''Macedonia'' appears under certain contexts on the major regions, while the smaller ones are traditionally referred to by other local ]:


Many ] maps were produced in this period of controversy; these differ primarily in the areas given to each nationality within Macedonia. This was in part a result of the choice of definition: an inhabitant of Macedonia might well have different nationalities depending on whether the basis of classification was ], ], ], ] or personal choice. In addition, the Ottoman census, taken on the basis of ], was misquoted by all sides; descent, or "]", was largely conjectural; inhabitants of Macedonia might speak a different language at the market and at home, and the same Slavic dialect might be called Serbian "with Bulgarian influences", Macedonian, or West-Bulgarian.{{#tag:ref|For the difficulties to determine the national divisions of the population through the Ottoman census, see Jelavich (1993).<ref>{{cite book| last=Jelavich|first=Barbara|title=History of the Balkans| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbalkans0000jela| chapter-url-access=registration|year=1993|isbn=978-0-521-27459-3|chapter=The end of Ottoman Rule in Europe|page=|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}</ref> For the Ottoman census and surveys about the population of Macedonia between 1882–1906, see Shaw (1977).<ref>{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Ezel Kural|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey|year=1977|isbn=978-0-521-29166-8|chapter=The Rise of Modern Turkey|pages=|publisher=Cambridge University Press|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/historyofottoman00stan/page/208}}</ref>|group=Note}}
===Major sub-regions===
The region of Macedonia is commonly split geographically into three main sub-regions, especially when discussing the ]. The terms are used in non-partisan scholarly works, although they are also used in ] literature of an ] nature:<ref name= mymk>{{cite web |url=http://www.mymacedonia.net/aegean/aegean.htm | title=myMacedonia.net | accessmonthday= July, 22 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>


These maps also differed somewhat in the boundaries given to Macedonia. Its only inarguable limits were the ] and the Serbian and Bulgarian frontiers (as of 1885); where it bordered Old Serbia, Albania, and Thrace (all parts of Ottoman ]) was debatable.<ref name="wilkinson"/>
* '']''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ref|offensive1}} (or ]) is a term that refers to an area in the south of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are, overall, those of ancient ] in ]. It covers an area of 34,200 km²<ref name= brit-gr>{{cite web| url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9049698 |title= Encyclopædia Britannica | year= 2006 | work=Macedonia |accessmonthday= July, 21 |accessyear=2006}}</ref> (for discussion of the reported irredentist origin of this term, see ]).
* '']''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ref|Pirin}} (or ]) is an area in the east of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area approximately coincide with those of ] in ].<ref name=danforth /> It covers an area of 6,449 km².<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bl.government.bg/bl/index.html| title= Official site: District of Blagoevgrad | accessmonthday= July, 21 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
* '']'' (formerly ]) is an area in the north of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are those of the ].<ref name= danforth /> It covers an area of 25,333 km².<ref name= cia-mk>{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mk.html|title= CIA - The World Factbook|work= Macedonia|accessmonthday= July 18|accessyear=2006}}</ref>


The Greek ethnographer Nicolaides, the Austrian Meinhard, and the Bulgarian Kǎnčev placed the northern boundary of Macedonia at the ]s and the ], as had scholars before 1878. The Serb ] preferred a line much further south, assigning the entire region from Skopje to ] to "Old Serbia"; and some later Greek geographers have defined a more restricted Macedonia. In addition, maps might vary in smaller details: as to whether this town or that was Macedonian. One Italian map included ], where Nicolaides and Meinhard had drawn the boundary just south of it. On the south and west, ], ], and ] varied from map to map; on the east, the usual line is the lower ] river and then north or northwest, but one German geographer takes the line so far west as to exclude ] and ].<ref name="wilkinson"/>
=== Minor parts ===
In addition to the above named sub-regions, there are also two smaller regions, in ] and ] respectively. These regions are also considered geographically part of Macedonia. They are referred to by ] as follows,<ref name= mymk /> but typically aren't referred to by non-partisan scholars.


=== Subregions ===
] is a small area in the west of the Macedonia region in ], mainly around the ]. It includes parts of the ], ] and ] districts. These districts in whole occupy about 3,000 km², but the area concerned is significantly smaller.
[[File:Europe Balkans Macedonia geo.jpg|thumb|326px|The contemporary geographical region of Macedonia is not officially defined by any international organization or state. In some contexts it appears to span six states: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia
{{legend|#ddd|] (or ])}}
{{legend|#181|] (or ])}}
{{legend|#f00|] (or ])}}
{{legend|#f71|]}}
{{legend|#a77|] and ]}}
]]


The region of Macedonia is commonly divided into three major and two minor sub-regions.<ref name="Danforth_44">{{harvp|Danforth|1995|p=44}}</ref> The name ''Macedonia'' appears under certain contexts on the major regions, while the smaller ones are traditionally referred to by other local ]:
] and ] are minor parts in the north of the Macedonia region in ]. They roughly correspond to the Serbian district of ] (435 km²) and the monastery of ].


==In demographics== ==== Major regions ====
The region of Macedonia is commonly split geographically into three main sub-regions, especially when discussing the Macedonian Question. The terms are used in non-partisan scholarly works, although they are also used in ] literature of an ] nature.<ref name= mymk>{{cite web |url=http://www.mymacedonia.net/aegean/aegean.htm |title=Aegean Part of Macedonia |publisher=MyMacedonia.net |access-date=22 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204103011/http://www.mymacedonia.net/aegean/aegean.htm |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


'']''{{#tag:ref|During the ], in 1947, the ] published a book, ''I Enandion tis Ellados Epivoulis'' ("Designs on Greece"), namely of documents and speeches on the ongoing Macedonian issue, many translations from Yugoslav officials. It reports ] using the term "Aegean Macedonia" on 11 October 1945 in the buildup to the Greek Civil War; the original document is archived in 'GFM A/24581/G2/1945'. For Athens, the "new term, Aegean Macedonia", (also ''"Pirin Macedonia"''), was introduced by Yugoslavs. Contextually, this observation indicates this was part of the Yugoslav offensive against Greece, laying claim to Greek Macedonia, but Athens does not take issue with the term itself. The 1945 date concurs with Bulgarian sources. Further information on this can be found in the article ].|group=Note}} (or ]) refers to an area in the south of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are, overall, those of ancient Macedonia in Greece. It covers an area of {{convert|34200|km2}}<ref name= brit-gr>{{cite web| url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9049698 |title= Encyclopædia Britannica | year= 2006 | website=Macedonia |access-date = 21 July 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Danforth|1995|pp=82–83}}</ref> (for discussion of the reported irredentist origin of this term, see Aegean Macedonia).
The region, as defined above, has a total population of about 5 million. The main disambiguation issue in demographics is the self-identifying name of two contemporary groups. The ] population of the ] self-identify as ''Macedonian'' on a national level, while the ] self-identify as both ''Macedonian'' on a regional, and ''Greek'' on a national level. This disambiguation problem has led to a wide variety of terms used to refer to the separate groups, more information of which can be found in the ] section.


'']''{{#tag:ref|Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists,<ref name= VMRO-BND>{{cite web |url= http://vmro.bg/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=138 |title=VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party) |access-date = 21 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021832/http://vmro.bg/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=138 |archive-date = 28 September 2007|url-status=dead|language=bg}}</ref> the terms "'']''" or "'']''" are today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cfi.hit.bg/bulgarian/b_5_3.htm |access-date=21 July 2006 |title=Club for Fundamental Initiatives |website=КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ |language=bg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050117041112/http://cfi.hit.bg/bulgarian/b_5_3.htm |archive-date=17 January 2005 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> who assert that it is widely used by ] as part of the ] concept of ]. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.|group=Note}} (or ]) is an area in the east of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area approximately coincide with those of ] in Bulgaria.<ref name="Danforth_44"/> It covers an area of {{convert|6449|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bl.government.bg/bl/index.html| title= Official site: District of Blagoevgrad | access-date = 21 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060615180726/http://www.bl.government.bg/bl/index.html |archive-date = 15 June 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The self-identifying ]s (collectively referring to the inhabitants of the region) that inhabit or inhabited the area are:


'']'' (formerly ]) is an area in the north of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are those of North Macedonia.<ref name="Danforth_44"/> It covers an area of {{convert|25333|km2}}.<ref name= cia-mk>{{cite web| url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/north-macedonia/|title= CIA&nbsp;— The World Factbook|website= Macedonia|access-date = 29 July 2009}}</ref>
As an ], ] refers to the majority of the population of the ]. Statistics for 2002 indicate the population of ethnic Macedonians within Republic of Macedonia as 1,297,981.<ref name= cia-mk /><sup>, </sup><ref name= census-mk>{{cite web| url=http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/kniga_13.pdf | title= State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia| work= 2002 census| language=English | format=pdf | pages=34 |accessmonthday= July, 21| accessyear=2006}}</ref> On the other hand, as a ], it refers to all the ]s of the Republic of Macedonia, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation.<ref name= cia-mk /><!-- see 'Nationality' heading --> However, the preamble of the constitution<ref name= mkconst /> distinguishes between ''"the Macedonian people"'' and the ''"Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanics and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia"'', but for whom ''"full equality as citizens"'' is provided. As of 2002 the total population of the country is 2,022,547.<ref name= census-mk />


==== Minor regions ====
As a regional group in ], ']' refers to ethnic ] living in regions referred to as Macedonia, and particularly ]. This group composes the vast majority of the population of the Greek region of Macedonia. The 2001 census for the total population of the Macedonia region in Greece shows 2,625,681.<ref census-gr> {{el icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_01_TB_DC_01_02_Y.zip | title= General Secretariat of National Statistical Service of Greece | work= 2001 census | format = zip xls | accessmonthday= July, 21 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
In addition to the above-named sub-regions, there are also three smaller regions, in ], ] and ] respectively. These regions are also considered geographically part of Macedonia. They are referred to by ethnic Macedonians as follows,<ref name= mymk /> but typically are not so referred to by non-partisan scholars.<ref>E.g., see {{harvp|Poulton|2000|p=146}}; {{harvp|Rossos|2008|p=2}}: "Albania received the relatively small areas of Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo."</ref>


'']'' is a small area in the west of the Macedonia region in Albania, mainly around ]. It includes parts of the ], ] and ] districts. These districts wholly occupy about {{convert|3000|km2|sqmi|0}}, but the area concerned is significantly smaller.<ref>See {{harvp|Rossos|2008|p=132}}, for the small parts of the region of Macedonia, which were given to Albania in 1912.</ref>
The same term in antiquity described inhabitants of the kingdom of ],<ref name=oxford1 /> including their notable rulers ] and ] who self-identified as Greeks.<ref name=pomeroy1>Pomeroy, S., Burstein, S., Dolan, W., Roberts, J. (1998) ''Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195097424</ref>


'']'' (part of the municipality of ]) and '']'' are minor parts in the north of the Macedonia region in Serbia.{{#tag:ref|For the conflicts between Serbs and ethnic Macedonians about the Gora region and Proho, see Bugajski (1995)<ref>{{cite book|last=Bugajski|first=Janusz|title=Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe|pages=|chapter=Macedonia|quote=Conflicts between Serbs and Macedonians have also persisted over the status of the Prohor Pčinjski Monastery, which was technically on the Serbian side of the border but claimed as a major Macedonian shrine|year=1995|publisher=M.&nbsp;E. Sharpe|isbn=978-1-56324-283-0|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ethnicpoliticsin0000buga/page/122}}</ref> and Warrander & Knaus (2007).<ref>{{cite book|last=Warrander|first=Gail|author2=Knaus, Verena|title=Kosovo|page=|chapter=the Gorani|quote= have been variously claimed by Bosnians and Serbs, and most recently by Macedonia.|year=2007|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-199-9|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/kosovobradttrave00warr/page/211}}</ref>|group=Note}}
] can be used as an alternative name for Aromanians, people living throughout the southern ], especially in northern ], ], the ] and ], and as an emigrant community in ], ]. According to ], their total population in all countries is 306,237.<ref name= Macedo-Romanians>{{cite web| url= http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=rup | title= Ethnologue | work= Report for Macedo-Romanian language | accessyear=2006 | accessmonthday= August, 3 }}</ref> This not very frequent appellation is the only one with the disambiguating ], both within the members of the same ethnic group and the other ethnic groups in the area.<ref name= oxford4>Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged &mdash; Draft Revision (Mar. 2005) &mdash; "Macedo-"</ref>


== Demographics ==
As of 2001 the inhabitants of ], who in their vast majority self-identify as ], are 341,245, while the ] living in the same region are 3,117.<ref census-bg> {{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm | title=National Statistical Institute (of Bulgaria) | work= 2001 census | accessmonthday= August, 3 | accessyear= 2006 }}</ref>
{{main|Demographic history of Macedonia}}
{{Update section|date=January 2023}}


The region, as defined above, has a total population of about 5 million. The main disambiguation issue in demographics is the self-identifying name of two contemporary groups. The ethnic Macedonian population of North Macedonia self-identify as ''Macedonian'' on a national level, while the Greek Macedonians self-identify as both ''Macedonian'' on a regional, and ''Greek'' on a national level. According to the Greek arguments, the ancient Macedonians' nationality was Greek and thus, the use of the term on a national level lays claims to their history. This disambiguation problem has led to a wide variety of terms used to refer to the separate groups, more information of which can be found in the ] section.
It should be noted that the ancient ] derived their name from their founder, Bishop ], not from the geographical region of Macedonia.
{{clear}}


{{Infobox
==In linguistics==
|above = Demographic Macedonia
As language is one of the elements tied in with ], the same disputes that are voiced over demographics are also found in linguistics. In terms of the word Macedonian to describe a linguistic phenomenon, be it a ] or a ], there are two main disputes:
|label1 = '''Macedonians'''<br />c. 5 million
|data1 = All inhabitants of the region, irrespective of ethnicity
|label2 = ]<br />c. 1.3 million plus diaspora
|data2 = An ethnic group, more rarely referred to as ''Macedonian Slavs''<ref>{{cite book |last=Frucht |first=Richard C. |title=Eastern Europe |page= |publisher=ABC–CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-800-6 |year=2008 |chapter=History |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/easterneuropeint0000unse/page/595}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Livanios |first=Dimitrios |title=The Macedonian Question |chapter=Introduction |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/macedonianquesti0000liva |chapter-url-access=registration |page= |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7453-1589-8}}</ref> or ''Slavomacedonians'' (used mostly by Greek authorities to refer to the ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece<ref>{{cite book |last=Cowan |first=Jane K. |title=Macedonia |publisher=Pluto Press |year=2000 |pages=xiv–xv |isbn=978-0-7453-1589-8}}</ref>)<ref name=offensive4 group=Note/>
|label3 = Macedonians<br />c. 2.0 million
|data3 = Citizens of North Macedonia irrespective of ethnicity
|label4 = ]<br />c. 2.6 million plus diaspora
|data4 = An ethnic Greek regional group, also referred to as ''Greek Macedonians''
|label5 = ]<br />(unknown population)
|data5 = A group of antiquity, also referred to as ''Ancient Macedonians''.
|label6 = ]<br />c. 0.3 million
|data6 = A Bulgarian regional group,<ref name=bcb>{{cite web| url=http://www.diversitybulgaria.org/en/materials.php?sub=36| publisher=British Council&nbsp;— Bulgaria | title= Macedonians of Bulgaria | access-date = 11 September 2006 }}</ref> also referred to as '']ers''
|label7 = Macedo-Romanians<br />c. 0.3 million
|data7 = An alternative name for ] and ]
}}


The self-identifying Macedonians (collectively referring to the inhabitants of the region) that inhabit or inhabited the area are:
On the first hand, the origins of the ] are currently unknown, with one part of the scholars believing that it was related to the ], and another advocating a separate language hypothesis. The scientific community generally agrees that, although few findings are available, there is no concrete evidence for supporting either hypothesis.<ref>] and Adams, D.Q. (eds.) (1997), ''Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture'', Taylor & Francis Inc., ISBN 1884964982, p.361</ref><sup>, </sup><ref>{{cite book | last = Masson | first = Olivier | editor = S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth (eds.) | title = ] | origyear = 1996 | edition = revised 3rd ed. | year = 2003 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = USA | id =ISBN 0198606419 | pages = 905-906}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref> ] (1843), ''De Graecae linguae dialectis'', Göttingen, 1839-1843 ; Hoffmann, O. ''Die Makedonen. Ihre Sprache und ihr Volkstum'', Göttingen, 1906</ref><sup>, </sup><ref>] (1989), ''The Macedonian State. Origins, Institutions and History'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0198149271, pp 12-13 </ref>


As an ethnic group, Macedonians refers to the majority (58.4%, 2021) of the population of North Macedonia. Statistics for ] indicate the population of ethnic Macedonians within the country as c. 1,100,000.<ref name= census>, CIA&nbsp;— The World Factbook.</ref><ref name=census-mk>{{cite web| url=https://www.stat.gov.mk/publikacii/2022/POPIS_DZS_web_EN.pdf | title=Total resident population, households and dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia, census 2021 | website=State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia | pages=32 |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref> On the other hand, as a legal term, it refers to all the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation.<ref name= cia-mk /><!-- see 'Nationality' heading --> However, the preamble of the constitution<ref name= mkconst>{{cite web| url=http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/mk00000_.html | title=Macedonia&nbsp;– Constitution |publisher=Universität Bern&nbsp;– Institut fur öffentliches Recht| access-date = 20 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060616100058/http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/mk00000_.html |archive-date = 16 June 2006}}</ref> distinguishes between "the Macedonian people" and the "Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanics and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia", but for whom "full equality as citizens" is provided. As of 2021 the total population of the country is 1,836,713.<ref name="census-mk" />
On the other hand, the ] is unrelated to the ]. It currently suffers from two main disputes. The first dispute is over the name (alternative ways of referring to this language can be found in the ] section). The second dispute is over the existence of a Macedonian language distinct from ], the denial of which is a position supported by nationalist groups,<ref name=lunt1986>Lunt, H. (1986) "On Macedonian Nationality" in ''Slavic Review'', Vol. 45, No. 4. pp. 729-734</ref> but also, less vehemently, by ordinary Bulgarians. Further information on this can be found in the ] article.


As a regional group in Greece, Macedonians refers to ethnic Greeks (98%, 2001) living in regions referred to as Macedonia, and particularly Greek Macedonia. This group composes the vast majority of the population of the Greek region of Macedonia. The 2001 census for the total population of the Macedonia region in Greece shows 2,625,681.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_01_TB_DC_01_02_Y.zip| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131544/http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_01_TB_DC_01_02_Y.zip| archive-date= 29 September 2007 | publisher= General Secretariat of National Statistical Service of Greece | title= 2001 census | language=el | format = zip xls | access-date = 21 July 2006 }}</ref>
Today, Macedonian is also dialect of ] a language of the ]. Additionally, ] is an ] spoken in ] by the ].<ref name= oxford4 />


The same term in antiquity described the inhabitants of the kingdom of Macedon, including their notable rulers Philip II and Alexander the Great who self-identified as Greeks.<ref name=savill>{{cite book|last=Savill|first=Agnes|year=1990|title=Alexander the Great and his Time|publisher=Barnes & Noble Publishing|chapter=Accession of Alexander|pages=|isbn=978-0-88029-591-8|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/alexandergreathi0000savi/page/9}}</ref>
==In politics==
{{Political Macedonia}}
]<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ Ref label|offensive3|3|b }} is the constitutional name<ref name= mkconst /> of the ] which occupies the northern part of the geographical region of ''Macedonia''. ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' (FYROM) is a term used to refer to this state by the main international organisations, including ],<ref name=un>{{cite web| url=http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r225.htm | title=United Nations | work=Admission of the State whose application is contained in document A/47/876-S/25147 to membership in the United Nations | accessmonthday= July, 17| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
],<ref name= eu>{{cite web | url= http://ec.europa.eu/comm/enlargement/fyrom/ | title= European Union | work= European Commission, Enlargement, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | accessmonthday= July, 17 |accessyear=2005}}</ref>
],<ref name=NATO>{{cite web | url= http://www.nato.int/issues/enlargement/index.html | title=NATO |work=Enlargement |accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>,
],<ref name=IMF>{{cite web | url= http://www.imf.org/external/country/MKD/index.htm| title= International Monetary Fund |work=former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the IMF |accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=WTO>{{cite web| url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/macedonia_e.htm | title= World Trade Organization | work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the WTO |accessmonthday= July, 20 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=IOC>{{cite web | title=International Olympic Committee |work=Olympic Committee of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | url= http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/noc_uk.asp?noc_initials=MKD|accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=WB>{{cite web | title=World Bank | work= Countries & Regions | url= http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/0,,pagePK:180619~theSitePK:136917,00.html|accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=EBRD>{{cite web| title=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | work=ebrd and fyr macedonia | url= http://www.ebrd.com/country/country/mace/index.htm EBRD |accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=OSCE>{{cite web | title=The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe |work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia admitted to OSCE | url= http://www.osce.org/item/16032.html|accessmonthday= July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=fifa>{{cite web |url= http://www.fifa.com/en/organisation/confederations/associationdetails/0,1483,MKD,00.html?countrycode=MKD| title=FIFA Organisation | work= FYR Macedonia |accessmonthday=July, 20| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
and ].<ref name=fiba>{{cite web |url= http://www.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?nfID=2604| title=FIBA Organisation | work= FYR Macedonia |accessmonthday=July, 20| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
The term was introduced in 1993 by the ], following a ]. Some countries use this term as a stop-gap measure, pending resolution of the naming dispute.


As a regional group in Bulgaria, Macedonians refers to the inhabitants of ], who in their vast majority self-identify as Bulgarians at a national level and as ''Macedonians'' at a regional, but not ethnic level.<ref name=bcb /> As of 2001, the total population of Bulgarian Macedonia is 341,245, while the ethnic Macedonians living in the same region are 3,117.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm | publisher=National Statistical Institute (of Bulgaria) | language=bg| title= 2001 census | access-date = 3 August 2006 }}</ref> The ''Bulgarian Macedonians'' also self-identify as '']ers'' ({{Lang|bg|пиринци}}, {{Lang|bg-latn|pirintsi}})<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.digsys.com/bgnews/show_story.html?issue=90964855&media=3945184&class=8474908&story=90964856 | publisher=Български новини | title=Поне един ден веселие и безгрижие | access-date=12 September 2006 | language=bg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192721/http://www.digsys.com/bgnews/show_story.html?issue=90964855&media=3945184&class=8474908&story=90964856 | archive-date=27 September 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> to avoid confusion with the neighboring ethnic group.
Greece and the Republic of Macedonia each consider this name a compromise:<ref name="Accord">, United Nations, ] ].</ref> it is opposed by some Greeks for containing the Greek ] name ''Macedonia'', and by many in the Republic of Macedonia for not being the short ] name.<ref>{{cite web|last = Gatzoulis | first = B.| coauthors = Templar, M., A.| title = MACEDONIA? What's in a Name - A Rose by Any Other Name, Is It Still A Rose? | publisher = Pan-Macedonian Association USA, Inc | date = 2000 | url = http://www.panmacedonian.info/namenew.htm |accessmonthday=July, 25 |accessyear=2006}}</ref> Greece uses it in both the abbreviated (''FYROM'' or ''ΠΓΔΜ'')<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ref|offensive2}} and spellout form (''πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας'').


Macedo-Romanians can be used as an alternative name for ], people living throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in ], Romania. According to ], their total population in all countries is 306,237.<ref name= Macedo-Romanians>{{cite web| url= http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=rup | publisher= Ethnologue | title= Report for Macedo-Romanian language | access-date = 3 August 2006 }}</ref> This not very frequent appellation is the only one with the disambiguating ], both within the members of the same ethnic group and the other ethnic groups in the area.<ref name= oxford4>Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged&nbsp;— Draft Revision (Mar. 2005)&nbsp;— "Macedo-"</ref> To make matters more confusing, Aromanians are often called {{Lang|ro|Machedoni}} by Romanians, as opposed to the citizens of North Macedonia, who are called {{Lang|ro|Macedoneni}}.<ref>{{harvp|Shea|1997|p=162}}</ref> "Macedo-Romanian" is also used for the ].<ref name="meglen">{{cite journal|url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=87227|title=Some topics of the traditional wedding customs of the Macedo–Romanians (Aromanians and Megleno–Romanians)|first=Emil|last=Țîrcomnicu|journal=Romanian Journal of Population Studies|issue=3|pages=141–152|year=2009|volume=3}}</ref>
] refers also to a geographic region in ], divided in the three administrative sub-regions ('']'') of ], ], and ]. The region is overseen by the ]. The capital of Greek Macedonia is ], which is the largest city in the region of Macedonia. Thessaloniki is also the ''joint capital city'' (''"συμπρωτεύουσα"''-symprotévousa)<ref name=symprot>{{el icon}}{{cite web| url=http://www.thessalonikicity.gr/Ypiresies/Grafeio_Dimarxou/omilies/omilia-21-1-2005.htm | work=Speech by Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos in the protocol signing ceremony for sisterhood with ], ] | title= Official site of the Municipality of Thessaloniki | accessyear=2006 | accessmonthday= July, 25}}</ref> of Greece, the capital being ].


The ethnic Albanians living in the region of Macedonia, as defined above, are mainly concentrated in North Macedonia (especially in the northwestern part that borders ] and Albania), and less in the Albanian ] of Macedonia around the Lake Ohrid. As of 2021, the total population of ] is 446,245 or 24.3% of the country's total population.<ref name="census-mk" />
==Names in the languages of the region==


== Linguistics ==
; Macedonia
{{See also|Political views on the Macedonian language}}
:{|
|]: || ''Maqedonia'' || &nbsp; || ]: || ''Македонија'' (Makedonija)
|-
|]: || ''Մակեդոնիա'' (Makedonia)|| &nbsp; || ]: || ''Makedoniya'
|-
|]: || ''Machidunia''|| &nbsp; || ]: || ''Македония'' (Makedonija)
|-
|]: || ''Македония'' (Makedonija)|| &nbsp; || ]: || ''Македонија, Makedonija''
|-
|]: || ''Μακεδονία'' (Makedonia)|| &nbsp; || ]: || ''Makedonya''
|-
|]: || ''Makedonia, מקדוניה''
|}


As language is one of the elements tied in with national identity, the same disputes that are voiced over demographics are also found in linguistics. There are two main disputes about the use of the word Macedonian to describe a linguistic phenomenon, be it a language or a dialect:
==Terminology by group==


{{Infobox
All these controversies have led ethnic groups in Macedonia to use terms in conflicting ways. Despite the fact that these terms may not always be used in a ] way, they may be perceived as such by the receiving ethnic group. Both ] and ], generally use all terms deriving from ''Macedonia'' to describe their own ethnic or regional group, and have devised several other terms to disambiguate the other side, or the region in general.
|above = Linguistic Macedonia
|label1 = ]
|data1 = A contemporary ], also referred to as ''Slavomacedonian'' or ''Macedonian Slavic''<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Ethnologue | url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=mkd |title= Report for Macedonian language| access-date = 10 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Poulton|2000|p=ix}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://old.linguistlist.org/forms/langs/get-familyid.cfm?CFTREEITEMKEY=IELBA | publisher=Eastern Michigan University | title=The Linguist List | access-date=10 September 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029080659/http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/get-familyid.cfm?CFTREEITEMKEY=IELBA | archive-date=29 October 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=offensive4 group=Note/>
|label2 = ]
|data2 = A dialect of ], typically simply referred to as ''Greek'', since its differences with the Greek spoken in the rest of Greece are only a few words, phrases and some features of the pronunciation
|label3 = ]
|data3 = A language or dialect of antiquity, evidently related to ancient Greek
|label4 = ]
|data4 = Another name for the ]
}}


The classification of the ] is currently debated. At this time it is not conclusively determined whether it was an ], either ]<ref>{{cite book |last=Hammond |first=N.G.L. |author-link=N. G. L. Hammond |year=1989 |title=The Macedonian State. Origins, Institutions and History |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-814927-9 |pages=12–13}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |editor=S. Hornblower |editor2=A. Spawforth |title=The Oxford Classical Dictionary |title-link = Oxford Classical Dictionary |publisher = Oxford University Press |location=US |edition=revised 3rd |year=2003 |pages=905–906 |orig-year=1996 |isbn=978-0-19-860641-3}}</ref> or ],<ref>{{cite book|last=Hammond|first=N.G.L|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1mwiAQAAIAAJ|title=Collected Studies: Further studies on various topics|date=1997|publisher=A.M. Hakkert|pages=79|language=en|access-date=28 June 2022|archive-date=22 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122000621/https://books.google.com/books?id=1mwiAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Worthington|first=Ian|title=Alexander the Great: a Reader|year=2012|edition=2nd|location=London & New York|publisher=Routledge|isbn= 978-0-415-66742-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxqpAgAAQBAJ|page=71}}</ref> a ] of ] forming a ''Hellenic''<ref name="Joseph">B. Joseph (2001): "Ancient Greek". In: J. Garry et al. (eds.) ''Facts about the world's major languages: an encyclopedia of the world's major languages, past and present''. </ref> (i.e. Greco-Macedonian) supergroup, or viewed as an ] language which is a close cousin to Greek (and perhaps somewhat related to ] or ] languages).<ref>{{cite book |editor1=] |editor2=Adams, D.Q. |title=Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1997 |page=361 |isbn=978-1-884964-98-5}}</ref> The scientific community generally agrees that, although sources are available (e.g. ] lexicon, ])<ref>{{in lang|fr}} Dubois L. (1995) ''Une tablette de malédiction de Pella: s'agit-il du premier texte macédonien ?,'' Revue des Études Grecques (REG) 108:190–197</ref> there is no decisive evidence to exclude any of the above hypotheses.<ref>{{cite book|last=Brixhe|first=C.|author2=Panayotou, A.|year=1994 |title=Langues Indo-européennes|publisher=CNRS Editions |editor=Francoise Bader|location=Paris|pages=205–220|edition=Le Macédonien}}</ref> However, the volume of surviving public and private inscriptions that have been discovered shows that there was no other written language in ] apart from Greek.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Joseph |last1=Roisman |first2=Ian |last2=Worthington |date=7 July 2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsJ183uUDkMC&pg=PA94 |title=A Companion to Ancient Macedonia |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |page=94 |isbn=978-1-4443-5163-7 |quote=Many surviving public and private inscriptions indicate that in the Macedonian kingdom there was no dominant written language but standard Attic and later on ''koine'' Greek.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=D. M. |last2=Boardman |first2=John |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vx251bK988gC |title=The Cambridge Ancient History |edition=3rd |volume=VI |page= |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-23348-4}}</ref>
A proportion of ] and ethnic Macedonians have extremist views about their inter-relatedness. On the one hand, extremist ethnic Macedonians<ref name=EthMacNat> {{cite web| url= http://www.popovashapka.com/macedoniainfo/ | title= Macedonian Info | accessmonthday = July, 19 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
seek to deny the possibility of any national, linguistic and historical relatedness to the Bulgarians. On the other hand, extremist Bulgarians seek to downplay this distinctiveness,<ref name=BulgNat1> {{cite web| url=http://www.macedoniainfo.com/ | title= Macedonian Scientific Institute | accessmonthday = July, 19 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
and are often supported by extremist Greeks.<ref name= LAOS>{{el icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=59 | title= Ελληνικές Γραμμές ("Hellenic Lines") | accessmonthday= July, 17 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians seek to deny the self-identification of the ],<ref name = BulgNat2> {{cite web | url=http://www.geocities.com/bulgarmak/ | title = Bulgarian Human Rights in Macedonia | accessmonthday = July, 19 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
which mostly self-identifies as Greek. Extremists on all sides have been known to fabricate and reproduce falsified information, along with denying genuine information and propagating unscientific and ].<ref name= pseudo>{{cite web | last = Arnaiz-Villena | first = A. | coauthors = Dimitroski K., Pacho A. ''et al'' | title = HLA genes in Macedonians and the sub-Saharan origin of the Greeks | work = (theory considered to "lack scientific merit", see below) | publisher = Blackwell Publishing, Inc. | date = 2001 | url = http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1399-0039.2001.057002118.x | doi = 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2001.057002118.x |accessmonthday= July, 23 | accessyear =2006 }}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref name= pseudoYES> {{cite journal | last= ] | first = Luca, L. | coauthors = Piazza A., ] | title =Comment on the above theory: Dropped genetics paper lacked scientific merit | journal = Nature | issue = 415 | pages = 115 | publisher = Nature Publishing Group | date = Jan. 10, 2002 | url = http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v415/n6868/full/415115b_r.html | doi = 10.1038/415115b | accessdate = 2006-07-23}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref name= pseudoINDEED> {{cite web |last = McKie | first = Robin | url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,605798,00.html. | title= Article regarding above theory | work= Journal axes gene research on Jews and Palestinians | publisher = The Observer International | date = November 25, 2001 | accessmonthday= July, 23 | accessyear=2006 }}</ref>


Modern ], a ] language, is not closely related to the Ancient Macedonian language. It is currently the subject of two major disputes. The first is over the name (alternative ways of referring to this language can be found in the ] section and in the article ]). The second dispute is over the existence of a Macedonian language distinct from ], the denial of which is a position supported by nationalist groups, Bulgarian and other linguists and also by many ordinary Bulgarians.<ref name=lunt1986>{{cite journal |last1=Lunt |first1=H. |year= 1986 | title=On Macedonian Nationality|journal=Slavic Review |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=729–734 |doi=10.2307/2498347 |last2=Dogo |first2=Marco |jstor=2498347|s2cid=159638757 }}</ref>
Certain terms are in use by these groups as outlined below. Any denial of self-identification by any side, or any attribution to Macedonia related terms by third parties to the other side, can be seen as highly offensive. General usage of these terms follows:


] is also the name of a dialect of ], a language of the ]. Additionally, ] (or "Macedo-Romanian") is an ], spoken in ] by the Aromanians.<ref name= oxford4 /> The Megleno-Romanians, who speak ], are also known sometimes as "Macedo-Romanians".<ref name="meglen" />
<div class="references-small">
{{MultiCol}}
===Bulgarian===


== Politics ==
<span style="border:1px solid #000">]</span>
{{See also|Macedonia naming dispute}}
* ''<u>Garkomani</u>'' (Гъркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of ] in ] who self-identify as Greeks.<ref name= Garkomani>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://vmro.150m.com/ag/ag_2_5.html |last= Giza | first= Antony | title= The Balkan Countries and the Macedonian Question | accessmonthday= July, 25 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian</u>'' and the ] are considered ]s of ] by Bulgarian linguists, not independent languages or dialects of other languages (e.g. Serbian). This is also the popular view in ]. The Bulgarian government, however, has officially recognized the language.<ref name= BulLang> {{cite press release | title = Article: Bulgaria recognises Macedonian language | publisher = AIMpress Sofia - Skopje | date = 22 Feb., 2006 | url = http://www.aimpress.ch/dyn/trae/archive/data/199902/90222-005-trae-sof.htm | accessdate = 2006-07-25}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonism</u>'' (Македонизъм), ''Macedonistics'' (Македонистика) is a derogatory term, generally synonymous with disciplines such as study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people conducted in the Republic of Macedonia and in former ]. It is generally considered in Bulgaria to be a kind of ].<ref name=macedonism>{{bg icon}} {{cite book | last = Dimitrov | first = Bozhidar | authorlink = Bozhidar Dimitrov | year = 2003 | title = The Ten Lies of Macedonism | publisher = Blaže Koneski | location = Sofia, Bulgaria | id = ISBN 9540718074 | url = http://www.macedoniainfo.com/10_Lies_Macedonism2.htm | accessmonthday= July, 17 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> (see ]).
* ''<u>Macedonist</u>'' (Македонист) is a derogatory term for a person associated with the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people (not necessarily from the Republic of Macedonia or Yugoslavia), whose studies support the official historical doctrine of the Republic of Macedonia or former Yugoslavia.<ref name=macedonism />
* ''<u>Old Bulgarian</u>'' (Старобългарски) is the name ] give to the ] used in the ] among others. In contrast, ] is rarely referred by ] as ''Old Macedonian'', but is referred as ''Old Slavic''.<ref name= OldChurchSlav>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url=http://synpress.bglink.net/11-2002/zograf.htm | last = Todorov | first = Georgi| title= Article: The construction of "Zograf" by Stefan the Great | accessmonthday= July, 25 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
{{ColBreak}}


The controversies in geographic, linguistic and demographic terms, are also manifested in international politics. Among the autonomous countries that were formed as a result of the breakup of ] in the 1990s, was the (until then) subnational entity of the ], by the official name of "Socialist Republic of Macedonia", the others being Serbia, ], ], ] and ]. The peaceful break-away of that nation resulted in the change of its name to "Republic of Macedonia".
===Greek===


{{Multiple image
<span style="border:1px solid #000">]</span>
|header = Political Macedonia
|align = right
|direction = vertical
|width =
|image1 = LocationMacedonia-HEL-2-z.png
|caption1 = {{lang|el|Μακεδονία}} (]) <small>(Macedonia in Greece)</small>
|image2 = LocationMacedonia-ROM-2-z.png
|caption2 = {{lang|mk|Северна Македонија}} (]) <small>(Republic of North Macedonia)</small>
}}


For almost three decades, Republic of Macedonia was the constitutional name<ref name= mkconst /> of ], the sovereign state which occupies the northern part of the geographical region of '']'', which roughly coincides with the geographic subregion of Vardar Macedonia. ''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'' (FYROM) was a term used for this state by the main international organisations, including the ],<ref name=un>{{cite web| url=https://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r225.htm | publisher=United Nations | title=Admission of the State whose Application is Contained in Document A/47/876-S/25147 to Membership in the United Nations | access-date = 17 July 2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonia</u>'' (Μακεδονία) can refer to the ] or ] in ] depending on the context — usually the first being disambiguated.<ref name= Meizon> {{cite book | year=1997 | title=Μείζον Ελληνικό Λεξικό ("Mízon Hellinikó Lexikó") | author=Tegopoulos, Fytrakis | pages=674, 1389 | publisher=Ekdoseis Armonia A.E. | id=ISBN 9607598040}}</ref>
],<ref name= eu>{{cite web | url= http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/the_former_yugoslav_republic_of_macedonia/index_en.htm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080209213156/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/the_former_yugoslav_republic_of_macedonia/index_en.htm | archive-date= 9 February 2008 | publisher= European Union | title= European Commission&nbsp;– Enlargement&nbsp;– The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | access-date = 5 September 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian</u>'' (Μακεδόνας) refers to an ethnically Greek ].<ref name= Meizon />
],<ref name=NATO>{{cite web | url= http://www.nato.int/issues/enlargement/index.html | publisher=NATO |title=Enlargement |access-date = 18 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713001235/http://www.nato.int/issues/enlargement/index.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=13 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Ancient Macedonian</u>'' (Αρχαίος Μακεδόνας) refers to an ].<ref name= Meizon />
],<ref name=IMF>{{cite web | url= http://www.imf.org/external/country/MKD/index.htm| publisher= International Monetary Fund |title=former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the IMF |access-date = 18 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian Slav</u>'', ''<u>Slavic Macedonian</u>'' or ''<u>Slavomacedonian</u>''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ Ref label|offensive4|5|a }} (Σλαβομακεδόνας) refers to a member of the ].
],<ref name=WTO>{{cite web| url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/macedonia_e.htm | publisher= World Trade Organization | title=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the WTO |access-date = 20 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonian Slavic</u>'', ''<u>Slavic Macedonian</u>'' or ''<u>Slavomacedonian</u>''<sup><span style="color:#00f">N-</span></sup>{{ Ref label|offensive4|5|b }} (Σλαβομακεδονικά) refers to the ].<ref>{{cite web |title= Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group-Greece (MRG-G) | work = EBLUL and EUROLANG drop references to "Slavo-Macedonia Language" in favor of " Macedonian Language" following criticism by Macedonian diaspora and Minority rights NGOs | date = 13 March 2002 | url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm/ghm_13_03_02.rtf | format = rtf |accessmonthday= July, 25 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
],<ref name=IOC>{{cite web | publisher=International Olympic Committee |title=Olympic Committee of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia | url= http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/noc_uk.asp?noc_initials=MKD|access-date = 18 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Republic of Skopje</u>'' (Δημοκρατία των Σκοπίων) refers to the ].<ref>{{cite web | last = Nystazopoulou - Pelekidou | first = M. | coauthors = ''translated by:'' Kyzirakos I.| title = The republic of Skopje and the northest geographical boundaries of Macedonia | work = The "Macedonian Question": A Historical Review | publisher = Ionian University, ISBN 9607260015 | date = 1992 | url = http://www.hri.org/docs/macque/map2.html | accessmonthday= July, 23 | accessyear=2006 | language=English}}</ref>
],<ref name=WB>{{cite web | publisher=World Bank | title= Countries & Regions | url= http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/0,,pagePK:180619~theSitePK:136917,00.html|access-date = 18 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>State of Skopje</u>'' (Κράτος των Σκοπίων) refers to the ].<ref>{{cite web | last = ''His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece'' | first = ] | title = The Archbishop on the problem of the naming of the FYROM | work = Letters | publisher = ''Ecclesia'': the official site of the ] | date = Nov. 17, 2004| url = http://www.ecclesia.gr/english/archbishop/letters/fyrom.html |accessmonthday= July, 25 | accessyear = 2006 | language=English}}</ref>
],<ref name=EBRD>{{cite web| publisher=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | title=EBRD and FYR Macedonia | url= http://www.ebrd.com/country/country/mace/index.htm |access-date = 18 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060316063004/http://www.ebrd.com/country/country/mace/index.htm |archive-date = 16 March 2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Skopje</u>'', or ''<u>Skopia</u>'' (Σκόπια) refers to either the ] or its capital city of ].<ref name=Skopje>{{el icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=1932|title= Ελληνικές Γραμμες ("Hellenic Lines") |accessmonthday=July, 18 | accessyear= 2006}} </ref>
],<ref name=OSCE>{{cite web | publisher=The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | title=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia admitted to OSCE | url=http://www.osce.org/item/58530 | access-date=18 July 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606091027/http://www.osce.org/item/58530 | archive-date=6 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* ''<u>Skopjan</u>'', or ''Skopian</u>'' (Σκοπιανός) refers to a member of the ] living in the Republic or outside it, not in Greece.<ref name= Skopje />
],<ref name=fifa>{{cite web | url= https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=mkd/index.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070604230733/http://fifa.com/associations/association=mkd/index.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= 4 June 2007 | publisher=FIFA Organisation | title= FYR Macedonia |access-date = 20 July 2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Skopianika</u>'' (Σκοπιανικά) refers to the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.de/langmkd.html|title=Macedonian in different languages|accessmonthday=July, 19|accessyear=2006|language=English}}</ref>
and ].<ref name=fiba>{{cite web |url= http://www.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?nfID=2604| publisher=FIBA Organisation | title= FYR Macedonia |access-date = 20 July 2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Slavophone</u>'' (Σλαβόφωνος) refers to a member of the Slavic speaking ], which mainly consists of ],<ref name=slavomacedonian> {{cite web| url= http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/macedonians_old.pdf | last = Greek Helsinki Monitor | first = MRG-G | title =The Macedonians | date = 1993 - 1996 | accessmonthday=July, 25 | accessyear=2006 | format=pdf}}</ref> but also ] and ].
The term was introduced in 1993 by the United Nations, following a naming dispute with Greece. Some countries used this term as a stop-gap measure, pending resolution of the naming dispute.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237751372|title=The New Balkans|last=Floudas|first=Demetrius Andreas|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=2002|editor=Kourvetaris|series=East European Monographs|page=85|chapter="FYROM's Dispute with Greece Revisited"|display-editors=etal}}</ref>
* ''<u>Bulgaroskopian</u>'' (Βουλγαροσκοπιανός) is a derogatory term used to refer to ].<ref name = LAOS />
{{ColBreak}}


Greece and North Macedonia each considered this name a compromise:<ref name="Accord">, United Nations, 13 September 1995.</ref> it was opposed by some Greeks for containing the Greek self-identifying name ''Macedonia'',<ref name=":2" /> and by many in North Macedonia for not being the short self-identifying name.<ref>{{cite web|last1 = Gatzoulis | first1 = B.| last2 = Templar |first2=M. A.| title = MACEDONIA? What's in a Name&nbsp;— A Rose by Any Other Name, Is It Still A Rose? | publisher = Pan-Macedonian Association USA, Inc | year = 2000 | url = http://www.panmacedonian.info/namenew.htm |access-date = 25 July 2006 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20060619033628/http://www.panmacedonian.info/namenew.htm <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date = 19 June 2006 }}</ref> For years Greece used it in both the abbreviated (''FYROM'' or {{Lang|el|ΠΓΔΜ}}){{#tag:ref|The abbreviated term "''FYROM''" can be considered offensive when used to refer to ]. The spellout of the term, the "''former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''", is not necessarily considered offensive, but some ] may still find it offensive due to their right of ] being ignored. The term can also be offensive for Greeks under certain contexts, since it contains the word ''Macedonia''.|group=Note}} and spellout form ({{Lang|el|Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας}}).
===Ethnic Macedonian===


The ] ended on 12 February 2019 when the two countries reached the ] and the then-Republic of Macedonia changed its name to ''North Macedonia''.
<span style="border:1px solid #000">]</span>


Macedonia refers also to a geographic ], which roughly coincides with the southernmost major geographic subregion of Macedonia. It is divided into the three administrative sub-regions ('']'') of ], ], and ]. The region is overseen by the ]. The capital of Greek Macedonia is ], which is the largest city in the region of Macedonia;<ref>{{cite web|title=The Role of the Ministry |language=el |publisher=Greek Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace |url=http://www.mathra.gr/default_15.aspx |access-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513004551/http://www.mathra.gr/default_15.aspx |archive-date=13 May 2009 }}</ref> Greeks often call it the "co-capital" of Greece.<ref>{{harvp|Danforth|1995|p=83}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonia</u>'' (Македонија) can interchangeably refer to either the ] or the ].<ref name= ethnmkBrit>{{mk icon}} {{cite book| title= ЕНЦИКЛОПЕДИЈА Британика (Encyclopedia Britannica) |chapter=Maкедонија (Macedonia)| publisher=Топер| location=Скопје |year=2005}}</ref>
* ''<u>Macedonians</u>'' (Македонци) generally refers to the Macedonian ethnic group associated with the ], neighbouring countries and abroad.<ref name= ethnmkBrit />
* ''<u>Aegean Macedonia</u>'' (Егејска Македонија — ''Egejska Makedonija'') refers to ] in ] (as defined by the administrative division of Greece).<ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=10713 | title=A1 TV | work=Средба на Македонците од Егејска Македонија во Трново| accessmonthday = July, 21 | accessyear=2006}}</ref><sup>, </sup><ref name=president>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.president.gov.mk/info.asp?SectionID=9&InfoID=1332#top | title=Official webpage of the President of the Republic of Macedonia | work=Остварени средби на Претседателот Бранко Црвенковски за време на неговата посета на Канада | accessmonthday = July, 21 | accessyear=2006 }}</ref>
* ''<u>Pirin Macedonia</u>'' (Пиринска Македонија — ''Pirinska Makedonija'') refers to the ] of Bulgaria (as defined by the administrative division of Bulgaria).<ref name=president />
* ''<u>Old Macedonian</u>'' (Старомакедонски) is one of the names ] give to the ].<ref name= tribuna>{{bg icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.makedonskatribuna.com/MFAUST.htm | title=Македонска Трибуна (Makedonska Tribuna) | work=Народ, който не познава своята собствена история, се поддава на асимилация | author= Вѣнко Марковски | accessmonthday= July, 21 | accessyear= 2006}} </ref>
* ''<u>Bugarashi</u>'' (бугараши) or ''bugarofili'' (бугарофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in the Republic of Macedonia self-identifying as Bulgarian, or having a pro-Bulgarian orientation.<ref name =vest>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.vest.com.mk/default.asp?id=109142&idg=6&idb=1645&rubrika=Revija | title= Vest Macedonia daily newspaper | work= Бугарофили и србофили се тепале за црквата Свети Никола | accessmonthday= July, 21 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref><sup>, <sup><ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url= http://www.tribune.eu.com/articles/1344.html | title=Tribune | work= Кој го ослободи Марјановиќ од вистината? Кој за што, професорот за “најодвратните бугараши” | accessmonthday= July, 21 | accessyear= 2006}} </ref>
*''<u>Egejci</u>'' (Егејци) is а term sometimes used to refer to people living in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad that are originating from the Aegean Macedonia (today’s Greece).<ref>{{mk icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=22918 | title=A1 TV | work=Протест на „Виножито“ и на Македонците Егејци на Меџитлија | accessmonthday = July, 21 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
* ''<u>Grkomani</u>'' (гркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the ] minority of ] in ] who self-identify as Greeks.<ref name=Grkomani> {{cite web| url= http://www.biserbalkanski.com/article.aspx?oid=24| title=Biser Balkanski, Canadian Macedonian Internet Community |work= Definition of a Gerkoman | accessmonthday=July, 17 | accessyear= 2006}}</ref>
*''<u>Srbomani</u>'' (србомани) or ''srbofili'' (србофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in the Republic of Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation.<ref name= vest /><sup>, <sup><ref>{{cite web |last = Malinovski |first= I. |url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:dfoTcQgyFH0J:libertarianism.50g.com/+Srbomani&hl=en&lr=&strip=1|title="MARKOVGRAD"-Political Thought of the Serbian South.| date= May 23, 2002 |publisher = Skoplje, FYROM |accessmonthday= July, 19| accessyear=2006}}</ref>
{{EndMultiCol}}
</div>


=== Ethnic Macedonian nationalism ===
==Notes==
{{See also|Macedonian nationalism}}
<div class="references-small">


Ethnic Macedonian irredentists following the idea of a "]" have expressed claims to what they refer to as "Aegean Macedonia" (in Greece),<ref name="Times">Greek Macedonia "not a problem", ''The Times'' (London), 5 August 1957.</ref><ref name="Patrides">''Patrides'', Greek Magazine of Toronto, September&nbsp;– October 1988, p. 3.</ref><ref name="Currency">{{cite news| first=Marlise |last=Simons |title=As Republic Flexes, Greeks Tense Up |date=3 February 1992 |newspaper=New York Times | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0DD103CF930A35751C0A964958260 }}</ref> "Pirin Macedonia" (in Bulgaria),<ref name="Bulgaria">{{cite web|last=Lenkova |first=M. |editor=Dimitras, P. |editor2=Papanikolatos, N. |editor3=Law, C. |title=Greek Helsinki Monitor: Macedonians of Bulgaria |website=Minorities in Southeast Europe |publisher=Greek Helsinki Monitor, Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe&nbsp;— Southeast Europe |year=1999 |url=http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF |access-date=24 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723084106/http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF |archive-date=23 July 2006 }}</ref> "Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo" (in Albania), and "Gora and Prohor Pčinjski" (in Serbia).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mymacedonia.net/history/parts.htm|title=Parts of Macedonia in Albania|publisher=MyMacedonia|access-date=11 July 2009|last=Ivanovska|first=Vesna|date=22 October 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129233837/http://www.mymacedonia.net/history/parts.htm|archive-date=29 November 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Partition of Macedonia|url=http://www.mymacedonia.net/history/partition.htm|publisher=MyMacedonia|access-date=11 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727071825/http://www.mymacedonia.net/history/partition.htm|archive-date=27 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
:<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-</span>{{note|offensive1}} During the ], in 1947, the ] published a book, ''I Enandion tis Ellados Epivoulis'' ("Designs on Greece"), namely of documents and speeches on the ongoing Macedonian issue, many translations from Yugolsav officials. It reports ] using the term ''"Aegean Macedonia"'' on the ], ] in the build up to the Greek Civil War; the original document is archived in ‘GFM A/24581/G2/1945’. For Athens, the ''“new term, Aegean Macedonia”'', (also ''“Pirin Macedonia”''), was introduced by Yugoslavs. Contextually, this observation indicates this was part of the Yugoslav offensive against Greece, laying claim to Greek Macedonia, but Athens does not take issue with the term itself. The 1945 date concurs with Bulgarian sources. Further information on this can be found in the article ].


], a professor of anthropology at ], asserts that ethnic Macedonian nationalists, who are concerned with demonstrating the continuity between ancient and modern Macedonians, deny they are Slavs and claim to be the direct descendants of Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians. Danforth stresses, however, that the more moderate Macedonian position, publicly endorsed by ], the first president of the Republic of Macedonia, is modern Macedonians have no relation to Alexander the Great, but are a Slavic people whose ancestors arrived in Macedonia in the sixth century AD. Proponents of both the extreme and the moderate Macedonian positions stress that the ancient Macedonians were a distinct non-Greek people. In addition to affirming the existence of the Macedonian nation, Macedonians are concerned with affirming the existence of a unique Macedonian language as well. They thus emphasize that the Macedonian language has a history dating to the Old Church Slavonic used by ] in the ninth century.<ref name="Danforth_gate">{{cite web | title=How can a woman give birth to one Greek and one Macedonian? | url=http://www.gate.net/~mango/How_can_a_woman_give_birth.htm | work=The construction of national identity among immigrants to Australia from Northern Greece | first=Loring M. | last=Danforth | access-date=26 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602120005/http://www.gate.net/~mango/How_can_a_woman_give_birth.htm | archive-date=2 June 2007 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
:<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-</span>{{note|Pirin}} Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists,<ref name= VMRO-BND>{{bg icon}}{{cite web| url= http://vmro.bg/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=138 |title=VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party)|accessmonthday= July, 21 |accessyear= 2006 }}</ref> the term "'']''" is today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians,<ref>{{bg icon}}{{cite web| url=http://cfi.hit.bg/bulgarian/b_5_3.htm | accessmonthday=July, 21 | accessyear=2006 | title=Club for Fundamental Iniciatives | work=КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ }}</ref> who assert that it is widely used by ] as part of the ] concept of ]. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.


Although ethnic Macedonians agree Macedonian minorities exist in Bulgaria and Greece and these minorities have been subjected to harsh policies of forced assimilation, there are two different positions with regard to what their future should be. These were summarized by Danforth:<ref name="Danforth_gate"/>{{#tag:ref|Most quotations within the text are from ]: "Most precious jewels" from a ] article of 5 January 1993, the others from ''Nationalism and communism'', Thessalonica, 1964.|group=Note}}
:<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-</span> {{note_label|offensive3|3|a}}{{note_label|offensive3|3|b}} The constitutional name of the country "''Republic of Macedonia''" and the short name "''Macedonia''" when referring to the country, can be considered offensive by most ] and ] in ]. The official reasons for this, as described by the ], are:
::"The choice of the name Macedonia by FYROM directly raises the issue of usurpation of the ] ] of a ]. The name constitutes the basis for staking an exclusive rights claim over the ]. More specifically, to call only the ] Macedonians monopolizes the name for the Slavo-Macedonians and creates semiological confusion, whilst violating the human rights and the right to ] of ]. The use of the name by ] alone may also create problems in the trade area, and subsequently become a potential springboard for distorting reality, and a basis for activities far removed from the standards set by the ] and more specifically the clause on good neighbourly relations. The best example of this is to be seen in the content of school textbooks in the ]."<ref name=GrFA> {{cite web | url= http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/South-Eastern+Europe/Balkans/Bilateral+Relations/FYROM/FYROM+-+THE+NAME+ISSUE.htm|title=Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | accessmonthday=July, 17 | accessyear=2006 | work=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) - The Name Issue | publisher= | pages= | language=English }}</ref>


{{blockquote|The goal of more extreme Macedonian nationalists is to create a "free, united, and independent Macedonia" by "liberating" the parts of Macedonia "temporarily occupied" by Bulgaria and Greece. More moderate Macedonian nationalists recognize the inviolability of the Bulgarian and Greek borders and explicitly renounce any territorial claims against the two countries. They do, however, demand that Bulgaria and Greece recognize the existence of Macedonian minorities in their countries and grant them the basic human rights they deserve.}}
:<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-</span>{{note|offensive2}} The abbreviated term "''FYROM''" can be considered offensive when used to refer to the ]. The spellout of the term, the "''former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''", is not necessarily considered offensive, but some ] may still find it offensive due to their right of ] being ignored. The term can also be offensive for Greeks under certain contexts, since it contains the word ''Macedonia''.


Schoolbooks and official government publications in the Republic have shown the country as part of an "unliberated" whole,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.hri.org/Martis/contents/doc5.html | title= The Vision of "Greater Macedonia" | publisher=Hellenic Resources Network| access-date = 11 July 2009 |last=Kofos|first=Evangelos}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Facts About the Republic of Macedonia&nbsp;– Annual Booklets since 1992|location=Skopje|publisher=Republic of Macedonia Secretariat of Information|year=1997|isbn=978-9989-42-044-3|page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macedonianembassy.org.uk/history.html |title=Official site of the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in London |website=An outline of Macedonian history from Ancient times to 1991 |access-date=26 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013051103/http://www.macedonianembassy.org.uk/history.html |archive-date=13 October 2010 }}</ref> although the constitution of the Republic, especially after its amendment in 1995, does not include any territorial claims.<ref name=mkconst /><ref name=Accord />
:<span style="color:#00f;font-variant:small-caps">n-</span> {{note_label|offensive4|5|a}} {{note_label|offensive4|5|b}} Although acceptable in the past, current use of the name "''Slavomacedonian''" in reference to both the ethnic group and the language can be considered ] and offensive by some ]. The ] reports:
:: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness. Unfortunately, according to members of the community, this term was later used by the Greek authorities in a pejorative, discriminatory way; hence the reluctance if not hostility of modern-day Macedonians of Greece (i.e. people with a Macedonian national identity) to accept it."<ref name= slavomacedonian />
</div>


=== Greek nationalism ===
==References==
{{See also|Greek nationalism}}
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references /></div>


Danforth describes the Greek position on Macedonia as follows: because Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians were Greeks, and because ancient and modern Greece are bound in an unbroken line of racial and cultural continuity, it is only Greeks who have the right to identify themselves as Macedonians. According to Danforth, this is why Greeks generally refer to Ethnic Macedonians as "Skopians", a practice comparable to calling Greeks "Athenians". Danforth asserts that the negation of Macedonian identity in Greek nationalist ideology focuses on three main points: the existence of a Macedonian nation, a Macedonian language, and a Macedonian minority in Greece. More specifically, Danforth says:<ref name="Danforth_gate"/>
==Further reading==

<div class="references-small">
{{blockquote|From the Greek nationalist perspective there cannot be a Macedonian nation since there has never been an independent Macedonian state: the Macedonian nation is an "artificial creation", an "invention", of Tito, who "baptized" a "mosaic of nationalities" with the Greek name "Macedonians". Similarly Greek nationalists claim that because the language spoken by the ancient Macedonians was Greek, the Slavic language spoken by the "Skopians" cannot be called "the Macedonian language." Greek sources generally refer to it as "the linguistic idiom of Skopje" and describe it as a corrupt and impoverished dialect of Bulgarian. Finally, the Greek government denies the existence of a Macedonian minority in northern Greece, claiming that there exists only a small group of "Slavophone Hellenes" or "bilingual Greeks", who speak Greek and "a local Slavic dialect" but have a "Greek national consciousness".}}
*Eugene N. Borza: ''Before Alexander: constructing early Macedonia.'' Claremont, CA: Regina Books, 1999. ISBN 0-941690-96-0 (pb)

*Robin Lane Fox, ''Alexander the Great,'' Penguin Books, 1973, ISBN 0140088784 (pb).
Thus from the Greek nationalist perspective the use of the term "Macedonian" by the "Slavs of Skopje" constitutes a "felony", an "act of plagiarism" against the Greek people. Greek nationalists believe that, by calling themselves "Macedonians", the ethnic Macedonians are "stealing" a Greek name, "embezzling" Greek cultural heritage, and "falsifying" Greek history.{{#tag:ref|Danforth quotes Kofos, telling a foreign reporter, "It is as if a robber came into my house and stole my most precious jewels—my history, my culture, my identity."<ref name="Danforth_gate"/>|group=Note}} Greek fears that the use of the name "Macedonia" by the ethnic Macedonians will inevitably lead to the assertion of irredentist claims to territory in Greek Macedonia are heightened by fairly recent historical events.{{#tag:ref|"During World War II Bulgaria occupied portions of northern Greece, while one of the specific goals of the founders of the People's Republic of Macedonia in 1944 was "the unification of the entire Macedonian nation", to be achieved by "the liberation of the other two segments" of Macedonia."<ref name="Danforth_gate"/>|group=Note}}
*{{cite book|last = Wilkinson|first= Henry Robert|

title= Maps and politics; a review of the ethnographic cartography of Macedonia|
From a different point of view, Demetrius Andreas M.-A. Floudas, of ], a leading commentator on the naming dispute from the Greek side, sums up this nationalistic reaction as follows: the Republic of Macedonia was accused of usurping the historical and cultural patrimony of Greece "in order to furnish a nucleus of national self-esteem for the new state and provide its citizens with a new, distinct, non-Bulgarian, non-Serbian, non-Albanian identity".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330524708|title="'Macedonia Nostra'" (PDF).|last=Floudas|first=Demetrius Andreas|website=ResearchGate -- LSE Conference Paper; Greece: Prospects for Modernisation, London, 1994.}}</ref> The Republic emerged thus to Greek eyes as a country with a personality crisis, "a nondescript parasitic state"<ref name=":0" /> that lived off the history of its neighbours, because it allegedly lacked an illustrious past of its own, for the sake of achieving cohesion for what Greeks regarded as an "unhomogeneous little new nation".<ref name=":1" />
location= Liverpool|publisher=Liverpool University Press|Date= 1951}}

</div>
Although generally supportive of the Greek position, Floudas criticises some elements of the Greek stance as follows:<ref name=":2">{{cite journal|last=Floudas|first=Demetrius Andreas|journal=Journal of Political and Military Sociology|volume=24|page=285|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/11160801/name-conflict-conflict-name-analysis-greeces-dispute-fyrom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031090521/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/11160801/name-conflict-conflict-name-analysis-greeces-dispute-fyrom|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2014|title=A Name for a Conflict or a Conflict for a Name? An Analysis of Greece's Dispute with FYROM|access-date=24 January 2019 | year=1996}}</ref>

{{blockquote|What appeared to go unquestioned in Greece nevertheless was whether there was indeed substance in the claims of FYROM that their citizens do feel members of a distinct 'Macedonian' nationality. To answer this appropriately, neither the decades of persistent indoctrination should be left out of consideration, nor Greece's violent struggle since 1991 in contrast to her complacency for the 45 years before this. If it was a common bond that the people in Skopje wanted, they found it by claiming this name and rallying the whole population in a united resistance front under a common cause against pugnacious Greece. After this bitter and protracted struggle, even the ones in FYROM who might have not initially been infused with any distinct Macedonian ethnic identity must be feeling very Macedonian now, thanks to Greece}}

As of early 2008, the official position of Greece, adopted unanimously by the four largest political parties, has made a more moderate shift towards accepting a "composite name solution" (i.e. the use of the name "Macedonia" plus some qualifier), so as to disambiguate the former Yugoslav Republic from the Greek region of Macedonia and the wider geographic region of the same name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/South-Eastern+Europe/Balkans/Bilateral+Relations/FYROM/FYROM+-+THE+NAME+ISSUE.htm |publisher=Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=17 July 2006 |title=Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)&nbsp;— The Name Issue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708044400/http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic%2BRegions/South-Eastern%2BEurope/Balkans/Bilateral%2BRelations/FYROM/FYROM%2B-%2BTHE%2BNAME%2BISSUE.htm |archive-date=8 July 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Skai News|url=http://www.skai.gr/master_story.php?id=74004|title=KKE about Kosovo&nbsp;— FYROM|language=el|access-date=3 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002044531/http://www.skai.gr/master_story.php?id=74004|archive-date=2 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Names in the languages of the region ==
* ]: {{lang|sq|Maqedonia}}
* ]: {{lang|rup|Machidunia}}/{{lang|rup|Machedonia}}
* ]: {{lang|bg|Македония}} ({{lang|bg-Latn|Makedonia}})
* ]: {{lang|el|Μακεδονία}} ({{lang|el-Latn|Makedonia}})
* ]: {{lang|lad-Latn|Makedonia}}, {{lang|lad-Hebr|מקדוניה}}
* ]: {{lang|mk|Македонија}} ({{lang|mk-Latn|Makedonija}})
* ]: {{lang|ruq|Machedonia}}
* ]: {{lang|rom|Makedoniya}}
* ]: {{lang|sr-Cyrl|Македонија}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|Makedonija}}
* ] (archaic): {{lang|sr-Cyrl|Маћедонија}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|Maćedonija}}
* ]: {{lang|tr|Makedonya}}

== Terminology by group ==
{{citation needed span|All these controversies have led ethnic groups in Macedonia to use terms in conflicting ways. Despite the fact that these terms may not always be used in a ] way, they may be perceived as such by the ethnic group to which they are applied. Both Greeks and ethnic Macedonians generally use all terms deriving from ''Macedonia'' to describe their own regional or ethnic group, and have devised several other terms to disambiguate the other side, or the region in general.|date=December 2022}}

Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians seek to deny the self-identification of the ] in northern Greece, which mostly self-identifies as Greek.<ref>{{harvp|Shea|1997|p=125}}</ref>

{{citation needed span|Certain terms are in use by these groups as outlined below. Any denial of self-identification by any side, or any attribution of Macedonia related terms by third parties to the other side, can be seen as highly offensive. General usage of these terms follows:|date=December 2022}}

=== Bulgarian ===
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Гъркомани}}) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Македонец}}) is a person originating from the region of Macedonia&nbsp;– the term has only regional, not ethnic meaning, and it usually means a Bulgarian, or a clarification is made (Greek, Albanian...).
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Македонски}}) and the ] are considered dialects of Bulgarian by Bulgarian linguists; not independent languages or dialects of other languages (e.g. Serbian). This is also the popular view in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government, therefore, has officially recognized the language merely as "the constitutional language of the Republic of North Macedonia".<ref name=bcb /><ref name= BulLang>{{cite press release | title = Article: Bulgaria Recognizes Macedonian Language | publisher = AIMpress Sofia&nbsp;– Skopje | date = 22 February 2006| url = http://www.aimpress.ch/dyn/trae/archive/data/199902/90222-005-trae-sof.htm | access-date = 25 July 2006}}</ref> Translations are officially called "adaptations".
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Македонизъм}}) is the political ideology or simply views that the Slavs of Macedonia are an ethnic group separate from Bulgarians, with their own separate language, history and culture. It is also used to describe what Bulgarians view as the falsification of their history whether by Macedonian or foreign scholars who subscribe to the Macedonist point of view. It carries strong negative connotations.<ref name=macedonism>{{cite journal |last=Rychlík |first=Jan |year=2007|title=The Consciousness of the Slavonic Orthodox Population in Pirin Macedonia and the Identity of the Population of Moravia and Moravian Slovakia |journal=Sprawy Narodowościowe |issue=31 |pages=183–197 |url=http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/issuedetails.aspx?issueid=e89e2e39-164b-4bd4-9632-b0ebc2cce969&articleId=1eebae8c-34b9-42a4-8537-3089639fb54c |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref>
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Македонистика}}) is a term generally synonymous with disciplines such as the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people conducted in North Macedonia and in the former Yugoslavia. It is generally considered in Bulgaria to be a kind of ].
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Македонист}}) is a person (typically Macedonian Slav) who believes that Macedonian Slavs are not ethnic Bulgarians but a separate ethnic group, directly descended from the ancient Macedonians. It is a more negatively charged synonym of "Macedonian nationalist". More rarely it is used for someone associated with the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people (not necessarily from North Macedonia or Yugoslavia), whose studies support the official historical doctrine of North Macedonia or former Yugoslavia.<ref name=macedonism />
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Сърбомани}}) is a derogatory term used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation. It is also used pejoratively by Bulgarians to refer to Macedonians who refuse the Bulgarian national idea.<ref>, {{ISBN|3-0343-0196-0}}</ref>
* ''']''' ({{Lang|bg|Старобългарски}}) is the name Bulgarians give to the ] used in the ] among others. In contrast, Old Church Slavonic is rarely referred to by ethnic Macedonians as "Old Macedonian" or "Old Slavic".<ref name= OldChurchSlav>{{harvp|Shea|1997|p=198}}</ref>

=== Greek ===
* '''Macedonia''' ({{lang|el|Μακεδονία}}) usually refers to the region of Greek Macedonia. It can also refer to the modern general definition of Macedonia, but rarely so.<ref name= Meizon>{{cite book |year=1997 |title=Μείζον Ελληνικό Λεξικό ("Mízon Hellinikó Lexikó") |editor1=Tegopoulos |editor2=Fytrakis |pages=674, 1389 |publisher=Ekdoseis Armonia A.E. |isbn=978-960-7598-04-2}}</ref>
* '''Macedonian''' ({{lang|el|Μακεδόνας}}) refers to an ethnically Greek Macedonian.<ref name= Meizon />
* '''Ancient Macedonian''' ({{lang|el|Αρχαίος Μακεδόνας}}) refers to an Ancient Macedonian.<ref name= Meizon />
* '''Macedonian Slav''', '''Slavic Macedonian''' or '''Slavomacedonian'''{{#tag:ref|Although acceptable in the past, current use of the name "''Slavomacedonian''" in reference to both the ethnic group and the language can be considered ] and offensive by ] living in Greece. The ] reports:

{{blockquote|
"...the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness. Unfortunately, according to members of the community, this term was later used by the Greek authorities in a pejorative, discriminatory way; hence the reluctance if not hostility of modern-day Macedonians of Greece (i.e. people with a Macedonian national identity) to accept it."<ref name= slavomacedonian />
}}|group=Note|name=offensive4}} ({{lang|el|Σλαβομακεδόνας}}) refers to a member of the Macedonian ethnic group.
* '''Macedonian Slavic''', '''Slavic Macedonian''' or '''Slavomacedonian'''<ref name=offensive4 group=Note/> ({{lang|el|Σλαβομακεδονικά}}) refers to the Macedonian language.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group–Greece (MRG-G) | title = EBLUL and EUROLANG Drop References to "Slavo-Macedonia Language" in favor of " Macedonian Language" following Criticism by Macedonian Diaspora and Minority Rights NGOs | date = 13 March 2002 | url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm/ghm_13_03_02.rtf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030318105214/http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm/ghm_13_03_02.rtf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 March 2003 | format = rtf | access-date = 25 July 2006 }}</ref>
* '''Republic of Skopje''' ({{lang|el|Δημοκρατία των Σκοπίων}}) refers to North Macedonia.<ref>{{cite book | last = Nystazopoulou&nbsp;– Pelekidou | first = M. | author2 = ''translated by:'' Kyzirakos I.| chapter = The Republic of Skopje and the {{sic|Northest|nolink=y}} Geographical Boundaries of Macedonia | title = The "Macedonian Question": A Historical Review | publisher = Ionian University|isbn=978-960-7260-01-7 | year = 1992 | chapter-url = http://www.hri.org/docs/macque/map2.html | access-date = 23 July 2006 }}</ref>
* '''State of Skopje''' ({{lang|el|Κράτος των Σκοπίων}}) refers to North Macedonia.<ref>{{cite web |last = Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens |author-link=Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens |title = The Archbishop on the Problem of the Naming of the FYROM |website = Letters |publisher = Ecclesia: the official site of the ] |date = 17 November 2004 |url = http://www.ecclesia.gr/english/archbishop/letters/fyrom.html |access-date = 25 July 2006 }}</ref>
* '''Skopje''', or '''Skopia''' ({{lang|el|Σκόπια}}) refers to either North Macedonia or its capital city of Skopje.<ref name=Skopje>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=1932 |publisher=Ελληνικές Γραμμες ("Hellenic Lines") |access-date=18 July 2006 |script-title=el:Ο Γιώργος Καρατζαφέρης έβαλε "στην θέση της" την Υπουργό Εξωτερικών των Σκοπίων |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901194242/http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=1932 |archive-date=1 September 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* '''Skopjan''', or '''Skopian''' ({{lang|el|Σκοπιανός}}) refers to a member of the ethnic Macedonian ethnic group living in the Republic or outside it, but not to any group native to Greece.<ref name= Skopje />
* '''Skopiana or Skopianika''' ({{lang|el|Σκοπιανά}} or {{lang|el|Σκοπιανικά}}) refers to the Macedonian language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geonames.de/langmkd.html |title=Macedonian in Different Languages |access-date=19 July 2006 |publisher=geonames.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207154703/http://www.geonames.de/langmkd.html |archive-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''Slavophone''' ({{lang|el|Σλαβόφωνος}}) refers to a member of the Slavic speaking minority in Greece.<ref name=slavomacedonian>{{cite web |url = http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/macedonians_old.pdf |last = Greek Helsinki Monitor |first = MRG-G |title = The Macedonians |date = 1993–1996 |access-date = 25 July 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060921145406/http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/macedonians_old.pdf |archive-date = 21 September 2006 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>
* '''Bulgaroskopian''' ({{lang|el|Βουλγαροσκοπιανός}}) refers to ethnic Macedonians, implying Bulgarian ethnic affiliation.<ref name=LAOS>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=59 |language=el |title=Hellenic Lines |access-date=17 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902165216/http://www.e-grammes.gr/article.php?id=59 |archive-date=2 September 2006 }}</ref>
* '''Pseudomacedonian''' ({{lang|el|Ψευτομακεδόνας}}) refers to ethnic Macedonians, and asserts their nationhood is contrived.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=antibaro.gr |url=http://palio.antibaro.gr/national/xolebas_slabomakedones.htm |script-title=el:Η επιστροφή των "Σλαβομακεδόνων" |trans-title=The return of the "Slavomacedonians" |access-date = 10 September 2006 |language=el}}</ref>

The last eight terms are often considered offensive in North Macedonia.

=== Ethnic Macedonian ===
* '''Macedonia''' ({{lang|mk|Македонија}}) can refer to either the region of Macedonia or the Republic of North Macedonia.<ref name= ethnmkBrit>{{cite book |title= ЕНЦИКЛОПЕДИЈА Британика (Encyclopædia Britannica) |chapter=Maкедонија (Macedonia) |publisher=Топер |location=Скопје |year=2005|language=mk}}</ref>
* '''Macedonians''' ({{lang|mk|Македонци}}) generally refers to the Macedonian ethnic group associated with North Macedonia, neighbouring countries and abroad.<ref name= ethnmkBrit />
* '''Aegean Macedonia''' ({{lang|mk|Егејска Македонија}}&nbsp;– {{lang|mk-latn|Egejska Makedonija}}) refers to Macedonia in Greece (as defined by the administrative division of Greece).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=10713 |publisher=A1 TV |title=Средба на Македонците од Егејска Македонија во Трново |access-date=21 July 2006 |language=mk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109180430/http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=10713 |archive-date=9 November 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=president>{{cite web| url=http://www.president.gov.mk/info.asp?SectionID=9&InfoID=1332#top |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202005041/http://www.president.gov.mk/info.asp?SectionID=9&InfoID=1332#top |archive-date=2 February 2008 |publisher=Official webpage of the President of the Republic of Macedonia |title=Остварени средби на Претседателот Бранко Црвенковски за време на неговата посета на Канада |access-date = 21 July 2006 |language=mk}}</ref>
* '''Pirin Macedonia''' ({{lang|mk|Пиринска Македонија}}&nbsp;– {{lang|mk-latn|Pirinska Makedonija}}) refers to the Blagoevgrad Province of Bulgaria (as defined by the administrative division of Bulgaria).<ref name=president />
* '''Bugaraši''' ({{lang|mk|бугараши}}) or '']'' ({{lang|mk|бугарофили}}) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Bulgarian, or having a pro-Bulgarian orientation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.eu.com/articles/1344.html|newspaper=Tribune|title=Кој го ослободи Марјановиќ од вистината? Кој за што, професорот за "најодвратните бугараши"|access-date=21 July 2006|language=mk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710203717/http://www.tribune.eu.com/articles/1344.html|archive-date=10 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* '''Egejci''' ({{lang|mk|Егејци}}) refers to people living in North Macedonia and abroad that are originating from Aegean Macedonia (Greek Macedonia), mainly refugees from the ], also known as Aegean Macedonians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=22918 |publisher=A1 TV |title=Протест на "Виножито" и на Македонците Егејци на Меџитлија |access-date=21 July 2006 |language=mk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109180257/http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.asp?VestID=22918 |archive-date=9 November 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* ''']''' ({{lang|mk|гркомани}}) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.<ref name=Grkomani>{{cite web |url= http://www.biserbalkanski.com/article.aspx?oid=24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928191553/http://www.biserbalkanski.com/article.aspx?oid=24 |archive-date= 28 September 2007 |first=Biser |last=Balkanski |publisher=Canadian Macedonian Internet Community |title= Definition of a Gerkoman |access-date = 17 July 2006 }}</ref>
* ''']''' ({{lang|mk|србомани}}) or {{lang|mk-latn|srbofili}} ({{lang|mk|србофили}}) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation.<ref>{{cite web |last = Malinovski |first = I. |url = http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/forum/free-speech-macedonia-forum/805-fyromians-faq-version-1-0-igor-malinovski.html |title = "MARKOVGRAD"&nbsp;– Political Thought of the Serbian South |date = 23 May 2002 |publisher = Skoplje, FYROM |access-date = 19 July 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416194855/http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/forum/free-speech-macedonia-forum/805-fyromians-faq-version-1-0-igor-malinovski.html |archive-date = 16 April 2008 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The first three terms are often considered offensive in Greece.


==See also== ==See also==
{{portal|Europe|History}}
*]
* ]
* ]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Danforth |first=Loring M. |author-link=Loring Danforth |year=1995 |title=The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World |location=Princeton, NJ |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-691-04357-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/macedonianconfli00danf }}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Kazhdan |editor-first=Alexander |editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan |year=1991 |title=Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-504652-6 |title-link=Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium }}
*{{cite book |last=Poulton |first=Hugh |year=2000 |title=Who Are the Macedonians? |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-21359-4 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Roisman |first1=Joseph |last2=Worthington |first2=Ian |year=2010 |title=A Companion to Ancient Macedonia |publisher=John Wiley and Sons |isbn=978-1-4051-7936-2 }}
*{{cite book |last=Rossos |first=Andrew |year=2008 |title=Macedonia and the Macedonians |chapter=Land and People in the Crossroads |publisher=Hoover Press |isbn=978-0-8179-4882-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Shea |first=John |year=1997 |title=Macedonia and Greece |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0228-1 }}
*{{cite book |last=Treadgold |first=Warren |year=1997 |title=A History of the Byzantine State and Society |publisher=Stanford University Press |location=Stanford, CA |isbn=978-0-8047-2630-6 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{wiktionary-inline|Macedonia}}

{{Hellenic foreign relations}}
{{North Macedonia topics}}


]
{{featured article}}
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 03:15, 27 August 2024

Use of the name 'Macedonia' This article is about the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives. For specific uses of the term, see Macedonia.

The contemporary geographical region of Macedonia is not officially defined by any international organisation or state. In some contexts it appears to span five (six counting Kosovo, disputed with Serbia) current sovereign countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia. For more details see the boundaries and definitions section in Macedonia (region)

The name Macedonia is used in a number of competing or overlapping meanings to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples in a part of south-eastern Europe. It has been a major source of political controversy since the early 20th century. The situation is complicated because different ethnic groups use different terminology for the same entity, or the same terminology for different entities, with different political connotations.

Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula. Geographically, no single definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted by all scholars and ethnic groups. Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as Macedonians: two, a Bulgarian and a Greek one at a regional level, while a third ethnic Macedonian one at a national level. Linguistically, the names and affiliations of languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the rights to the extent of the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece and North Macedonia. After using the provisional reference of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM), Greece and the then-Republic of Macedonia reached an agreement that the latter would change its name to North Macedonia. It came into effect on 12 February 2019.

Etymology

The name Macedonia derives from the Greek Μακεδονία (Makedonía), a kingdom (later, region) named after the ancient Macedonians, from the Greek Μακεδόνες (Makedones), 'Macedonians', explained as having originally meant either 'the tall ones' or 'highlanders'. The word Μακεδνόν (Makednon) is first attested in Herodotus as the name which the Greek ethnos was called (which was later called Dorian) when it settled around Pindus mountain range. Makednon is related to the Ancient Greek adjective μακεδνός (makednós), meaning 'tall, slim', attested in Homer and Hesychius of Alexandria in its feminine form μακεδνή (makednē), meaning 'long, tall'. It is cognate with the words μακρός (makros, 'long, large') and μήκος (mēkos, 'length'), both deriving from the Indo-European root *mak-, meaning 'long, slender'. Linguist Robert S. P. Beekes claims that both terms are of Pre-Greek substrate origin and cannot be explained in terms of Indo-European morphology; however, De Decker argues the arguments are insufficient.

History

Main article: History of the region of Macedonia Historical MacedoniaMap of ancient MacedonAncient MacedonMap of Macedonia as Roman provinceRoman provinceMap of Macedonia as Byzantine provinceByzantine provinceMap of Macedonia during the Ottoman EmpireLate Ottoman period
  • Ancient Macedon: Approximate borders of the kingdom c. 350 BC, before expansion to conquer the whole known world, according to archaeological findings and historic references.
  • Roman province: Macedonia occupied areas outside the contemporary geographical area to the West (approximate borders of maximum extent). There was also a later diocese of Macedonia.
  • Byzantine province: Macedonia excluded Thessaloniki and occupied only the Eastern part of the contemporary geographical area (approximate borders).
  • Ottoman period: Macedonia did not exist as an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire (approximate borders). During the first four centuries of the Ottoman period, western scholars thought of Macedonia in terms of Greco-Roman geography. In the early 19th century, the definition of Macedonia by most scholars, approximately matched the contemporary region, with occasional variations.

The region of Macedonia has been home to several historical political entities, which have used the name Macedonia; the main ones are given below. The borders of each of these entities were different.

Early history

Ancient Macedonia

Main article: Macedonia (ancient kingdom)

Macedonia or Macedon, the ancient kingdom, was located on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, and later became the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. It was centered on the fertile plains west of the Gulf of Salonica (today north-western Greece); the first Macedonian state emerged in the 8th or early 7th century BC. Its extent beyond the center varied; some Macedonian kings could not hold their capital; Philip II expanded his power until it reached from Epirus, across Thrace to Gallipoli, and from Thermopylae to the Danube. His son Alexander the Great conquered most of the land in southwestern Asia stretching from what is currently Turkey in the west to parts of India in the east. However, while Alexander's conquests are of major historical importance as having launched the Hellenistic Age, Macedon as a state had no significant territorial gains due to them. Alexander's kingdom fell apart after his death in 323 BC; several of his Successors attempted to form a kingdom for themselves in Macedonia; the kingdom formed by Antigonus Gonatas contained all the land Philip II had started with and controlled much of what is now modern Greece; it lasted until the Romans divided it into four republics in 168 BC.

Roman Macedonia

Main article: Macedonia (Roman province) See also: Diocese of Macedonia

The ancient Romans had two different entities called Macedonia, at different levels. Macedonia was established as a Roman province in 146 BC. Its boundaries were shifted from time to time for administrative convenience, but during the Roman Republic and the Principate it extended west to the Adriatic and south to Central Greece.

Under Diocletian, Thessaly, including parts of West Macedonia, was split off to form a new province, and the central and southern Balkan provinces were grouped into the Diocese of Moesia. At some point in the 4th century (first securely attested in 370) this was divided into two new dioceses, the mostly Latin-speaking Diocese of Dacia in the north and the mostly Greek-speaking Diocese of Macedonia in the south. Under Constantine the Great, the western part of the province of Macedonia was also split off to form the new province of Epirus nova. After Constantine's death, the western Balkans, Macedonia included, became part of the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum.

With the exception of a short-lived division between Macedonia Prima in the south and Macedonia Salutaris in the north towards the end of the 4th century (attested only in the Notitia Dignitatum), Macedonia formed a single province until re-divided into southern and northern parts sometime in the late 5th century (the division is first securely attested in 482), although the province seems to have been reunified by 535. According to the 6th-century Synecdemus, Macedonia Prima, with Thessalonica as its capital and governed by a consularis, counted 32 cities, and Macedonia Secunda in the north, with Stobi as its capital and governed by a praeses, only eight. The approximate boundary between the two ran on a rough line from north of Bitola (which belonged to Macedonia Prima) to the area of Demir Kapija.

Byzantine Macedonia

Main article: Macedonia (theme)

During the 7th century, most of the Balkans were overrun by Slavic invasions, which left only the fortified towns and the coasts in the hands of the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire. "Macedonia" was then used for a new theme in the late 8th century under Irene of Athens. Geographically however it was located in Thrace and not in Macedonia, which was under the themes of Thessalonica, Strymon and other smaller commands such as Boleron or Drougoubiteia. Themes were not named geographically and the original sense was "army". They became districts during the military and fiscal crisis of the seventh century, when the Byzantine armies were instructed to find their supplies from the locals, wherever they happened to be. Thus the Armeniac theme was considerably west of Armenia; the Thracesian Theme was in Asia Minor, not in Thrace. The Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire acquired its name from its founder, Basil I the Macedonian, an Armenian by descent, who was born in the theme of Macedonia.

The interior of Macedonia remained in Slavic and later Bulgarian hands until the campaigns of Basil II, which ended the existence of the Bulgarian state and extended Byzantine authority across the central and northern Balkans. Thereafter Macedonia remained under Byzantine control until the Fourth Crusade (1204). A short-lived Latin Kingdom of Thessalonica was established which survived until 1224, when it was captured by Epirus. Most of Macedonia then came under the control of the Empire of Nicaea in 1246, although its northern regions remained disputed with the Serbs and the Bulgarians. Most of the region was conquered by the Serbs under Stephen Dushan during the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347. Only Thessalonica and its environs remained in Byzantine hands. By the late 14th century, the Ottoman Turks in turn had conquered the region, although Thessalonica held out under Byzantine and later Venetian control until 1430.

1647 Portolan chart of the Mediterranean with Macedonia labelled

Ottomans and geographical Macedonia

Main article: Ottoman Macedonia See also: Macedonian Struggle and Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization

The Ottomans did not keep Macedonia as an administrative unit: since 1864 parts of geographical Macedonia lay in three vilayets, which also comprised some non-Macedonian areas. The northern part was the Kosovo vilayet and then of Skopje; the Thessaloniki (south), and the Monastir Vilayet (western) were also created. This administrative division lasted until 1912–13, when Macedonia was divided among the Balkan states.

Modern history

Main article: History of modern Macedonia See also: World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia and National Liberation Front (Macedonia)

Since the early stages of the Greek Revolution, the provisional government of Greece claimed Macedonia as part of Greek national territory, but the Treaty of Constantinople (1832), which established a Greek independent state, set its northern boundary between Arta and Volos. When the Ottoman Empire started breaking apart, Macedonia was claimed by all members of the Balkan League (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Bulgaria), and by Romania. Under the Treaty of San Stefano that ended the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–78 the entire region, except Thessaloniki, was included in the borders of Bulgaria, but after the Congress of Berlin in 1878 the region was returned to the Ottoman Empire. The armies of the Balkan League advanced and occupied Macedonia in the First Balkan War in 1912. Because of disagreements between the allies about the partition of the region, the Second Balkan War erupted, and in its aftermath the arbitrary region of Macedonia was split into the following entities, that existed or still exist in this region:

Geography

Macedonia (as a current geographical term) refers to a region of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe, covering some 60,000 or 70,000 square kilometers. Although the region's borders are not officially defined by any international organization or state, in some contexts, the territory appears to correspond to the basins of (from west to east) the Haliacmon (Aliákmonas), Vardar / Axios and Struma / Strymónas rivers, and the plains around Thessaloniki and Serres.

The borders of the wider region of Macedonia as portrayed by different authors between 1843 and 1927. Most maps of that period have similar borders, differing slightly from each other; a few maps restrict the region to its southern part.

In a historic context, the term Macedonia was used in various ways. Macedonia was not an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire; its entire territory was part of the beylerbeylik of Rumelia. The geographer H. R. Wilkinson suggests that the region "defies definition" but that many mappers agree "on its general location". Macedonia was well enough defined in 1897 for Gladstone to propose "Macedonia for the Macedonians"; philhellenes argued that the phrase could not be used by a man of impartiallity, while Turcophiles asserted that there are six different kinds of Macedonians, and only Turkish rule could prevail total anarchy in the region. The Balkan nations began to proclaim their rights to it after the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878 and its revision at the Congress of Berlin.

Many ethnographic maps were produced in this period of controversy; these differ primarily in the areas given to each nationality within Macedonia. This was in part a result of the choice of definition: an inhabitant of Macedonia might well have different nationalities depending on whether the basis of classification was denomination, descent, language, self-identification or personal choice. In addition, the Ottoman census, taken on the basis of religion, was misquoted by all sides; descent, or "race", was largely conjectural; inhabitants of Macedonia might speak a different language at the market and at home, and the same Slavic dialect might be called Serbian "with Bulgarian influences", Macedonian, or West-Bulgarian.

These maps also differed somewhat in the boundaries given to Macedonia. Its only inarguable limits were the Aegean Sea and the Serbian and Bulgarian frontiers (as of 1885); where it bordered Old Serbia, Albania, and Thrace (all parts of Ottoman Rumelia) was debatable.

The Greek ethnographer Nicolaides, the Austrian Meinhard, and the Bulgarian Kǎnčev placed the northern boundary of Macedonia at the Šar Mountains and the Crna hills, as had scholars before 1878. The Serb Spiridon Gopčević preferred a line much further south, assigning the entire region from Skopje to Strumica to "Old Serbia"; and some later Greek geographers have defined a more restricted Macedonia. In addition, maps might vary in smaller details: as to whether this town or that was Macedonian. One Italian map included Prizren, where Nicolaides and Meinhard had drawn the boundary just south of it. On the south and west, Grevena, Korçë, and Konitsa varied from map to map; on the east, the usual line is the lower Mesta / Nestos river and then north or northwest, but one German geographer takes the line so far west as to exclude Bansko and Nevrokop / Gotse Delchev.

Subregions

The contemporary geographical region of Macedonia is not officially defined by any international organization or state. In some contexts it appears to span six states: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia   Aegean Macedonia (or Greek Macedonia)   Pirin Macedonia (or Bulgarian Macedonia)   Vardar Macedonia (or North Macedonia)   Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo   Gora and Prohor Pchinski

The region of Macedonia is commonly divided into three major and two minor sub-regions. The name Macedonia appears under certain contexts on the major regions, while the smaller ones are traditionally referred to by other local toponyms:

Major regions

The region of Macedonia is commonly split geographically into three main sub-regions, especially when discussing the Macedonian Question. The terms are used in non-partisan scholarly works, although they are also used in ethnic Macedonian literature of an irredentist nature.

Aegean Macedonia (or Greek Macedonia) refers to an area in the south of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are, overall, those of ancient Macedonia in Greece. It covers an area of 34,200 square kilometres (13,200 sq mi) (for discussion of the reported irredentist origin of this term, see Aegean Macedonia).

Pirin Macedonia (or Bulgarian Macedonia) is an area in the east of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area approximately coincide with those of Blagoevgrad Province in Bulgaria. It covers an area of 6,449 square kilometres (2,490 sq mi).

Vardar Macedonia (formerly Yugoslav Macedonia) is an area in the north of the Macedonia region. The borders of the area are those of North Macedonia. It covers an area of 25,333 square kilometres (9,781 sq mi).

Minor regions

In addition to the above-named sub-regions, there are also three smaller regions, in Albania, Kosovo and Serbia respectively. These regions are also considered geographically part of Macedonia. They are referred to by ethnic Macedonians as follows, but typically are not so referred to by non-partisan scholars.

Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo is a small area in the west of the Macedonia region in Albania, mainly around Lake Ohrid. It includes parts of the Korçë, Pogradec and Devoll districts. These districts wholly occupy about 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 sq mi), but the area concerned is significantly smaller.

Gora (part of the municipality of Dragaš) and Prohor Pčinjski are minor parts in the north of the Macedonia region in Serbia.

Demographics

Main article: Demographic history of Macedonia
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2023)

The region, as defined above, has a total population of about 5 million. The main disambiguation issue in demographics is the self-identifying name of two contemporary groups. The ethnic Macedonian population of North Macedonia self-identify as Macedonian on a national level, while the Greek Macedonians self-identify as both Macedonian on a regional, and Greek on a national level. According to the Greek arguments, the ancient Macedonians' nationality was Greek and thus, the use of the term on a national level lays claims to their history. This disambiguation problem has led to a wide variety of terms used to refer to the separate groups, more information of which can be found in the terminology by group section.

Demographic Macedonia
Macedonians
c. 5 million
All inhabitants of the region, irrespective of ethnicity
Macedonians
c. 1.3 million plus diaspora
An ethnic group, more rarely referred to as Macedonian Slavs or Slavomacedonians (used mostly by Greek authorities to refer to the ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece)
Macedonians
c. 2.0 million
Citizens of North Macedonia irrespective of ethnicity
Macedonians
c. 2.6 million plus diaspora
An ethnic Greek regional group, also referred to as Greek Macedonians
Macedonians
(unknown population)
A group of antiquity, also referred to as Ancient Macedonians.
Macedonians
c. 0.3 million
A Bulgarian regional group, also referred to as Piriners
Macedo-Romanians
c. 0.3 million
An alternative name for Aromanians and Megleno-Romanians

The self-identifying Macedonians (collectively referring to the inhabitants of the region) that inhabit or inhabited the area are:

As an ethnic group, Macedonians refers to the majority (58.4%, 2021) of the population of North Macedonia. Statistics for 2021 indicate the population of ethnic Macedonians within the country as c. 1,100,000. On the other hand, as a legal term, it refers to all the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation. However, the preamble of the constitution distinguishes between "the Macedonian people" and the "Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanics and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia", but for whom "full equality as citizens" is provided. As of 2021 the total population of the country is 1,836,713.

As a regional group in Greece, Macedonians refers to ethnic Greeks (98%, 2001) living in regions referred to as Macedonia, and particularly Greek Macedonia. This group composes the vast majority of the population of the Greek region of Macedonia. The 2001 census for the total population of the Macedonia region in Greece shows 2,625,681.

The same term in antiquity described the inhabitants of the kingdom of Macedon, including their notable rulers Philip II and Alexander the Great who self-identified as Greeks.

As a regional group in Bulgaria, Macedonians refers to the inhabitants of Bulgarian Macedonia, who in their vast majority self-identify as Bulgarians at a national level and as Macedonians at a regional, but not ethnic level. As of 2001, the total population of Bulgarian Macedonia is 341,245, while the ethnic Macedonians living in the same region are 3,117. The Bulgarian Macedonians also self-identify as Piriners (пиринци, pirintsi) to avoid confusion with the neighboring ethnic group.

Macedo-Romanians can be used as an alternative name for Aromanians, people living throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Northern Dobruja, Romania. According to Ethnologue, their total population in all countries is 306,237. This not very frequent appellation is the only one with the disambiguating portmanteau, both within the members of the same ethnic group and the other ethnic groups in the area. To make matters more confusing, Aromanians are often called Machedoni by Romanians, as opposed to the citizens of North Macedonia, who are called Macedoneni. "Macedo-Romanian" is also used for the Megleno-Romanians.

The ethnic Albanians living in the region of Macedonia, as defined above, are mainly concentrated in North Macedonia (especially in the northwestern part that borders Kosovo and Albania), and less in the Albanian minor sub-region of Macedonia around the Lake Ohrid. As of 2021, the total population of Albanians in North Macedonia is 446,245 or 24.3% of the country's total population.

Linguistics

See also: Political views on the Macedonian language

As language is one of the elements tied in with national identity, the same disputes that are voiced over demographics are also found in linguistics. There are two main disputes about the use of the word Macedonian to describe a linguistic phenomenon, be it a language or a dialect:

Linguistic Macedonia
MacedonianA contemporary Slavic language, also referred to as Slavomacedonian or Macedonian Slavic
MacedonianA dialect of Modern Greek, typically simply referred to as Greek, since its differences with the Greek spoken in the rest of Greece are only a few words, phrases and some features of the pronunciation
MacedonianA language or dialect of antiquity, evidently related to ancient Greek
Macedo-RomanianAnother name for the Aromanian language

The classification of the Ancient Macedonian language is currently debated. At this time it is not conclusively determined whether it was an Ancient Greek dialect, either Doric Greek or Aeolic Greek, a sister language of Ancient Greek forming a Hellenic (i.e. Greco-Macedonian) supergroup, or viewed as an Indo-European language which is a close cousin to Greek (and perhaps somewhat related to Thracian or Phrygian languages). The scientific community generally agrees that, although sources are available (e.g. Hesychius' lexicon, Pella curse tablet) there is no decisive evidence to exclude any of the above hypotheses. However, the volume of surviving public and private inscriptions that have been discovered shows that there was no other written language in ancient Macedonia apart from Greek.

Modern Macedonian language, a South Slavic language, is not closely related to the Ancient Macedonian language. It is currently the subject of two major disputes. The first is over the name (alternative ways of referring to this language can be found in the terminology by group section and in the article Macedonian language naming dispute). The second dispute is over the existence of a Macedonian language distinct from Bulgarian, the denial of which is a position supported by nationalist groups, Bulgarian and other linguists and also by many ordinary Bulgarians.

Macedonian is also the name of a dialect of Modern Greek, a language of the Indo-European family. Additionally, Aromanian (or "Macedo-Romanian") is an Eastern Romance language, spoken in Southeastern Europe by the Aromanians. The Megleno-Romanians, who speak Megleno-Romanian, are also known sometimes as "Macedo-Romanians".

Politics

See also: Macedonia naming dispute

The controversies in geographic, linguistic and demographic terms, are also manifested in international politics. Among the autonomous countries that were formed as a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, was the (until then) subnational entity of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, by the official name of "Socialist Republic of Macedonia", the others being Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The peaceful break-away of that nation resulted in the change of its name to "Republic of Macedonia".

Political MacedoniaΜακεδονία (Macedonia) (Macedonia in Greece)Северна Македонија (North Macedonia) (Republic of North Macedonia)

For almost three decades, Republic of Macedonia was the constitutional name of North Macedonia, the sovereign state which occupies the northern part of the geographical region of Macedonia, which roughly coincides with the geographic subregion of Vardar Macedonia. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was a term used for this state by the main international organisations, including the United Nations, European Union, NATO, IMF, WTO, IOC, World Bank, EBRD, OSCE, FIFA, and FIBA. The term was introduced in 1993 by the United Nations, following a naming dispute with Greece. Some countries used this term as a stop-gap measure, pending resolution of the naming dispute.

Greece and North Macedonia each considered this name a compromise: it was opposed by some Greeks for containing the Greek self-identifying name Macedonia, and by many in North Macedonia for not being the short self-identifying name. For years Greece used it in both the abbreviated (FYROM or ΠΓΔΜ) and spellout form (Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας).

The Macedonia naming dispute ended on 12 February 2019 when the two countries reached the Prespa agreement and the then-Republic of Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia.

Macedonia refers also to a geographic region in Greece, which roughly coincides with the southernmost major geographic subregion of Macedonia. It is divided into the three administrative sub-regions (regions) of West, Central, and East Macedonia and Thrace. The region is overseen by the Ministry for Macedonia–Thrace. The capital of Greek Macedonia is Thessaloniki, which is the largest city in the region of Macedonia; Greeks often call it the "co-capital" of Greece.

Ethnic Macedonian nationalism

See also: Macedonian nationalism

Ethnic Macedonian irredentists following the idea of a "United Macedonia" have expressed claims to what they refer to as "Aegean Macedonia" (in Greece), "Pirin Macedonia" (in Bulgaria), "Mala Prespa and Golo Bardo" (in Albania), and "Gora and Prohor Pčinjski" (in Serbia).

Loring Danforth, a professor of anthropology at Bates College, asserts that ethnic Macedonian nationalists, who are concerned with demonstrating the continuity between ancient and modern Macedonians, deny they are Slavs and claim to be the direct descendants of Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians. Danforth stresses, however, that the more moderate Macedonian position, publicly endorsed by Kiro Gligorov, the first president of the Republic of Macedonia, is modern Macedonians have no relation to Alexander the Great, but are a Slavic people whose ancestors arrived in Macedonia in the sixth century AD. Proponents of both the extreme and the moderate Macedonian positions stress that the ancient Macedonians were a distinct non-Greek people. In addition to affirming the existence of the Macedonian nation, Macedonians are concerned with affirming the existence of a unique Macedonian language as well. They thus emphasize that the Macedonian language has a history dating to the Old Church Slavonic used by Saints Cyril and Methodius in the ninth century.

Although ethnic Macedonians agree Macedonian minorities exist in Bulgaria and Greece and these minorities have been subjected to harsh policies of forced assimilation, there are two different positions with regard to what their future should be. These were summarized by Danforth:

The goal of more extreme Macedonian nationalists is to create a "free, united, and independent Macedonia" by "liberating" the parts of Macedonia "temporarily occupied" by Bulgaria and Greece. More moderate Macedonian nationalists recognize the inviolability of the Bulgarian and Greek borders and explicitly renounce any territorial claims against the two countries. They do, however, demand that Bulgaria and Greece recognize the existence of Macedonian minorities in their countries and grant them the basic human rights they deserve.

Schoolbooks and official government publications in the Republic have shown the country as part of an "unliberated" whole, although the constitution of the Republic, especially after its amendment in 1995, does not include any territorial claims.

Greek nationalism

See also: Greek nationalism

Danforth describes the Greek position on Macedonia as follows: because Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians were Greeks, and because ancient and modern Greece are bound in an unbroken line of racial and cultural continuity, it is only Greeks who have the right to identify themselves as Macedonians. According to Danforth, this is why Greeks generally refer to Ethnic Macedonians as "Skopians", a practice comparable to calling Greeks "Athenians". Danforth asserts that the negation of Macedonian identity in Greek nationalist ideology focuses on three main points: the existence of a Macedonian nation, a Macedonian language, and a Macedonian minority in Greece. More specifically, Danforth says:

From the Greek nationalist perspective there cannot be a Macedonian nation since there has never been an independent Macedonian state: the Macedonian nation is an "artificial creation", an "invention", of Tito, who "baptized" a "mosaic of nationalities" with the Greek name "Macedonians". Similarly Greek nationalists claim that because the language spoken by the ancient Macedonians was Greek, the Slavic language spoken by the "Skopians" cannot be called "the Macedonian language." Greek sources generally refer to it as "the linguistic idiom of Skopje" and describe it as a corrupt and impoverished dialect of Bulgarian. Finally, the Greek government denies the existence of a Macedonian minority in northern Greece, claiming that there exists only a small group of "Slavophone Hellenes" or "bilingual Greeks", who speak Greek and "a local Slavic dialect" but have a "Greek national consciousness".

Thus from the Greek nationalist perspective the use of the term "Macedonian" by the "Slavs of Skopje" constitutes a "felony", an "act of plagiarism" against the Greek people. Greek nationalists believe that, by calling themselves "Macedonians", the ethnic Macedonians are "stealing" a Greek name, "embezzling" Greek cultural heritage, and "falsifying" Greek history. Greek fears that the use of the name "Macedonia" by the ethnic Macedonians will inevitably lead to the assertion of irredentist claims to territory in Greek Macedonia are heightened by fairly recent historical events.

From a different point of view, Demetrius Andreas M.-A. Floudas, of Hughes Hall, Cambridge, a leading commentator on the naming dispute from the Greek side, sums up this nationalistic reaction as follows: the Republic of Macedonia was accused of usurping the historical and cultural patrimony of Greece "in order to furnish a nucleus of national self-esteem for the new state and provide its citizens with a new, distinct, non-Bulgarian, non-Serbian, non-Albanian identity". The Republic emerged thus to Greek eyes as a country with a personality crisis, "a nondescript parasitic state" that lived off the history of its neighbours, because it allegedly lacked an illustrious past of its own, for the sake of achieving cohesion for what Greeks regarded as an "unhomogeneous little new nation".

Although generally supportive of the Greek position, Floudas criticises some elements of the Greek stance as follows:

What appeared to go unquestioned in Greece nevertheless was whether there was indeed substance in the claims of FYROM that their citizens do feel members of a distinct 'Macedonian' nationality. To answer this appropriately, neither the decades of persistent indoctrination should be left out of consideration, nor Greece's violent struggle since 1991 in contrast to her complacency for the 45 years before this. If it was a common bond that the people in Skopje wanted, they found it by claiming this name and rallying the whole population in a united resistance front under a common cause against pugnacious Greece. After this bitter and protracted struggle, even the ones in FYROM who might have not initially been infused with any distinct Macedonian ethnic identity must be feeling very Macedonian now, thanks to Greece

As of early 2008, the official position of Greece, adopted unanimously by the four largest political parties, has made a more moderate shift towards accepting a "composite name solution" (i.e. the use of the name "Macedonia" plus some qualifier), so as to disambiguate the former Yugoslav Republic from the Greek region of Macedonia and the wider geographic region of the same name.

Names in the languages of the region

Terminology by group

All these controversies have led ethnic groups in Macedonia to use terms in conflicting ways. Despite the fact that these terms may not always be used in a pejorative way, they may be perceived as such by the ethnic group to which they are applied. Both Greeks and ethnic Macedonians generally use all terms deriving from Macedonia to describe their own regional or ethnic group, and have devised several other terms to disambiguate the other side, or the region in general.

Bulgarians and ethnic Macedonians seek to deny the self-identification of the Slavic speaking minority in northern Greece, which mostly self-identifies as Greek.

Certain terms are in use by these groups as outlined below. Any denial of self-identification by any side, or any attribution of Macedonia related terms by third parties to the other side, can be seen as highly offensive. General usage of these terms follows:

Bulgarian

  • Gărkomani (Гъркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.
  • Macedonian (Македонец) is a person originating from the region of Macedonia – the term has only regional, not ethnic meaning, and it usually means a Bulgarian, or a clarification is made (Greek, Albanian...).
  • Macedonian (Македонски) and the Slavic dialects of Greece are considered dialects of Bulgarian by Bulgarian linguists; not independent languages or dialects of other languages (e.g. Serbian). This is also the popular view in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government, therefore, has officially recognized the language merely as "the constitutional language of the Republic of North Macedonia". Translations are officially called "adaptations".
  • Macedonism (Македонизъм) is the political ideology or simply views that the Slavs of Macedonia are an ethnic group separate from Bulgarians, with their own separate language, history and culture. It is also used to describe what Bulgarians view as the falsification of their history whether by Macedonian or foreign scholars who subscribe to the Macedonist point of view. It carries strong negative connotations.
  • Macedonian studies (Македонистика) is a term generally synonymous with disciplines such as the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people conducted in North Macedonia and in the former Yugoslavia. It is generally considered in Bulgaria to be a kind of pseudoscience.
  • Macedonist (Македонист) is a person (typically Macedonian Slav) who believes that Macedonian Slavs are not ethnic Bulgarians but a separate ethnic group, directly descended from the ancient Macedonians. It is a more negatively charged synonym of "Macedonian nationalist". More rarely it is used for someone associated with the study of the origins of the Macedonian language and history of the Macedonian people (not necessarily from North Macedonia or Yugoslavia), whose studies support the official historical doctrine of North Macedonia or former Yugoslavia.
  • Sărbomani (Сърбомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation. It is also used pejoratively by Bulgarians to refer to Macedonians who refuse the Bulgarian national idea.
  • Old Bulgarian (Старобългарски) is the name Bulgarians give to the Old Church Slavonic language used in the Ohrid Literary School among others. In contrast, Old Church Slavonic is rarely referred to by ethnic Macedonians as "Old Macedonian" or "Old Slavic".

Greek

  • Macedonia (Μακεδονία) usually refers to the region of Greek Macedonia. It can also refer to the modern general definition of Macedonia, but rarely so.
  • Macedonian (Μακεδόνας) refers to an ethnically Greek Macedonian.
  • Ancient Macedonian (Αρχαίος Μακεδόνας) refers to an Ancient Macedonian.
  • Macedonian Slav, Slavic Macedonian or Slavomacedonian (Σλαβομακεδόνας) refers to a member of the Macedonian ethnic group.
  • Macedonian Slavic, Slavic Macedonian or Slavomacedonian (Σλαβομακεδονικά) refers to the Macedonian language.
  • Republic of Skopje (Δημοκρατία των Σκοπίων) refers to North Macedonia.
  • State of Skopje (Κράτος των Σκοπίων) refers to North Macedonia.
  • Skopje, or Skopia (Σκόπια) refers to either North Macedonia or its capital city of Skopje.
  • Skopjan, or Skopian (Σκοπιανός) refers to a member of the ethnic Macedonian ethnic group living in the Republic or outside it, but not to any group native to Greece.
  • Skopiana or Skopianika (Σκοπιανά or Σκοπιανικά) refers to the Macedonian language.
  • Slavophone (Σλαβόφωνος) refers to a member of the Slavic speaking minority in Greece.
  • Bulgaroskopian (Βουλγαροσκοπιανός) refers to ethnic Macedonians, implying Bulgarian ethnic affiliation.
  • Pseudomacedonian (Ψευτομακεδόνας) refers to ethnic Macedonians, and asserts their nationhood is contrived.

The last eight terms are often considered offensive in North Macedonia.

Ethnic Macedonian

  • Macedonia (Македонија) can refer to either the region of Macedonia or the Republic of North Macedonia.
  • Macedonians (Македонци) generally refers to the Macedonian ethnic group associated with North Macedonia, neighbouring countries and abroad.
  • Aegean Macedonia (Егејска Македонија – Egejska Makedonija) refers to Macedonia in Greece (as defined by the administrative division of Greece).
  • Pirin Macedonia (Пиринска Македонија – Pirinska Makedonija) refers to the Blagoevgrad Province of Bulgaria (as defined by the administrative division of Bulgaria).
  • Bugaraši (бугараши) or bugarofili (бугарофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Bulgarian, or having a pro-Bulgarian orientation.
  • Egejci (Егејци) refers to people living in North Macedonia and abroad that are originating from Aegean Macedonia (Greek Macedonia), mainly refugees from the Greek Civil War, also known as Aegean Macedonians.
  • Grkomani (гркомани) is a derogatory term used to refer to the largest portion of the Slavic-speaking minority of Macedonia in Greece who self-identify as Greeks.
  • Srbomani (србомани) or srbofili (србофили) are derogatory terms used to refer to people in North Macedonia self-identifying as Serbian, or having a pro-Serb orientation.

The first three terms are often considered offensive in Greece.

See also

Notes

  1. The former constitutional name of the country "Republic of Macedonia" and the short name "Macedonia" when referring to the country, would be considered vexatious by most Greeks, especially inhabitants of the Greek province of Macedonia. The official reasons for this, as described by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were:

    "The choice of the name Macedonia by FYROM directly raises the issue of usurpation of the cultural heritage of a neighbouring country. The name constitutes the basis for staking an exclusive rights claim over the entire geographical area of Macedonia. More specifically, to call only the Slavo-Macedonians Macedonians monopolizes the name for the Slavo-Macedonians and creates semiological confusion, whilst violating the human rights and the right to self-determination of Greek Macedonians. The use of the name by FYROM alone may also create problems in the trade area, and subsequently become a potential springboard for distorting reality, and a basis for activities far removed from the standards set by the European Union and more specifically the clause on good neighbourly relations. The best example of this is to be seen in the content of school textbooks in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

  2. For an attempt to delineate the boundaries of the region, see Kontogiorgi (2006).
  3. For the difficulties to determine the national divisions of the population through the Ottoman census, see Jelavich (1993). For the Ottoman census and surveys about the population of Macedonia between 1882–1906, see Shaw (1977).
  4. During the Greek Civil War, in 1947, the Greek Ministry of Press and Information published a book, I Enandion tis Ellados Epivoulis ("Designs on Greece"), namely of documents and speeches on the ongoing Macedonian issue, many translations from Yugoslav officials. It reports Josip Broz Tito using the term "Aegean Macedonia" on 11 October 1945 in the buildup to the Greek Civil War; the original document is archived in 'GFM A/24581/G2/1945'. For Athens, the "new term, Aegean Macedonia", (also "Pirin Macedonia"), was introduced by Yugoslavs. Contextually, this observation indicates this was part of the Yugoslav offensive against Greece, laying claim to Greek Macedonia, but Athens does not take issue with the term itself. The 1945 date concurs with Bulgarian sources. Further information on this can be found in the article Aegean Macedonia.
  5. Despite a history of use by Bulgarian nationalists, the terms "Pirin Macedonia" or "Bulgarian Macedonia" are today regarded as offensive by certain Bulgarians, who assert that it is widely used by Macedonists as part of the irredentist concept of United Macedonia. However, many people in the country also think of the name as a purely geographical term, which it has historically been. Its use is, thus, controversial.
  6. For the conflicts between Serbs and ethnic Macedonians about the Gora region and Proho, see Bugajski (1995) and Warrander & Knaus (2007).
  7. ^ Although acceptable in the past, current use of the name "Slavomacedonian" in reference to both the ethnic group and the language can be considered pejorative and offensive by ethnic Macedonians living in Greece. The Greek Helsinki Monitor reports:

    "...the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness. Unfortunately, according to members of the community, this term was later used by the Greek authorities in a pejorative, discriminatory way; hence the reluctance if not hostility of modern-day Macedonians of Greece (i.e. people with a Macedonian national identity) to accept it."

  8. The abbreviated term "FYROM" can be considered offensive when used to refer to North Macedonia. The spellout of the term, the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", is not necessarily considered offensive, but some ethnic Macedonians may still find it offensive due to their right of self-identification being ignored. The term can also be offensive for Greeks under certain contexts, since it contains the word Macedonia.
  9. Most quotations within the text are from Evangelos Kofos: "Most precious jewels" from a Boston Globe article of 5 January 1993, the others from Nationalism and communism, Thessalonica, 1964.
  10. Danforth quotes Kofos, telling a foreign reporter, "It is as if a robber came into my house and stole my most precious jewels—my history, my culture, my identity."
  11. "During World War II Bulgaria occupied portions of northern Greece, while one of the specific goals of the founders of the People's Republic of Macedonia in 1944 was "the unification of the entire Macedonian nation", to be achieved by "the liberation of the other two segments" of Macedonia."

References

  1. Μακεδονία, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  2. Harper, Douglas. "Macedonia". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. Herodotus, Histories, 1.56.2,3: "ταῦτα γὰρ ἦν τὰ προκεκριμένα, ἐόντα τὸ ἀρχαῖον τὸ μὲν Πελασγικὸν τὸ δὲ Ἑλληνικὸν ἔθνος. καὶ τὸ μὲν οὐδαμῇ κω ἐξεχώρησε, τὸ δὲ πολυπλάνητον κάρτα. ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ Δευκαλίωνος βασιλέος οἴκεε γῆν τὴν Φθιῶτιν, ἐπὶ δὲ Δώρου τοῦ Ἕλληνος τὴν ὑπὸ τὴν Ὄσσαν τε καὶ τὸν Ὄλυμπον χώρην, καλεομένην δὲ Ἱστιαιῶτιν: ἐκ δὲ τῆς Ἱστιαιώτιδος ὡς ἐξανέστη ὑπὸ Καδμείων, οἴκεε ἐν Πίνδῳ Μακεδνὸν καλεόμενον: ἐνθεῦτεν δὲ αὖτις ἐς τὴν Δρυοπίδα μετέβη καὶ ἐκ τῆς Δρυοπίδος οὕτω ἐς Πελοπόννησον ἐλθὸν Δωρικὸν ἐκλήθη."
  4. μακεδνός, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  5. Homer, Odyssey, 7.106
  6. Hesychii Alexandrini lexicon
  7. μακρός, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  8. μήκος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  9. *mak-, Etymonline
  10. Beekes, Robert (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, vol. II, Leiden, Boston: Brill, p. 894
  11. De Decker, Filip (2016). "An etymological case study on the and vocabulary in Robert Beekes's new etymological dictionary of Greek". Studia Linguistica Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis. 133 (2). doi:10.4467/20834624SL.16.006.5152.
  12. ^ Wilkinson, H. R. (1951). Maps and Politics: a Review of the Ethnographic Cartography of Macedonia. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. pp. (a) p. 1, (b) pp. 2–4, 99, 121 ff., (c) p. 120, (d) pp. 4, 99, 137, (e) pp. 2, 4. LCC DR701.M3 W5.
  13. Mark, Joshua J. "Macedon definition". Ancient history. World History Encyclopedia.
  14. Lane Fox, Robin (1973). Alexander the Great. London: Allen Lane. pp. 17, 30. ISBN 978-0-7139-0500-7.
  15. Rostovtseff, Michael Ivanovitch (1926). History of the Ancient World (translated by James Duff Duff). Vol. II. Biblo & Tannen Publishers. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8196-2163-4.
  16. Roisman & Worthington (2010), pp. 547–548
  17. Roisman & Worthington (2010), pp. 548–550
  18. Kazhdan (1991), p. 1261
  19. Kazhdan (1991), pp. 1261–1262, 1968
  20. Treadgold (1997), pp. 421, 478, et passim
  21. Treadgold (1997), p. 455
  22. Kazhdan (1991), pp. 1262, 2072–2073
  23. The region was not called "Macedonia" by the Ottomans, and the name "Macedonia" gained currency together with the ascendance of rival nationalism. Collective Memory, National Identity, and Ethnic Conflict: Greece, Bulgaria, and the Macedonian Question, Victor Roudometof, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, ISBN 0275976483, p. 89.
  24. Rossos (2008), p. 67
  25. Miller, William (1936). The Ottoman empire and its successors. Cambridge : The University Press. pp. 9, 447–49.
  26. Comstock, John (1829). History of the Greek Revolution. New York: W. W. Reed & co. p. 5.
  27. Poulton (2000), pp. 85–86
  28. Curtis, Glenn E., ed. (1992). Yugoslavia: a country study (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. xxxvi–xxxvii. ISBN 0-8444-0735-6. OCLC 24792849.
  29. "Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) — The Name Issue. Archived from the original on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  30. Poulton (2000), p. 14
  31. Kontogiorgi, Elisabeth (2006). "Macedonia 1870–1922 – The Regional Context". Population Exchange in Greek Macedonia. Oxford University Press. pp. 11–13. ISBN 978-0-19-927896-1.
  32. McCarthy, Justin (2001). The Ottoman Peoples and the End of Empire. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-340-70657-2.
  33. Rossos (2008), p. 51
  34. Roessel, David Ernest (2002). "Pet Balkan People". In Byron's Shadow. Oxford University Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-19-514386-7.
  35. Erickson, Edward J. (2003). "The "Macedonian Question"". Defeat in Detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 39–41. ISBN 978-0-275-97888-4.
  36. Jelavich, Barbara (1993). "The end of Ottoman Rule in Europe". History of the Balkans. Cambridge University Press. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-521-27459-3.
  37. Shaw, Ezel Kural (1977). "The Rise of Modern Turkey". History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey. Cambridge University Press. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-0-521-29166-8.
  38. ^ Danforth (1995), p. 44
  39. ^ "Aegean Part of Macedonia". MyMacedonia.net. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
  40. "Encyclopædia Britannica". Macedonia. 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  41. Danforth (1995), pp. 82–83
  42. "VMRO-BND (Bulgarian National Party)" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  43. "Club for Fundamental Initiatives". КАК СТАВАХ НАЦИОНАЛИСТ (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  44. "Official site: District of Blagoevgrad". Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  45. ^ "CIA — The World Factbook". Macedonia. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  46. E.g., see Poulton (2000), p. 146; Rossos (2008), p. 2: "Albania received the relatively small areas of Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo."
  47. See Rossos (2008), p. 132, for the small parts of the region of Macedonia, which were given to Albania in 1912.
  48. Bugajski, Janusz (1995). "Macedonia". Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe. M. E. Sharpe. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-1-56324-283-0. Conflicts between Serbs and Macedonians have also persisted over the status of the Prohor Pčinjski Monastery, which was technically on the Serbian side of the border but claimed as a major Macedonian shrine
  49. Warrander, Gail; Knaus, Verena (2007). "the Gorani". Kosovo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-84162-199-9. have been variously claimed by Bosnians and Serbs, and most recently by Macedonia.
  50. Frucht, Richard C. (2008). "History". Eastern Europe. ABC–CLIO. p. 595. ISBN 978-1-57607-800-6.
  51. Livanios, Dimitrios (2008). "Introduction". The Macedonian Question. Oxford University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7453-1589-8.
  52. Cowan, Jane K. (2000). Macedonia. Pluto Press. pp. xiv–xv. ISBN 978-0-7453-1589-8.
  53. ^ "Macedonians of Bulgaria". British Council — Bulgaria. Retrieved 11 September 2006.
  54. North Macedonia, CIA — The World Factbook.
  55. ^ "Total resident population, households and dwellings in the Republic of North Macedonia, census 2021" (PDF). State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia. p. 32. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  56. ^ "Macedonia – Constitution". Universität Bern – Institut fur öffentliches Recht. Archived from the original on 16 June 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  57. "2001 census" (in Greek). General Secretariat of National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (zip xls) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  58. Savill, Agnes (1990). "Accession of Alexander". Alexander the Great and his Time. Barnes & Noble Publishing. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-88029-591-8.
  59. "2001 census" (in Bulgarian). National Statistical Institute (of Bulgaria). Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  60. "Поне един ден веселие и безгрижие" (in Bulgarian). Български новини. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  61. "Report for Macedo-Romanian language". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
  62. ^ Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged — Draft Revision (Mar. 2005) — "Macedo-"
  63. Shea (1997), p. 162
  64. ^ Țîrcomnicu, Emil (2009). "Some topics of the traditional wedding customs of the Macedo–Romanians (Aromanians and Megleno–Romanians)". Romanian Journal of Population Studies. 3 (3): 141–152.
  65. "Report for Macedonian language". Ethnologue. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  66. Poulton (2000), p. ix
  67. "The Linguist List". Eastern Michigan University. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  68. Hammond, N.G.L. (1989). The Macedonian State. Origins, Institutions and History. Oxford University Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-0-19-814927-9.
  69. Masson, Olivier (2003) . S. Hornblower; A. Spawforth (eds.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (revised 3rd ed.). US: Oxford University Press. pp. 905–906. ISBN 978-0-19-860641-3.
  70. Hammond, N.G.L (1997). Collected Studies: Further studies on various topics. A.M. Hakkert. p. 79. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  71. Worthington, Ian (2012). Alexander the Great: a Reader (2nd ed.). London & New York: Routledge. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-415-66742-5.
  72. B. Joseph (2001): "Ancient Greek". In: J. Garry et al. (eds.) Facts about the world's major languages: an encyclopedia of the world's major languages, past and present. Online paper
  73. Mallory, J.P.; Adams, D.Q., eds. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 361. ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5.
  74. (in French) Dubois L. (1995) Une tablette de malédiction de Pella: s'agit-il du premier texte macédonien ?, Revue des Études Grecques (REG) 108:190–197
  75. Brixhe, C.; Panayotou, A. (1994). Francoise Bader (ed.). Langues Indo-européennes (Le Macédonien ed.). Paris: CNRS Editions. pp. 205–220.
  76. Roisman, Joseph; Worthington, Ian (7 July 2011). A Companion to Ancient Macedonia. John Wiley & Sons. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4443-5163-7. Many surviving public and private inscriptions indicate that in the Macedonian kingdom there was no dominant written language but standard Attic and later on koine Greek.
  77. Lewis, D. M.; Boardman, John (2000). The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. VI (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 730 . ISBN 978-0-521-23348-4.
  78. Lunt, H.; Dogo, Marco (1986). "On Macedonian Nationality". Slavic Review. 45 (4): 729–734. doi:10.2307/2498347. JSTOR 2498347. S2CID 159638757.
  79. "Admission of the State whose Application is Contained in Document A/47/876-S/25147 to Membership in the United Nations". United Nations. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  80. "European Commission – Enlargement – The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". European Union. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
  81. "Enlargement". NATO. Archived from the original on 13 July 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  82. "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the IMF". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  83. "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the WTO". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  84. "Olympic Committee of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  85. "Countries & Regions". World Bank. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  86. "EBRD and FYR Macedonia". European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Archived from the original on 16 March 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  87. "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia admitted to OSCE". The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  88. "FYR Macedonia". FIFA Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  89. "FYR Macedonia". FIBA Organisation. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  90. ^ Floudas, Demetrius Andreas (2002). ""FYROM's Dispute with Greece Revisited"". In Kourvetaris; et al. (eds.). The New Balkans. East European Monographs. Columbia University Press. p. 85.
  91. ^ "Interim Accord between the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", United Nations, 13 September 1995.
  92. ^ Floudas, Demetrius Andreas (1996). "A Name for a Conflict or a Conflict for a Name? An Analysis of Greece's Dispute with FYROM". Journal of Political and Military Sociology. 24: 285. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  93. Gatzoulis, B.; Templar, M. A. (2000). "MACEDONIA? What's in a Name — A Rose by Any Other Name, Is It Still A Rose?". Pan-Macedonian Association USA, Inc. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  94. "The Role of the Ministry" (in Greek). Greek Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  95. Danforth (1995), p. 83
  96. Greek Macedonia "not a problem", The Times (London), 5 August 1957.
  97. Patrides, Greek Magazine of Toronto, September – October 1988, p. 3.
  98. Simons, Marlise (3 February 1992). "As Republic Flexes, Greeks Tense Up". New York Times.
  99. Lenkova, M. (1999). Dimitras, P.; Papanikolatos, N.; Law, C. (eds.). "Greek Helsinki Monitor: Macedonians of Bulgaria" (PDF). Minorities in Southeast Europe. Greek Helsinki Monitor, Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe — Southeast Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2006.
  100. Ivanovska, Vesna (22 October 2001). "Parts of Macedonia in Albania". MyMacedonia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  101. "The Partition of Macedonia". MyMacedonia. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  102. ^ Danforth, Loring M. "How can a woman give birth to one Greek and one Macedonian?". The construction of national identity among immigrants to Australia from Northern Greece. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  103. Kofos, Evangelos. "The Vision of "Greater Macedonia"". Hellenic Resources Network. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  104. Facts About the Republic of Macedonia – Annual Booklets since 1992. Skopje: Republic of Macedonia Secretariat of Information. 1997. p. 14. ISBN 978-9989-42-044-3.
  105. "Official site of the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in London". An outline of Macedonian history from Ancient times to 1991. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  106. ^ Floudas, Demetrius Andreas. ""'Macedonia Nostra'" (PDF)". ResearchGate -- LSE Conference Paper; Greece: Prospects for Modernisation, London, 1994.
  107. "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) — The Name Issue". Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 8 July 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  108. "KKE about Kosovo — FYROM" (in Greek). Skai News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  109. Shea (1997), p. 125
  110. "Article: Bulgaria Recognizes Macedonian Language" (Press release). AIMpress Sofia – Skopje. 22 February 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  111. ^ Rychlík, Jan (2007). "The Consciousness of the Slavonic Orthodox Population in Pirin Macedonia and the Identity of the Population of Moravia and Moravian Slovakia". Sprawy Narodowościowe (31): 183–197. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  112. Contested Ethnic Identity: The Case of Macedonian Immigrants in Toronto, 1900-1996, Chris Kostov, Peter Lang, 2010, p. 226., ISBN 3-0343-0196-0
  113. Shea (1997), p. 198
  114. ^ Tegopoulos; Fytrakis, eds. (1997). Μείζον Ελληνικό Λεξικό ("Mízon Hellinikó Lexikó"). Ekdoseis Armonia A.E. pp. 674, 1389. ISBN 978-960-7598-04-2.
  115. ^ Greek Helsinki Monitor, MRG-G (1993–1996). "The Macedonians" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  116. "EBLUL and EUROLANG Drop References to "Slavo-Macedonia Language" in favor of " Macedonian Language" following Criticism by Macedonian Diaspora and Minority Rights NGOs". Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group–Greece (MRG-G). 13 March 2002. Archived from the original (rtf) on 18 March 2003. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  117. Nystazopoulou – Pelekidou, M.; translated by: Kyzirakos I. (1992). "The Republic of Skopje and the Northest [sic] Geographical Boundaries of Macedonia". The "Macedonian Question": A Historical Review. Ionian University. ISBN 978-960-7260-01-7. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
  118. Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens (17 November 2004). "The Archbishop on the Problem of the Naming of the FYROM". Letters. Ecclesia: the official site of the Church of Greece. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  119. ^ Ο Γιώργος Καρατζαφέρης έβαλε "στην θέση της" την Υπουργό Εξωτερικών των Σκοπίων (in Greek). Ελληνικές Γραμμες ("Hellenic Lines"). Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  120. "Macedonian in Different Languages". geonames.de. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  121. "Hellenic Lines" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  122. Η επιστροφή των "Σλαβομακεδόνων" [The return of the "Slavomacedonians"] (in Greek). antibaro.gr. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  123. ^ "Maкедонија (Macedonia)". ЕНЦИКЛОПЕДИЈА Британика (Encyclopædia Britannica) (in Macedonian). Скопје: Топер. 2005.
  124. "Средба на Македонците од Егејска Македонија во Трново" (in Macedonian). A1 TV. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  125. ^ "Остварени средби на Претседателот Бранко Црвенковски за време на неговата посета на Канада" (in Macedonian). Official webpage of the President of the Republic of Macedonia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  126. "Кој го ослободи Марјановиќ од вистината? Кој за што, професорот за "најодвратните бугараши"". Tribune (in Macedonian). Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  127. "Протест на "Виножито" и на Македонците Егејци на Меџитлија" (in Macedonian). A1 TV. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
  128. Balkanski, Biser. "Definition of a Gerkoman". Canadian Macedonian Internet Community. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  129. Malinovski, I. (23 May 2002). ""MARKOVGRAD" – Political Thought of the Serbian South". Skoplje, FYROM. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2006.

Sources

External links

  • The dictionary definition of Macedonia at Wiktionary
Greece Foreign relations of Greece
Bilateral relations
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Former
Coat of arms of Greece
Multilateral relations
Issues
Historical
Diplomacy
North Macedonia articles
History
Ancient
Medieval
Ottoman
Yugoslavia
Republic
Geography
Politics
Economy
Society
Culture
Categories: