Macedonia has long been contested not only for its historical significance, but also for the geopolitical position it holds. An area steeped in history, it is known as the home of one of the greatest Greeks to have ever lived. Today, more than ever, it is important for Greeks old and young alike to preserve the Hellenistic and cultural legacy that the name “Macedonia” holds, as well as remembering the sacrifices of countless heroes who died to defend its heritage.
King Of Macedonia
From the time of Alexander the Great, key evidence pointing to his Hellenic identity has been discovered in multiple instances from the regions he conquered. A few of these examples include:
Language and Culture: Alexander himself spoke Greek and brought Greek culture to his entire empire. The culture and language that he spread lasted for thousands of years and many areas that he conquered maintained their Greek identity until very recently. Alexander’s way of dress, speech, and action was distinctly Hellenic at the time and remains Hellenic to this day.
Aristotle’s Tutoring: From ages 13 to 16, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle, one of the greatest Greek philosophers of all time.
The Alexander Chronicle: a Babylonian account inscribed on clay tablets documenting Alexander’s victories over Darius III and his subsequent actions in Persia. Greek was used as the administrative language in the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt and Susa, which was a city of the Persian Empire. There is also a notable presence of Greek inscriptions at Persepolis, the Persian city conquered by Alexander. The ancient city of Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan, another stronghold conquered by Alexander, contains a well laid-out city plan and large buildings, including a Corinthian column.
The Modern Era
Several series of conflicts across many millennia define the modern Hellenic Macedonian struggle. These include The Macedonian Struggle, the Second of the Balkan Wars, World War II, and the Greek Civil War. The common enemies of Greece during the first three conflicts mentioned were mainly Bulgaria and later on Albania. Ultimately, the Greeks prevailed over the competing groups, establishing sovereignty and control over historic Macedonia. Our adversaries, Albania and Bulgaria, tried to wage an information war alongside their armed struggle to claim the ancient Greek territory as their own.
Whether or not Bulgaria actually believed that Macedonian heritage was/is truly part of the Bulgarian identity, access to the Aegean was paramount to their geostrategic goals, as they would bypass the need for traversing the Bosphorus Strait by having a maritime outlet. This would have greatly enhanced their economy and energy needs.
During the Macedonian Struggle, between 1893 and 1908, Greek and Bulgarian factions faced off in a struggle for control of areas within Macedonia. Note that during this time parts of Northern Greece were still under Ottoman control and each nation resorted to more guerilla tactics as they attempted to assert their claims on the region.
After fighting together in the First Balkan War against the Ottomans, Bulgaria attacked its former allies Serbia and Greece as a result of territorial disputes in Macedonia. This led to the eventual partitioning of the territory amongst these nations.
World War II eventually followed, and in March of 1941 the Bulgarian military forces began to occupy Eastern parts of Macedonia and Western Thrace after having joined the Axis Powers. During this period, Bulgaria implemented harsh policies, including a brutal Bulgarianization program and the execution of thousands of Greeks. At the end of the war in 1944, Bulgaria had to withdraw their troops from the occupied territories as a result of mounting pressure from the Allies.
One of the bloodiest periods in modern Greek history came after. The Greek Civil War claimed many Greek lives. During this time, the issues of national identity resurfaced, as a prominent figure in the form of Josep Tito-led Yugoslavia, promoted a distinct and stand-alone Macedonian identity, making every effort to separate it from its Hellenic roots. This was the birth of the modern “Macedonian” state.
Tensions in the region continued to persist post Civil War, particularly concerning the status of ethnic Skopjans.
Some decades later, in 1991, when Skopje declared independence from Yugoslavia, they chose to adopt the name “Republic of Macedonia”. This appropriation of the Hellenic name and cultural history subsequently implied territorial claims over Greece’s northern region. Then, as a result of intense Greek objections, in April 1993, the UN had to recognise this newly formed state under a provisional name: FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
Two years later, an Interim Accord was signed between Greece and FYROM allowing for diplomatic relations, stipulating that FYROM would not pursue any claims over Greece’s territory.
Continued diplomatic efforts by the UN to resolve the naming issue between 2000 and 2016 were made. However, progress was marred by nationalists on both sides. The appropriation of Hellenic history and culture continued unabated during this period. To speak of the “Antiquisation” Policy in particular, which was pursued by the FYROM Government under Nikola Gruevski, included renaming public spaces and infrastructure after figures like Alexander the Great to emphasize the country’s connection to ancient Macedonian heritage. It exacerbated tensions with Greece and was strongly opposed.
In 2017, a change in government brought a wave of new negotiations after Zoran Zaev was elected Prime Minister. While expressing a willingness to negotiate a resolution with the Greek government, many Greeks saw the results of this, which culminated with the Prespa Agreement in June 2018, as a betrayal by the Greek government led by Alexis Tsipras. The agreed upon name was “North Macedonia.”
This is an issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly or brushed aside by any Greek. The spirit in which this cultural and territorial inheritance has been defended over the centuries has driven many Greeks in the past to often sacrifice their very lives. Let us not disappoint our ancestors with any apathy for what is rightfully ours.
Macedonia was, is and will forever until the end of the ages be Greek! Long live the memory of those heroes that died to protect it!