Association Of Serbo-Macedonians
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The Association of Serbo-Macedonians ( sr, Друштво Србо-Македонци / ''Društvo Srbo-Makedonci'') was a group founded by intellectuals from the region of Macedonia in 1886, and based in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire. The association propagated a kind of pro-Serbian Slav Macedonian identity, distinguished especially from the ethnic identity of the Bulgarians.


Background

Macedonian nationalism asserts a distinct Macedonian identity, and first emerged as a thin intellectual movement in the 1860s. However, until the early 20th century, Macedonian Slavs identified with the national church of their local priest as either "
Bulgarian Bulgarian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria * Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group * Bulgarian language, a Slavic language * Bulgarian alphabet * A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria * Bul ...
," "
Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also

* * * Old Serbian (disambiguat ...
" or " Greek". The Bulgarian self-identitification was most prevalent then, and perceivable pro-Bulgarian sentiments endured up until the end of the Second World War. The Serbs and Bulgarians had already established their own nation-states and intellectuals from the region of Macedonia often sought their ideological support. The Association of Serbo-Macedonians looked to Serbia for support in petitioning the Ottoman Empire in favor of its political aspirations. Its founders had all formerly been members of the Secret Macedonian Committee. This Committee was founded by Slav Macedonian expatriate students in 1885 in Sofia, Bulgaria, but it was quickly uncovered by the Bulgarian authorities and disbanded. Four of its members left Bulgaria, and went to
Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
, Serbia. Meanwhile, the first "Gathering of Serbo-Macedonians and Old Serbs" was held in Belgrade on February 23, 1885. At that time the development of pro-Serbian Macedonian identity was directly encouraged by Belgrade as a stage to its final turning into ''Old Serbian''.


Establishment and activities

In Belgrade, the group's members met with the Serbian politician Stojan Novaković who pledged his support. Novaković proposed to spread
Serbophilia Serbophilia ( sr, , , ''literally love for Serbia and Serbs'') is the admiration, appreciation or emulation of non-Serbian person who expresses a strong interest, positive predisposition or appreciation for the Serbian people, Serbia, Repu ...
so as to counteract the strong Bulgarian influence in Macedonia. The decision to create the association in Istanbul was taken at a meeting of the Serbian government in early August 1886. At the same meeting was taken also a decision to create the
Saint Sava society The Society of Saint Sava or Saint Sava Society ( sr, Друштво „Свети Сава“/Društvo „Sveti Sava“) was a Serbian non-governmental association with the aim of maintaining and protecting the Serb people The Serbs ( sr ...
, both for dissemination of the Serbian propaganda in the region of Macedonia. Novakovic's diplomatic activity in Istanbul played a significant role for the realization of this idea, especially through the establishment of the Association of Serbo-Macedonians. He was sent as the Serbian envoy in the capital of the Ottoman Empire, considered as one of the most important posts in that period. Shortly afterwards Novaković took up his appointment, where he met with two members of the Macedonian committee to initiate the plan: K. Grupchev and N. Evrov. Although this was only partially successful, Serbian schools were opened in the region of Macedonia, and books were printed in the Macedonian dialect with strong
Serbian Serbian may refer to: * someone or something related to Serbia, a country in Southeastern Europe * someone or something related to the Serbs, a South Slavic people * Serbian language * Serbian names See also

* * * Old Serbian (disambiguat ...
linguistic influence. Despite the fact, initially this schools attempted to develop a middle road between Serbian and Macedonian dialects. In 1889 when asked to the reprinting of these texts in the Macedonian dialect, Novaković recommended only the Serbian language should be used. He claimed, the anticipated attraction of the Macedonian dialect had not eventuated. In accordance with Novaković's plans the " Macedonism" was seen as a stage of the gradual Serbianisation of the Macedonian Slavs. As result, on the eve of the new century, he and his collaborators promoted already only pro-Serbian ideas.


Program

The political aspirations of the Association closely mirrored those of its predecessor, and their program can be summarized in the following points:{{cite book , last = Dimevski , first = Slavko , title = За развојот на македонската национална мисла до создавањето на ТМОРО , trans-title=On the development of Macedonian national thought to the creation TMORO , year = 1980 , publisher = Kultura , page = 244 , quote = Да се ослаби бугарското влиjание во Македонија и да се создаде српско за да се зачува народноста на србо-македонскиот народ. * that the interests of the Ottoman Empire be protected; * that a newspaper (''Macedonian Voice'') be printed in Istanbul in the "pure
Macedonian language Macedonian (; , , ) is an Eastern South Slavic language. It is part of the Indo-European language family, and is one of the Slavic languages, which are part of a larger Balto-Slavic branch. Spoken as a first language by around two million ...
"; * that the Macedonian Slavs abandon the
Bulgarian Exarchate The Bulgarian Exarchate ( bg, Българска екзархия, Balgarska ekzarhiya; tr, Bulgar Eksarhlığı) was the official name of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church before its autocephaly was recognized by the Ecumenical See in 1945 and th ...
; * that the Archbishopric of Ohrid be restored (under the jurisdiction of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
); * that the Bulgarian influence in Macedonia be countered with
Serbophilia Serbophilia ( sr, , , ''literally love for Serbia and Serbs'') is the admiration, appreciation or emulation of non-Serbian person who expresses a strong interest, positive predisposition or appreciation for the Serbian people, Serbia, Repu ...
; * that the Bulgarian bishops and teachers be expelled from Macedonia; * that schools be opened where teachers will use the local Macedonian vernacular. * and that Bulgarian linguistic influence be replaced with a Serbian one.''To write in a purely Macedonian language, but since the Macedonian literary language is still processed, to throw every Bulgarian expression, and to replace it with Serbian one. To adopt the Serbian alphabet as the most convenient for the Macedonian language and by its writing to use the Serbian grammar''. Excerpt of the Association's program.


References


See also

* Macedonism *
Serbomans Serbomans (Serbo-Croatian and mk, србомани, srbomani; bg, сърбомани, sarbomani; ro, sârbomani) is a Bulgarian pejorative term used by Bulgarian nationalists for inhabitants in the region of Macedonia that claimed Serbian ethnic ...
*
Macedonian Bulgarians Macedonians or Macedonian Bulgarians ( bg, македонци or македонски българи), sometimes also referred to as Macedono-Bulgarians, Macedo-Bulgarians, or Bulgaro-Macedonians are a regional, ethnographic group of eth ...
History of North Macedonia Serbian irredentism Anti-Bulgarian sentiment 19th century in Serbia Macedonia under the Ottoman Empire Organizations established in 1886 Serbs of North Macedonia Serbs from the Ottoman Empire Serb organizations Serbian nationalism in North Macedonia