MACEDONIA - A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS

A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS Iron age - Macedonians, formed during the Iron Age from a Brygian substratum and Indo-European super stratum, settled here at the end of the II millennium; The Macedonians, according to the legend, got their name from the mythological ancestor Makedon. Maketa, the oldest name of Macedonia (Makedonis), was originally the name of the mythological female ancestor Maketa. VIII Century BC - The process of establishing a common state takes place under the I Macedonian dynasty - the Argeadai, which originates from Argos Orestikon. Of the legendary rulers, the last three, Caranus (cca. 796), Coenus and Tyrimmas, were most probably historical kings. cca. 693-669 BC - Perdiccas – founder of the Argeadai dynasty, Aegae was the capital. 498 – 454 BC - Rule of Alexander I, called "the Philhellene". In 478 BC, Lower Macedonia is united up to Ennea Hodoi (later Amphipolis) on the river Strymon to the East, and to Pydna to the South. Alexander is a Persian ally in the Persian wars. The first coins bearing the king’s name are struck. Around 460 BC. Herodotus visits Macedonia and describes the Persian wars from a Macedonian point of view (interpretatio macedonica). So Macedon emerges on the international political scene. 453 – 413 BC - Rule of Perdiccas II. He helps inciting a war between Athens, and Sparta (the leader of the Peloponnesian league and initiates the foundation of an Olynthian league, comprising the Greek colonies on Chalcidice, for a war against Athens. During the Peloponnesian War Macedonian kings were at times on the side of Athens, and other times on the side of Sparta, depending of their interest, not wanting either of them to become too powerful. 413 – 399 BC - Rule of Archelaus. He builds straight roads, constructs fortresses, and re-organizes the army. Around 400 BC Pherrhaibia, a part of Thessaly, becomes a Macedonian province (strategia). He established Pella as the administrative center of Macedon, and founded Macedonian Olympic Games in Dion, the holy city of the Macedonians. One of the main reasons for this was that barbarians were forbidden to participate in the Greek Olympic Games, including Macedonians as well. In 406 BC the Macedonian poet Adaeus writes an epitaph for the tomb stone of Athenian Euripides. Besides the apologetic work Archelaus, Euripides, during his stay in the palace of Archelaus, also wrote the famous play Bacchae, inspired by the Macedonian cult of Dionysos. The Macedonian assembly refuses to give Euripides’ body to Athens – his birthplace. 399 to 391 BC - After the death of Archelaus dynastic wars lasted 8 years. 391 BC - Amyntas III is pronounced a king. He led a policy of exhausting and weakening the Greek poleis. In 371, he attended the congress at Sparta for the signing of the common peace agreement, not as a representative of a Greek state, but as a concerned partner. 369 BC - Alexander II wages war in Thessaly and leaves Macedonian garrisons in Thessalian cities. 368 BC - The Boeotian league, led by Pelopidas, interferes in the dynastic wars in Macedonia. Philip II is taken hostage to Thebes. 360/59 BC - Philip II, "the greatest man that had lived in Europe" unites Macedonia and enforces Macedonian dominance upon the neighboring peoples: Thracians, Illyrians, Triballians and Greeks. In 357, Athens declares a war against him. The city is divided in two factions: antimacedonian, a.k.a. the Hellenists (Demosthenes, Hyperides, Lykurgus) and promacedonian, a.k.a. the Philippists (Isokrates, Eubylus, Philokrates and others). In 356, Athens establishes an anti-Macedonian coalition with the Illyrians, Thracians and the Demosthenes delivers the four Philippics, as well as the three Olynthics in 349. The same year Philip destroys Stageira, the birthplace of Aristotle, as well as the city of Olynth in 348. In 345 BC, the Illyrians are conquered, except those who live along the Adriatic Sea. In 352 Philip becames a tagos of the Thessalian League. Philip settled Philippopolis (nowadays Plovdiv) in Thrace – then a macedonian strategia. From 343 – 340 BC Aristotle stays in Macedonia as a teacher of Philip's son Alexander. In 340, Philip besieges Byzantium and Perinth, he leaves in charge the sixteen years old Alexander, who undertakes a campaign against the Maidoi and founded Alexandropolis. Fhilip was waging war against the Scythians (Iustin 9.2), and on his way back, in 339 BC, he defeats the Triballians on the northern border of Macedonia. In 338 BC. the Greeks are defeated at the battle of Chaeronea. Philip becomes a hegemon to the Greeks who sign a general peace treaty (koine eirene) in Corinth. He gives the Greeks autonomy and freedom under strict conditions, such as: prohibition of internecine wars and coalitions; prohibition of changes in political structure by force; driving into exile and confiscating property of political opponents; prohibition for return of political refugees, for death penalties, for military service in foreign countries, abolishment of debt, slave freeing, and prohibition for land redistribution. The four military bases - Acrocorinth, Cadmeia in Thebes, Chalkis on Euboia and Ambracia - were a guarantee for peace. This general peace (koine eirene) dictated by the conqueror, was not a league (the word symmachia is peculiarly absent), but a fictitiously generous document, which disguised Macedonian dominance in Greece, a temporary institution that allowed inclusion of the Greek poleis in the monarchy more easily. Instead of taxes, Philip imposed military service: there were Greek soldiers in the campaigns in the East, but they did not participate in any of the decisive battles because they were, in a way, hostages for peace and a guarantee for safety in the rear of the Greek homeland. Not only did they not have an important role in any of the battles, but there were no Greek commanders either. They were not even present in the Macedonian phalanx. In 336 BC during the preparations for a campaign against Persia, the ultimate goal of which was to resolve the question of the hegemony in the eastern Mediterranean, Philip is killed in Aegae during the wedding of his daughter Cleopatra. 336 - 323 BC - Alexander of Macedon, the Great, renews the koine eirene in the autumn, as well as the Macedonian dominance over the Thracians, Triballians and Illyrians. He was waging war with the Getai, being the first military leader to cross the river Danube. He subjugated the rebellious Thebes, destroyed after a decision made by the council (synedrion) in Corinth. Inheriting the most powerful country, with the most organized and unified army, Alexander III not only continues the campaign towards the East in 334 BC, but also made the exploit of all times, making him the only undefeated military leader in history, and deserving the epithet aniketos, stretching not only the borders of the Oecumene towards the East, but also increasing the knowledge of that time, giving the world a new appearance, starting the new historical era – the Hellenistic (Macedonian) period, which lasted until the fall of the last Macedonian monarchy (of the Ptolemies, descendants of Lagos in Egypt) under Roman rule after the defeat in the battle of Actium, in 31 BC. 323 BC - After the death of Alexander, in the struggles for dominance of his associates (the Diadochoi), both his sons were killed before reaching adulthood. This meant the disappearance of the Argeadai. As a result of this, and of the invasion of the Celts (285 – 277/6 BC) Macedonia was in chaos. 277 BC - Antigonos Gonatas, the grandson of Antigonos the One-eyed, founds the second Macedonian dynasty, called the Antigonids, whose rule was filled with battles in order to maintain Macedonian dominance in Greece and to protect it from the Dardanian attacks. 229 - 222/1 - Antigonos Doson managed to establish a hegemony over the Peloponesus: because of the fear of spatian hegemony and overflowing of social reforms in the others poleis he was invited by the leadear of Achaean league: in 225/4 they concluded a so called Hellenic leage; a part from continental Greeks, the towns of Crete as a Illyrians were included. After the victory at the battle of Selassia, 222 BC. for the first time Macedonian army entered in Sparta and established a firm Macedonian control. 221 – 179 BC - Rule of Philip V who has fought two wars against the Romains: 215-205, I Roman – Macedonian war; 200-196, II Roman – Macedonian war. 179 – 168 - Rule of Perseus, the last king of Antigonids's dynastie who has fought the III Roman – Macedonian war 171-168; Perseus is defeated in the battle of Pydna. Macedonia becomes semi-independent as a Roman protectorate, (deprived of its external independence, but retaining internal self-governance), and divided into four parts. The populations was not allowed to inter-marry, trade or exploit the gold and silver mines and all prominent Macedonians older than fifteen had to leave Macedonia "voluntarily." The Romans enforced these economical and military measures to prevent renewal of the state and eventual rebellion against them. 149 – 148 BC - Uprising of Andriskos, known as Pseudo - Philippos. Macedonia was given the status of a province and this was the beginning of the so-called Macedonian provincial era. 148 BC - As the first province in the Balkans founded by the Romans, Macedonia was the target for military attacks by her neighbors and served as a base for Roman conquests to the North and Northeast. The newly conquered territories were added to Macedonia and was under the governance of a Roman administrator, so the province stretched from the Danube river in the North, the Black Sea (Pontos Euxinos) in the East, to the Peloponnesus in the South. 49/50 AD - For the first time on European soil in the Macedonian towns of Philippi, Thessalonica and Berrhoea, the Apostle Paul preaches Christianity. In 52 and 53, he sends epistles to the people of Thessalonica; in 57 he comes to Macedonia again, and in 63 he sends epistles to the people of Philippi. III / IV - The economic and social crisis in the second half of the 3rd century was increased by the barbarian attacks from the north. Because of Gothic, attacks the Macedonian towns built fortresses around them. Macedonia was divided into two provinces, Macedonia Prima and Macedonia Salutaris. V - The Huns invade at the beginning of the century and the Ostrogoths attack at the end of the century. In 447 Stobi (present-day Pusto Gradsko) and Heracleia Lyncestis (present-day Bitola) are destroyed. Macedonia was divided once again into Macedonia Prima and Macedonia Secunda. VI - In 518, an earthquake demolishes Scupi (present-day Skopje). The Slavic attacks started. In 517, Slavs devastate the Macedonian provinces; in 578/9 and 581, there were large Slavic invasions, in 586/7 Slavs reach Peloponnesus. The Macedonian fortresses were renewed, the number of cities drops from 100 to about 40. VII - Beginning of the process of ethnogenesis of the modern Macedonian people, by mixing of the natives and the Slavs. VIII - The principality (sclavinia) of Berzitia, with archduke Akamirus, is established on the territory of Macedonia. This principality covered central Macedonia, from Skopje, in the North, to Kostur (nowadays Kastoria) in the South. IX - The Slavic tribes in Macedonia accept Christianity. The brothers Cyril and Methodius, who created the Slavic alphabet (Glagolitic), are preachers of Christianity and founders of Slavic literacy among the Slavic people. Thanks to their activity, the language of the Slavs from Macedonia, after Greek, Latin and Hebrew, becomes the fourth official language in which Christianity would spread in Europe. Their students, Clement and Naum of Ohrid, are the founders of the literary school in Ohrid, which is the first Slavic University. X - The Medieval State is established in Macedonia, whit center in Prespa region and Ohrid by the Czar Samuel (976 – 1018). XI - The Ohrid archbishopry is founded during the rule of Czar Samuel; Petar Delian organises a rebellion (1040-1041); Gjorgi Voytech organizes a second rebellion (1072). XII - The Macedonian feudal lord Dobromir Hrs becomes independent (1185). XIII - The rule of the Macedonian feudal lord Strez (1207 – 1214). XIV - The rule of the Volkašin dynasty in Macedonia (1366 – 1395), The King Dimitriya Volkašin (1366 – 1371) and the King Marko (1371 – 1395) who have a capital in Prilep. Near the end of XIV century, Macedonia falls under Turkish rule and remains as such for five centuries (1395 – 1912). XVI - In Mariovo and Prilep, the people organize an uprising against the Turkish rule (1564/65). XVII - The Karpoš uprising (“Karpoševo vostanie”) begins (1689). XVIII - The Ohrid archbishopry is abolished (1767). Second half of the XIX century, the national and revolutionary struggles for freedom in Macedonia begin: the uprisings in Razlovci (1876), and Kresna (1878). 8/20 may 1876 - local uprising in eastern part of Macedonia lead by Dimitrija Pop Georgiev-Berovski who ordered a making of a flag with red lion on the yellow ground, standing on the back legs, it is read “Makedonija” 1878  Macedonian uprising begins in Kresna, the little town in Pirin-Macedonia, in today’s Bulgaria (so it is knows as Kresna’s Uprising, the name imposed by Bulgarian historians in aim to avoid the name Macedonian and to “represent” the rebels as a Bulgarians). But the committee of rebels establishes the rules of the rebellion, a sort of a constitution called Macedonian constitution, and their lead seal had the inscription : Macedonian uprising 1878. XIX - The nineteenth century represents a period of growth, known as the Macedonian renaissance. The foundations of modern Macedonian literature, literacy and development of education were established. Most distinguished representatives are: Kiril Pejcinovič, Joakim Krčovski, Gjorgija Puleski, Parteniya Zografski, Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov – Džinot, Dimitar and Konstantin Miladinov, Grigor Prličev, Kuzman Šapkarev… Bishop Theodosius from Skopje leads a movement to re-establish an independent Macedonian Orthodox Church, by restoring the Ohrid archbishopry. January 1892 - The first issue of the journal "Loza" ("Vine", the editor was Petar Pop Arsov) was published in Sofia under the auspices of the Association “Young Macedonian literary society” (Mlada makedonska kniževna družina), whose objective was to set the foundations of the Macedonian literary language and to bring it forward as an official language in the educational system. 23rd October 1893 - In Thessalonica, Dr. Hristo Tatarčev, Damjan Gruev, Petar Pop Arsov, Ivan Hadži Nikolov, Anton Dimitrov and Hristo Batandžiev found The Secret Macedonian revolutionary organization (TMRO). The basic aim of the organisation was the achievement of autonomy for Macedonia. Leaders and ideologists were Goce Delčev and Gjorče Petrov. 1902 - The Slavonic-Macedonian scientific and literary society “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” was founded in St. Petersburg. April 1903 - The Revolutionaries of Thessalonica: A group of Macedonian revolutionaries, known as Gemidžii, carry out a series of attacks on a number of buildings in Thessalonica in order to draw attention of the European public towards the situation of the Macedonian people. August 2, 1903 - The Ilinden uprising begins. The rebels in the town of Kruševo create their government, known as the Republic of Kruševo (Kruševska Republika), which lasted for 10 days. 1903 - Krste Petkov – Misirkov publishes the book “On Macedonian Matters” (Za makedonskite raboti). He outlines the principles for standardizing the Macedonian literary language. 1904 - Once the Ilinden uprising has been suppressed a Congress is held in Rila monastery and the TMRO is restored under the name VMRO (IMRO), the new Central Committee is elected (Dame Gruev, Pere Tošev, T. Pop Antonov). 1906 - VMRO dismembered in two fractions, the left and right wing, the last one closely attached with the official Bulgarian policy and receiving financial aid from Bulgaria. 1908 - The Young Turk revolution: The Young Turk movement, led by the Young Turk Committee aims to reform the Turkish society. The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO) led by Jane Sandanski and the newly formed National Federal Party take an active part in the Young Turk movement for achieving autonomy for Macedonia. 1912 - First Balkan War: The allied Balkan countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece, achieve victory over Turkey occupying the territory of Macedonia. June 1913 - The Tikveš Uprising takes place against the new Serbian occupation in Tikveš after the First Balkan War. The rebels free almost the entire Tikveš region, including the towns of Kavadarci and Negotino. In bringing the uprising to an end the Serbian military forces killed about 1,200 people and burnt more than 1,000 houses. 1913 - The Second Balkan War breaks out between the allies from the First Balkan War to take power over Macedonia. August 10, 1913 - Peace treaty in Bucharest – the territory of Macedonia was divided among Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece. September 1913 - In the region of Debar and Struga there is an uprising against the Serbian occupation immediately after the Second Balkan War. The rebellions, led by VMRO (IMRO) and the Albanian revolutionary committee, liberated the towns of Debar, Ohrid, Struga and Kičevo. June, 1913 – November 1914 - Eleven issues of the journal Makedonski glas ("Macedonian voice", the editor was D. Čupovski) were published in St. Petersburg under the auspices of the Slavonic-Macedonian scientific and literary society - also known as the "Macedonian colony", in which Russian intellectuals joined together as partisans for the idea of an independent Macedonia. 1914 – 1918 - First World War. In 1915 Bulgaria occupies Macedonia. 1919 - Peace conference in Versailles: The partitioning of Macedonia is sanctioned in the course of which the geographic, natural and ethnic unity of Macedonia is divided by the Balkan countries: The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; Bulgaria; Greece and Albania. The “Vardarian” part of Macedonia falls under the rule of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. 1919 - MRO is restored under a new name –“Vnatrešna makedonska revolucionerna organizacija” (VMRO = IMRO) under the leadership of the new Central Committee: Todor Aleksandrov, Aleksandar Protogerov and Petar Čaulev. These leaders firmly held the stance that Macedonians were of Bulgarian national stock, and they fought to free Macedonia and create an autonomous and independent country within its geographical and economic borders to wich aim was, in the end, to unite Macedonia with Bulgaria. In the struggle, the Bulgaro-Vrhovists relentlessly conducted purges and assassinations. May 6, 1924 - The "May Manifest" is signed in Vienna by the members of the Central Committee by all the fractions of VMRO (IMRO). Its aim is to unite the Macedonian revolutionary forces into a single Macedonian revolutionary front for freedom and unification of the partitioned territories of Macedonia making it an independent and single political unit within its natural geographical and ethnic borders. A few months later the Bulgaro-Vrhovists gave up from the "May Manifest" February 1925 - The VI Congress of VMRO (IMRO Bulgaro-Vrhovist) takes place, a new Central Committee of is formed with the members Ivan (Vančo) Mihajlov, Aleksandar Protogjerov and Gjorgi Pop Hristov. His aim remains the same: fight to unite the partitioned Macedonia within its geographical borders and achieving complete political autonomy. And for that objective, by and large, political assassinations were undertaken. October 1925 - VMRO (United) is founded in Vienna under the leadership of Dimitar Vlahov, Pavel Šatev, Gjorgi Zankov, Rizo Rizov, Vladimir Pop Timov and Hristo Yankov, in order to dissociate the Organization from VMRO Bulgaro-Vrhovist. Their main objective is to free Macedonia within its geographical and economical borders and create an independent political unit that will become an equal member of the future Balkan Federation. In Athens, under the pressure of The League of Nations, the Greek government published a textbook for education of the Macedonians in Greece, the Abecedar (Bukvar), written in the south-west local dialect of the Macedonian language. The Abecedar was published in Latin alphabet, in order to provoke discontent over the usage of an alien and unfamiliar script; nevertheless, the textbook was never utilized in the educational system. March 1926 - The Macedonian Youth Secret Revolutionary Organization (Makedonska mladinska tajna revolucionerna organizacija, MMTRO) is founded with the aim of helping VMRO in its fight for the freedom of Macedonia and for the unification of its three parts into one autonomous political unit. 1935 - The association of Macedonian students “Vardar” was founded in Zagreb, but soon the authorities banished their monthly journal “Naš Vesnik” (“Our Journal"). 1936 - Another association of Macedonian students -”Vardar” was founded in Belgrade. 28 august 1936 - The organization “MANAPO” (Macedonian national resistance) was founded in Ohrid. 1938 - The first collection of poems - "Ogin" ("Fire") from Venko Markovski – is published in Macedonian. He was a member of the commission that worked on the codification of the Macedonian literary language, but after revealing his opinion for the Inform bureau in 1965 he moved in Bulgaria where, after declaring himself to be Bulgarian, was awarded with the most prestigious honors by the Bulgarian state. 1939 - Publication of "White Dawns" (Beli Mugri), a collection of poems in Macedonian by the first modern Macedonian poet Kočo Racin. 1940 - Metodija Šatorov – Šarlo becomes Political Secretary of the Regional Committee for Macedonia of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. This is the beginning of the process of the establishment of a Macedonian national platform. 1941 - The Bulgarian, German and Italian military forces occupy Vardar Macedonia. October 11, 1941 - Beginning of the armed struggle in Macedonia with a national and revolutionary character. MART 19, 1943 - The Communist Party of Macedonia is founded in Tetovo. The process of creating government authorities – Narodnoosloboditelni Odbori (National Councils for Liberation) - begins. The Main headquarters of N(arodno) O(osloboditelna) V(ojska) i.e. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) issues The Manifest expressing the aims of the liberation war. August 2, 1944 - The First session of the Antifascist Council for the National Liberation of Macedonia, (ASNOM) is held at the monastery of St. Prohor Pčinski (now in Serbia) where representatives from Pirin and Aegean Macedonia are present as well. The ASNOM presidium is formed and Metodija Andonov Čento becomes its first president. A decision is reached to constitute a modern Macedonian state that will be a part of the new Federal Yugoslavia. April 1945 - The first Macedonian government is founded with Lazar Koliševski as its first President. July 17, 1967 - The Ohrid Archbishopry is re-established as the Macedonian Orthodox Church. September 8, 1991 - A referendum for the independence of the Republic of Macedonia is held. November 17, 1991 - The Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia is passed, stating that “…Macedonia is constituted as a national country of the Macedonian people, which guarantees complete civil equality and the permanent cohabitation of the Macedonian people with the Albanians, Turks, Vallachs, Roma and the other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia.” April 8, 1993 April 8, 1993 Republic of Macedonia was admitted in the Organization of the United Nations with provisional name FYROM as a result of the pressure of Greece. Under the constitutional name Macedonia is recognized by more than 120 countries. Nade Proeva, Ph.D., Professor of Ancient History University of Sts. Cyril and Methodius; Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.