Aromanians in The Republic of Macedonia - History

History

The Aromanians have historically been called Vlachs and Macedo-Romanians. The Aromanians are a unique ethno-linguistic group having their own culture and language that have existed for over two thousand years in the Balkan peninsula. They were for centuries considered a traditional mountain people and soon the word Vlach became synonymous with animal-husbandry and herdsmanship throughout the Balkans. Although traditionally live-stock herders many began to emigrate to larger cities in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many Aromanians who fled from Moscopole and the nearby mountainous Gramos region also helped develop Krusevo(Crushuva) and Bitola (Bitolia) into large prosperous cities. Shephards of the Pelister region near Bitola used to herd huge flocks of sheep from the summer pastures on Pelister (Pilister) to the winter lowlands near Ghevgelia, Giannitsa and Salonica(Saruna). Typical Aromanian goods were cheese, meat, wool and wool garments, leather, rugs and carpets. Many Aromanians also entered the rug and carpet trade by selling Kilimi and Flocati. Wealthier Aromanians established themselves in Bitola and Štip as inn-keepers, artisans, caravan traders and merchants. An Aromanian market (Macedonian: Vlaška čaršija) was established in Bitola's Aromanian quarter. The Aromanian presence is still present in Bitola up to this day.

The Macedonian-Aromanian mountain villages of Magarevo, Gopeš, and Trnovo were founded on the foot hills of Mount Pilister. By the 1860s many Aromanians had joined the agitation present in Macedonia and supported the Macedonian Revolutionary movement. Many Aromanians had also identified with Romanians or Greeks and some even Bulgarians. The first Romanian school was established in 1864 in the village of Trnovo and was followed by another 40 Romanian language-Vlach schools. Many of these schools provided an education in both the Romanian and Aromanian languages. In the late 19th century a split between the Grecophile and Romanophile Aromanians occurred. This struggle became violent with schools burnt down, cemeteries desecrated and people assaulted. The Aromanian people were a crucial force in the Ilinden Uprising and the establishment of the Krusevo Republic. The Krusevo Republic is hailed by Aromanians as the Ten Days of Freedom. One notable Aromanian who participated was the heroic Pitu Guli who was killed on the Mečkin Kamen (Bear's Rock).

After the First Balkan War most of the Romanian schools were closed down. Many of the Aromanian villages were destroyed during World War I. To escape the conflict many Aromanians fled to Serbia or Romania. Aromanians who lived in what is now known as the Republic of Macedonia were subject to strict Serbianization along with the rest of the population. After the outbreak of World War II most Aromanians once again found themselves subject to Bulgarian control. Sources claim that fines were imposed on people for using the Aromanian language. These repressive measures compelled many Aromanians to join the Communist Partisans. The Aromanian contribution to the Partisan cause in Macedonia was crucial.

After the war many Aromanians began to assert their ethnic identity. High levels of intermarriage with Macedonians and urbanization also began to affect the community. In the 1970s new initiative's were started to create Aromanian social and cultural societies. The Society of Arts and Culture (Aromanian: Sutsat di Culturi sh Arti) was established in 1979 and in 1981 another cultural society was established. In 1985 the first Aromanian song was recorded by Risto Pulevski-Kicha. A tape was made for Macedonian television and this tape was used to support the request to create a cultural society. The Pitu Guli society of Skopje and the Manaki Brothers Society of Bitola were founded.

After the Declaration of Independence form Yugoslavia, Aromanians were officially recognised as a minority group. They receive full minority rights from the Macedonian government.