Tsar Samoil and the Archbishopric of Ohrid in Macedonia

[Carlin]

Vlach Military Units in the Byzantine Army, in Samuel's State and Byzantium: History, Legend, Tradition, Heritage. Proceedings оf the International Symposium "Days of Justinian I" (Skopje, 17-18 October, 2014), Edited by Mitko B. Panov, Skopje, 2015, 47-55

URL:

http://www.academia.edu/18072996/Vlach_Military_Units_in_the_Byzantine_Army_in_Samuels_State_and_Byzantium_History_Legend_Tradition_Heritage._Proceedings_%D0%BEf_the_International_Symposium_Days_of_Justinian_I_Skopje_17-18_October_2014_Edited_by_Mitko_B._Panov_Skopje_2015_47-55

[Amphipolis]

...in Samuel's State ...

Hmmm... so this is how they call it now in local conferences.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

This is strange, considering we have documents from the 1500s and 1600s that speak of a Macedonian ethnicity and consciousnesses. But I guess historians have overlooked those documents.

Modern Romantic Nationalism is indeed a recent construction. Its roots date back to the late 18th century but it didn't really florish until the late 19th and early 20th centuries in most parts of the world. Any references to an ethnic identity prior to the late 18th century is likely an example of an earlier non-romantic form of Nationalism. I suppose you could call it 'Proto-Nationalism'

[Carlin]

''Greek'' and ''Greeks'' in the Works of Theophylact of Ohrid Written During his Stay in Macedonia, BY Grigori Simeonov

URL:

http://www.academia.edu/18135486/Greek_and_Greeks_in_the_Works_of_Theophylact_of_Ohrid_Written_During_his_Stay_in_Macedonia

[maco2envy]

A really good podcast on Samuel and Basil II:

https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/2017/10/27/episode-156-the-half-blind-leading-the-blind/

Goes over theories concerning the number of prisoners blinded and Basil II's captive policies. All rather surprising.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Anyone ever notice how the Bitola inscription refers to the army of Basil II as "Greek". Odd as the term doesn't seem to have been very common at the time.

[maco2envy]

Good observation, it's probably fabricated like the other inscription.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Good observation, it's probably fabricated like the other inscription.

There have been doubts about the Bitola inscription since the authenticity of the Voden inscription were debunked. I do find it odd that the inscription refers to "Greeks", given that at the time (to my knowledge) that wasn't a term often used.

Maybe someone can clarify on the use of the term "Greek" during this period and if the term was used in Old Church Slavonic.

[Amphipolis]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatalar_Inscription

[maco2envy]

You're right that the term "Greek" in reference to a nation would have been unusual at that time, since the "Roman" designation was arguably at its strongest. I'd assume that Slavic speakers whom were a large component of the multi-ethnic Byzantine empire and its periphery would have referred to them accordingly i.e Romans or something similar. It was typically western sources at that time (i.e that had weak contact with the Byzantine empire) that exchanged the term "Roman" for "Greek".

Although, there is a Bulgar inscription that was found in Bulgaria proper in the 800's that uses the term Greeks ("ΓΡΙΚΟΥC") in reference to the Romans:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatalar_Inscription

So the usage of the term is pretty confusing.

[Carlin]

"Even if the sun would have come down, I would have never thought that the Moesian arrows were stronger than the Avzonian (Ausonian) spears. ... And when you, Phaethon, descend to the earth with your gold-shining chariot, tell the great soul of the Caesar: The Danube took the crown of Rome. The arrows of the Moesians broke the spears of the Avzonians."
— John Geometres on the Battle of the Gates of Trajan

The Battle of the Gates of Trajan was a battle between Byzantine-Ausonian and Bulgarian-Moesian forces in the year 986.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Gates_of_Trajan

The Joint Expert Committee from Bulgaria and Macedonia will decide by the end of November whose historical hero is Tsar Samuel. The ruler is one of the historical personalities that the two nations are arguing about.

For the end of November, the third meeting between the experts of both countries is scheduled. They need to make a full review of history textbooks in Bulgaria and Macedonia. The other topic on which experts direct their efforts is to identify the events and personalities of the common history of the two countries that both nations can celebrate together.

URL:

https://www.dnes.bg/obshtestvo/2018/10/26/spor-bylgariia-i-makedoniia-shte-reshavat-chii-e-car-samuil.391661

[maco2envy]

The Joint Expert Committee from Bulgaria and Macedonia will decide by the end of November whose historical hero is Tsar Samuel. The ruler is one of the historical personalities that the two nations are arguing about.

For the end of November, the third meeting between the experts of both countries is scheduled. They need to make a full review of history textbooks in Bulgaria and Macedonia. The other topic on which experts direct their efforts is to identify the events and personalities of the common history of the two countries that both nations can celebrate together.

This is just stupid. Neither nation nor state existed 1000 years ago, how can these morons even negotiate such a thing? Not to mention the fact that this specific era in Byzantine historiography has arguably the greatest lack of primary sources. Although, it is undeniable that the heart of Samuels empire was in Macedonia until its dying breath. Seriously, what more can I expect from these Balkan crapholes?

[maco2envy]

Would Bulgaria want to claim St Clement next? Even though there is not one single (old) fresco of St Clement found in Bulgaria:

[maco2envy]

While on topic, here is what is generally accepted to be the unofficial emblem of Tsar Samuel:



The duel peacock emblem is derived from a shroud which was found within Samuels grave, located in Mala Prespa:

[Liberator of Makedonija]

While on topic, here is what is generally accepted to be the unofficial emblem of Tsar Samuel:



The duel peacock emblem is derived from a shroud which was found within Samuels grave, located in Mala Prespa:

Interesting, I had never seen this