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Religion
Ancient Mythology; Renewal of the Ohrid Archiepiscopy
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Byzantine Rule in Macedonia; The Normans; Serbs; Slavs on the Balkan
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Fraternitie; Wood-carving Fraternities; Art in the 13th and 14th century; Art between the two World Wars; Cultural circumstances between the 15th - 18th century; Literature in the 19th century;
Turk Rule
The Turkish Changes; Turkish reign; Turkish Rule
Wars
Balkan Wars; Ilinden Uprising; Krali Marko; The Razlovts Uprising; Organized resistance
Macedonia
Brief overview; Macedonia in the early antiquity; Between the Two World Wars;

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Turkish reign in Macedonia

The supreme administrative unit, which included the whole territory of Macedonia was the Beglerbeglak (Elalet or later called Vilaet) of Rumelia, and was founded between 1362-1385.The territories near the borders were called kraishta (administrative units) which were govern by kraishnitsi (udzbegovi). In 1392 Skopje was occupied by the Turks and as a result of that Skopje became a center of a new administrative unit. The first kraishnik of Skopje was Pashaiti-bey (1392-1414). The Beglerbeglak of Rumelia was divided into smaller administrative and territorial units - sanatsi (livi). The oldest and the biggest sandzjak was Pasha - a sandzjak which was ruled by the beglerbeg of Rumelia. The sandzjak of Kjustendil and also the sandjak of Ohrid were founded after the death of the Dejanovtsi brothers in 1395. The sandzjak of Skopje was founded in the middle of the XVI century, and before that, the sandzjak of Solun had been strengthened. It is in the XVI century when the sandzjak of Lerin is mentioned too. The sandzjaks were divided into vilaets and nahii. Kazi were formed too, and these were territories with the jurisdiction of the kadija (judge). The Macedonian population was being killed, it fled away from the native places, it was emigrated or enslaved. The Turkish power systematically organized moving in Turkish elements from Minor Asia. The nomads from Anadolia founded a zone of settlements with Turkish cattle-breeders called Jurutsi and Konjari. The settling of the Jews, who were fleeing from the Inquisition in Western Europe, Spain and Portugal, had a remarkable importance for the economical development of Macedonia. Jewish communities were established in some of the most important centers of Macedonia. There were 3.000 Jewish houses, a Jewish print-office and an academy of Talmud Tora in Solun in the XVI century. In the beginning, only a part of the old aristocracy accepted the Islam, in order to retain their possessions. Persons who were called "Abdulah" had Christian origin. In the next two centuries, there was a big islamization in the impoverished villages and regions, and the most, it was along the rivers Drim and Radika and in the pedestal of the Despot and Pirin mountains. The islamized population was keeping its native language and its national and religious manners. The peasants who were dependent upon the feudals (the raya) had a piece of land, which was called bashtina for the Christians and chiflig for the Moslems. The raya paid natural rent - desetok (ushur), rent paid in cash (ispendzje) and angarija (free working rent). The main state income was the harach (dzjizie). There was also a taxation in blood (devshirme) which consisted of collecting the healthiest Christian children who were brought in Consantinople and, under a special regime of education, were islamized and converted in janissaries. There were also extraordinary dues for the military needs which in the time, were changed in regular ones. There were special military and semi-military groups like: martolozi (persons paid for securing from aiduks and robbers), vojnutsi (engaged in various military structures), sokolari (dogandzii, shahindzii who were engaged in training of falcons), dervendzii (providers of security on the important military and trade roads), mostari (kjuprundzii, who were in charge for the bridges), orizari (chetlikchii, who produced rise as a main food for the army), miners(madendzii who worked in the mines), jaglenari (diggers of coal), skelari and so on.They performed special duties for the government and were free of some dues towards the state.

The Position of the Archbishopric of Ohrid

According to the Sheriat and in accordance to the state regime of the Otoman Empire, the Christians were considered as zimii - people who have holy books and are allowed to have religious organizations. The Archbishopric of Ohrid reserved its organization until 1767, even managing to extend itself. In the beginning of the XV century, the Eparchy of Sofia and Vidin were under its jurisdiction, in the middle of the XV century Vlashka and Moldavia and, until 1557, parts of the Patriashy of Pekj together with Pekj. For a certain period, the orthodox communities in Italy (Apulia, Kalabria, Sicily), Venice and Dalmatia were also under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. But, in the beginning of the XVI century, the Metropoly of Vlashka separated from the Archbishopric of Ohrid and subordinated to the Patriarchy of Consantinople. In 1530, the metropolitan of Smederevo Pavle restricted the power of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, wishing to proclaim independence of the Patriarchy of Pekj. In l541, at an meeting Pavle was deprived of the priest dignity. But, in 1575, the Patriarchy of Pekj revived again and Tetovo, Skopje, Shtip, Upper Djumaya, came under its jurisdiction, which before that, had separated from the Archbishopric of Ohrid. In 1575, the Orthodox from Venice and Dalmatia accepted the jurisdiction of the Patriarchy of Consantinople and, in the beginning of XVII century, the Archbishopric of Ohrid lost the eparhs in Southern Italy, too.

Resistance of the population

The Aiduk's (outlaw's) movement is the oldest and the largest form of antifeudal armed resistance in Macedonia, developed during the XVII century. The aiduks were organized in groups of 20-30.000 persons, governed by an arambasha (vojvoda, duke). The oldest most prominent arambashas were: Niko from Novo Selo (Bersko), killed on May 29,1627; Miho Trpko from the v. of Leskovo (Lerinsko), called " Petre vojvoda " who was caught in 1634 and sent to work as a rower on the Turkish ships; Petre Dundar from the v. of Berantsi (c), killed in 1635; Loshan from the v. of Magarevo (in the region of Bitola) killed in the prison of Solun; Constantin from the v.of Sapotnitsa (in the region of Bitola) called " Chavdar vojvoda ". The aiduk's groups gathered on Gjurgjovden (spring) and separated on Mitrovden (later autumn). In winter, the aiduks used to stay at their jatatsi or to work daily pay for the reach people in the town. Most of the aiduks were Macedonians and Albanians, and there were also Vlahs and Greeks.There were women too. The first data for a female aiduk dates from 1636, and that was Kira, sister of Jolo, from the v.of Tsapari, who was a part of the group of the arambasha Petre Dundar from the v.of Berantsi (in the region of Bitola). Some of the bravest aiduk's groups attacked even towns (Bitola, Lerin, Ohrid and Resen in 1646 and 1661). The aiduks paralyzed the production at the feudal possessions, the roads became unsecured and the traveling was endangered. The government cut forests along the roads, built castles and fortresses with a military crew (usually janitors) in the canyons; bands of metrologs were going throughout the villages. There were the dervendzii who took care about the roads and the regular army that was in permanent chase. The caught aiduks were impaled on a stick or on a hook, they were rid alive, their heads were cut or they were sent to work on ships or life labour.