Macedonians in Byzantine sources

[Ptolemy]

"...the leader of the Avars... regarding the metropolis of the Thessalonians as the richest of all cities in the direction of Thrace and of all Illyricum,... mustered all who shared the faith and savage race of the Sklaveni... and along with other barbarians... ordered the expedition against the heavenly-guarded city of Thessaloniki... <13.109> ...and the barbarians arrived... and the number of besiegers was far greater not only of all the Macedonians but also of the Thessalians and Achaians (were one to gather them all as a heap in Thessaloniki)... <13.116> ...and the best elements of the troops of the city, along with the prefect,... were in the country of the Hellenes on public business... <13.117> Yet, the few defenders, with the help of God, came out of the city-gate... <14.135> But... who could carry such a level of devastation? Clearly the one who instilled this bravery into the Macedonians, for nothing can resist the Divine... <14.136> Afterwards the citizens dispatched the cavalry that confirmed the departure of the terrified enemies who continued to flee during the night to increase their distance, with no concern for their items, animals and slaves... And I am told that... the barbarians blinded by a light... had seen a vision of our most glorious... St.Dimitrios leading the troops... " <14.148>

<Patrologia Graecae, vol.116>

Here there we have a clear distinction between Macedonians and the barbarians Sklaveni (Slavs), their enenies. Its interesting the propaganda of FYROM conveniently ignores to provide the entire quote but on contrary text out of context which contains the term "Macedonians" but excludes the references to their invading enemies Sklaveni. Furthermore inside Thessaloniki, except Macedonians there were other Greeks, namely Thessalians and Achaians. Its obvious the name "Macedonians" refers to the inhabitants of the region Macedonia and the term is used solely in geographic sense. Similarly the two other names "Thessalians" and "Achaians" are used for the inhabitants of the regions Thessalia and Achaia respectively and apparently these two terms also used geographically.

Ioannis Kameniatis 9th c.-10 c.

[quote]We, my friends, have as our homeland Thessalonike...great city and first from all the Macedonian ones[quote]

Ioannis Kameniatis was a Macedonian himself, coming from Thessalonike. Note except his undoubtedly Greek name that even in Byzantine sources the name of the city is always Thessalonike.

Theophanes Omologitis - 10th c.

and he whom we speak about- emperor Vasileios originated from the land of Macedonians

Leon, the general of Thracians and Macedonians, whom they call "Apostyppis"

it happened Apostyppis with Thracians and Macedonians to fight from the right side

Stephanos was sent, who was a Kappadokian, general of the forces found in Lagobardia with Thracians, Macedonians and selected Harsianites and Kappadokians.

We easily figure out the Greek names of Macedonians and also the term "Macedonians" is used also in a geographical sense. That is the soldiers coming from the region of Macedonia.

Anna Komnena

Constantine Opus led the Guards, Antiochos the Macedonians, Alexander Cabasilas the Thessalians, and Taticius, at that time 'Primicerius,' [=Chief of the household] the Turks of Achrida

Antiochos is a Greek name.

Another man, a Macedonian, Petros by name, but surnamed Tornikios, fell among the enemy and slew a number.

Petros Tornikios is again a Greek name.


Constantine Porphyrogennitus 905 AD - 959 AD

the Theme of Strymon was connected with Macedonia and nowhere it is counted as Theme, but its considered as narrow kleisoura [i.e. a lesser organization, something like a military base, a security-district], and it is being governed by Scythians instead of Macedonians since Justinian the Rinotmitos settled them in the mountains of Strymon and check-points on the mountain-passages.

Here we have lots of interesting infos.

I) We have clear distinction between Scyths (Slavs) and Macedonians.
II) Scyths (Slavs) are NOT called Macedonians eventhough they are settled in a place which became a part of Macedonia, hence even Byzantines knew Macedonians were Greek and had nothing to do with Slavs.

Leon Deacon 10th C.

Scyths under their leader Symeon commite lots of destructions to the Romaious (=Greeks) by having sudden attacks, looting and ravaging the country of Macedonians mercilessly

It is quite evident from the evidence coming from account of Leon the Deacon that the country of Macedonians was inhabited solely by Romaious (=Greeks).

Because the audacity and stubborness of Mysians (=Bulgars) who smelled murders, brought havoc to the dominion of the Romaioi and mercilessly were ravaging the country of the Makedonians, killing all adults

The country of Macedonians who was into the dominion of Romaioi suffered a lot from the killings of Mysians.

Kouropalatis, the progenitor of Vardas who was imprisoned in the island of Lesvos and through Stephanos, the bishop of Abydos, he was promising money and honours to the Macedonians

In this account Kouropalatis attempts to bribe his Macedonian guards. Here of course the Macedonians mean the officers/guards coming from the region of Macedonia.

Ioannis Manassis - 12th C.

whom when Basileios the Macedonian saw..

in the frist city, the magnificent, the city of Macedonians

We already know the emperor Basileios is called Macedon eventhough he was of Armenian origin.

Nikitas Choniates -13th C

For my account (Emperor Alexios narrates) all the country would laugh at me...if while i didnt capture the kingdom in a honorable way, i was senting away my own offspring, i was putting in my house the Macedonian...characterizing this way Bryennios [*Nikephoros Bryennios] because he descended from Orestias who was one of the most prospering and strong cities of Macedonians

when it was selected someone Eustratios from the battalion of Macedonians

So another Macedonian under a Greek name.

From the History of Nikitas Choniatis we have:

...and he (the Westerner) is full of hate towards the Hellene, ----,more than the serpent- this ancient enemy of mankind..., to the degree that it is preferable to encounter the latter in Paradise | than the awful Latins... And the citizens of Thessaloniki ----' suffered terribly by them."

"History": 301-302

Clearly the citizens of Thessaloniki as HELLENES suffered from the hateful Latins

From Chronographia Theofanous we have:

"In 811, ...[The Bulgarian chan] Krum now sought for peace... but the emperor entered Bulgaria... and was killed by the barbarians. This great disaster fell upon the Christians on July the 25th... Krum severed the head of the dead Nikiforos and hang it on a log... After that he silver-lined the skull and used it as a drinking cup in order to show-off to the chieftains of the Sklaveni..." <414-416>

Another quote showing that Bulgars had mixed with Sklaveni.

"In 812, ...emperor Michael I [Rangabe] came against the Bulgarians...When the Bulgarians heard of the revolt [against the emperor] they took courage and bullied Thrace and MACEDONIA. The Christians left the cities of Anghialos and Berroia - although no one pressed them to do that -...and sought refuge... inside fortresses. The new settlers of Philippoupolis, Philippoi and Strymon left for their lands..." <420>

So again it is mentioned there were Christians in these cities (Byzantine Greeks) and the reference is clear that Bulgarians were invaders and finally left for their lands.

In 813, ...chan Krum asked for peace... and a confirmation of his rule over Bulgaria and Thrace up to the Mileones. ...but then came the news that he stormed the city of Mesimbria... The imperial armies led by the general of the East Leon and the general of MACEDONIA Ioannis (the so called) Aplakis... met him at Bersinikia, but were prevented by the emperor and his advisors... After their defeat near Andrianoupolis... the emperor resigned his office to the general of the East Leon [V the Armenian]... Krum marched all the way to the very walls of the Queen-of-Cities [Constantinople]..." <421-427>

So, the general of Macedonia is a Byzantine Greek (Ioannis Aplakis).

The history of Theophylact Simocatta

Numerous cities along the Danube were sacked by the Avars, while Slav raids and migrations were directed towards the parts of the Balkans remote from Constantinople, particularly towards Greece, where Thessalonica was besieged and Athens and Corinth sacked.

So Thessalonica was part of Greece.

The place had obtained its name from the actions of Alexander of Macedon, for the son of Philip had gone there with his Macedonian force and Greek allies, razed a very strong fortress and slaughtered the barbarians in it.

Theophylact is clear to distinguish Barbarians from Alexander's mixed force of Macedonians and their Greek allies.

For from remote times until Ptolemy, wo was called Philadelphus, these regions were completely and utterly foreign and dangerous for those who entered. But after the aforementioned king had campaigned against Ethiopia with a Greek force, the facts about this region have become known exceedingly

Nikephoros Bryennios

the god-fearing Basileios Kourtikis, Macedonian man close to Bryennios family

Another Macedonian with an entirely Greek name.

Demetrios Chomatianos

Such - like the sting of scorpion - was proved recentl and Ioannis, who is called Ierakaris, he is also son-in-law of Vlastinos, from the village of Vlastou-Vrattonou of Radou and he descends from Macedonian stock

Note that the person of Macedonian stock here is called Ioannis Ierakaris. An explicitely Greek name.

Conclusions

-The Term Makedonikos is used solely for the forces coming from the theme of Macedonia. Note that the theme Macedonia was not stable and inside the same borders.

- There was no Byzantine account naming "Macedonian" a Bulgarian, Slav or Turkish person nomatter that some groups of these peoples settled in certain times in the theme of Macedonia.

- All the surviving Byzantine accounts mentioning names reveal explicitely that Macedonians were Greek, having always Greek names.