History of Macedonia

Ancient Times


The history of Macedonia has its roots in the ancient times. It begins from antiquity and travels throughout the centuries, full of glorious stories of battles, heroisms, culture, activity, catastrophes and victories. The name Macedonia derives from the Dorian word makos, mikos in modern Greek (meaning length), and stated that the people of Macedonia are tall.

The lands around Aegae, the first Macedonian capital, were home to various greek peoples. Macedonia was called Emathia (from king Emathion) and the city of Aiges was called Vergina, the capital of fabled king Midas in his youth. In approximately 650 BC, the Argeads, an ancient Greek royal house led by Perdiccas I established their palace-capital at Aegae.

It seems that the first Macedonian state emerged in the 8th or early 7th century BC under the Argead Dynasty, who, according to legend, migrated to the region from the Greek city of Argos in Peloponnesus (thus the name Argead). Herodotus mentions this founding myth when Alexander I was asked to prove his Greek descent in order to participate in the Olympic Games, an athletic event in which only men of Greek origin were entitled to participate. Alexander proved his (Argead) descent and was allowed to compete by the Hellanodikai: "And that these descendants of Perdiccas are Greeks, as they themselves say, I happen to know myself, and not only so, but I will prove in the succeeding history that they are Greeks. Moreover the Hellanodicai, who manage the games at Olympia, decided that they were so: for when Alexander wished to contend in the games and had descended for this purpose into the arena, the Greeks who were to run against him tried to exclude him, saying that the contest was not for Barbarians to contend in but for Greeks: since however Alexander proved that he was of Argos, he was judged to be a Greek, and when he entered the contest of the foot-race his lot came out with that of the first." The Macedonian tribe ruled by the Argeads, was itself called Argead (which translates as "descended from Argos").

Other founding myths served other agenda: according to Justin's, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, Caranus, accompanied by a multitude of Greeks came to the area in search for a new homeland took Edessa and renamed it Aegae. Subsequently, he expelled Midas and other kings and formed his new kingdom. Conversely, according to Herodotus, it was Dorus, the son of Hellen who led his people to Histaeotis, whence they were driven off by the Cadmeians into Pindus, where they settled as Macedonians. Later, a branch would migrate further south to be called Dorians.

The kingdom was situated in the fertile alluvial plain, watered by the rivers Haliacmon and Axius, called Lower Macedonia, north of the mountain Olympus. Around the time of Alexander I of Macedon, the Argead Macedonians started to expand into Upper Macedonia, lands inhabited by independent Macedonian tribes like the Lyncestae and the Elmiotae and to the West, beyond Axius river, into Eordaia, Bottiaea, Mygdonia, and Almopia, regions settled by, among others, many Thracian tribes. To the north of Macedonia lay various other-Greek peoples such as the Paeonians due north, the Thracians to the northeast, and the Illyrians, with whom the Macedonians were frequently in conflict, to the northwest. To the south lay Thessaly, with whose inhabitants the Macedonians had much in common both culturally and politically, while to west lay Epirus, with whom the Macedonians had a peaceful relationship and in the 4th century BC formed an alliance against Illyrian raids.

Near the modern city of Veria, Perdiccas I (or, more likely, his son, Argaeus I) built his capital, Aigai (modern Vergina). After a brief period under Persian rule under Darius Hystaspes, the state regained its independence under King Alexander I (495--450 BC). In the Peloponnesian War Macedon was a secondary power that alternated in support between Sparta and Athens.

Phillip II (357-336 BC) introduced Macedonia as a newly established monarchic state which played a major role. The king managed to unite with the rest of the states and all the Greeks in becoming one. Phillip ordered his son Alexander the Great into forming a restrained army to take over the entire Persian Empire. Macedonia became the heart and mind of the Hellenistic times.

Greeks enter into a treaty for military cooperation, both defensive and offensive, known as the League of Corinth. Greece is now more nearly united than ever before, even though under duress.

One of the resolutions of the League of Corinth is to launch a war against Persia, with Philip as commander of the confederate forces. In the following spring (336) an advance guard of 10,000 troops sets off eastwards. But that same summer, at a feast to celebrate the wedding of his daughter, Philip is murdered by one of his courtiers.

The League immediately elects his son, Alexander, in his place as commander. But this degree of unity is short-lived. The Thebans rebel against the League. Alexander storms Thebes in 335 BC, killing 6000. He then puts into effect a stern judgement by the council of the League. Theban territory is divided between its neighbours.


Macedonia after Alexander: 323 - 148 BC

The whole of Greece seems to hold its breath during the astonishing saga of Alexander's conquests in the east. His regent in Macedonia (Antipater, one of his father's most trusted generals) keeps the region calmly under control apart from one brief uprising by Sparta.


Roman and Byzantine Times

The Macedonian kingdom soon lost control, after the defeat by the Romans in the Macedonian Wars, but it preserved its leadership. During the Roman occupation, Macedonia faces a dark period and the following years shares the same luck with the Byzantine Empire. During that time, around 6th -7th century, Macedonia attracts many conquerors, among them are the Slavic people, Visigoths and Huns. The next two centuries are quite peaceful and the country continues the strong efforts for economic development and rising of political power.

In 1082, Normans occupy Macedonia and after many invasions they take over Thessaloniki but soon they abandon the town. In 13th century, Macedonia is under the Frankish rule and the battle against them ends with their defeat. The next century is the gold era of Thessaloniki. The Byzantine Empire spends its last moments and Thessaloniki becomes a pole of national development.


Ottoman occupation and liberation

During the Turkish domination, the Greek-Macedonian people succeeded in winning against the Turks twice, in 1371 and 1403 but despite the huge efforts, Turks refused to give up the territory. After the fall of Constantinople, Turks settled in the entire Macedonia. From 16th to 19th century, there are many battles and revolutionary outbreaks where Macedonians fight against the Ottomans. They are beaten to death but they withstand their attacks with great heroism. In 1826, with the foundation of the independent Greek state, Macedonia was still an outsider, and remained under the Turkish rule for the next few years.

Finally in 1913 and after many years of battles against the Ottomans and the Bulgarians, the southern part of Macedonia united with the Mother Greece and the north part Occupied by the Slavs. Today, the economy of Macedonia is based on agriculture, cattle-breeding and tourism. The largest town is Thessaloniki, which serves as an important trading center in the Balkans.