Why Skopje chosen to be the Capital City

[The LION will ROAR]

Why Skopje chosen to be the Capital City over Bitola by Sasha Uzunov

SKOTSKA I gradot "SKOPJE" - Britancite se "majstori" za imperii i za asimulatorska politika vrz drugi narodi...na primer koga se kolonizira Irska vo 15tiot vek i Skotska vo 17tiot vek, prvo mu se zabrani keltiskiot jazik na Ircite i Skotite za sto pobrzo i efikasno da mu go unistat otporotot.
I koga samite Britanci, koj se "majstori" ni pokazuvat za "vlianjeto" na gradot Skopje kon Makedonskiot jazik, treba da gi poslusame "majstorite" !
BITOLA NAMERNO NEGIRANA: Spored pisatelkata Thammy Evans (od Britanija) vo negovata kniga "Macedonia", problemot so Skopje e sto Skopje bese izbran za glaven grad od politicka pricina, koga trebase da bide Bitola.
Thammy Evans objasnuva deka Skopje bese blisku do togasnata Srpska (Kosovska) granica - i Bitola bese namerno "skinata" za da se unisti makedonskiot otpor i da se izgubi vrskata vo egejskiot del.
Koga "majstorot" ni pokazuva treba da go poslusame... !


THAMMY EVANS - book on Macedonia. Skopje versus Bitola.

https://www.amazon.com/Macedonia-4th-Bradt-Travel-Guide/dp/1841623954

[Niko777]

Bitola should have been the capital of the People's Republic of Macedonia but of course it lost its importance after Serbia took over seeing how Skopje was closer to Serbian influence in the north, they invested in Skopje instead of Bitola.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Bitola should have been the capital of the People's Republic of Macedonia but of course it lost its importance after Serbia took over seeing how Skopje was closer to Serbian influence in the north, they invested in Skopje instead of Bitola.

Correct. Nothing against Skopje, but I think Bitola would have also been better received as the capital of the Macedonian republic (indeed, the 'greater' Bitola region was a centre of Macedonian culture and revolutionary activity for so long during the Ottoman Empire) by our brothers and sisters across the borders.

[sydney]

In a modern context, it is shameful Macedonia only has one truly major city. Talk about a single point of failure in every way.

[Momce Makedonce]

Bitola should have been the capital of the People's Republic of Macedonia but of course it lost its importance after Serbia took over seeing how Skopje was closer to Serbian influence in the north, they invested in Skopje instead of Bitola.

I think that to a certain extent Skopje is still influenced by Serbia, for example when Skopjani throw in Serb words when speaking. Thankfully not anywhere near what it used to be though from what I`v heard.


Skopje is the only major city in Macedonia, but when it comes to beauty, cities like Bitola, Prilep and Ohrid are on another level compared to Skopje in my opinion. Perhaps if the 1963 earthquake never happened it would have been a nicer city.

[Momce Makedonce]

In a modern context, it is shameful Macedonia only has one truly major city. Talk about a single point of failure in every way.

Cant really see that changing anytime soon either, they only invest in the capital city and barely anywhere else.

[Nikolaj]

I know this may be unrelated but I don't understand why Greeks say Macedonians are Skopjans.
Skopje was always a part of Macedonia, they have their own newly made maps showing it in the upper region of Macedonia.
Here are two old maps of Macedonia I found in an antique map store on the internet and there's plenty more:

https://www.antiquemapsandglobes.com/maps_found_list.php?Geography=&Subject=&Type=&Coloring=&Title=&Keywords=macedonia&Author=&Publisher=&Year=&Copyright=&MinimumPrice=&MaximumPrice=

Note: It is a map of Ancient Greece alongside Eprius, Macedonia, Thrace, Illyria, Moesia, Pannonia and Dacia included.



Here's a Wikipedia propaganda version most likely uploaded by a Greek that shows Skopje outside of Macedonia..


Also, although I am from Bitola myself, this isn't a biased opinion but I would have much preferred Bitola to be the capital.

[Gocka]

For historical significance Bitola or Ohrid should have been the capital.

[Risto the Great]

(indeed, the 'greater' Bitola region was a centre of Macedonian culture and revolutionary activity for so long during the Ottoman Empire) by our brothers and sisters across the borders.

I would like to think of it more appropriately as "greater Kotori" but I know where you're going with this.

[Soldier of Macedon]

I would like to think of it more appropriately as "greater Kotori" but I know where you're going with this.

An insignificant drop in the sea of Bitola

[Constellation]

I think that to a certain extent Skopje is still influenced by Serbia, for example when Skopjani throw in Serb words when speaking. Thankfully not anywhere near what it used to be though from what I`v heard.

I concur. Serbia's influence is obvious in the decision to make Skopje the capital.

[Niko777]

I think Serbian influence is now dead, today the city suffers from Albano-Kosovar influence.

[Nikolaj]

I think Serbian influence is now dead, today the city suffers from Albano-Kosovar influence.

Definitely. I was walking through Skopje in 2011 and at one point I was sure I made a slight wrong turn out of our borders to Albania

But really, they have a heavy influence in Skopje, you hear their mosques going off constantly.