Origins of IMRO ?

[VMRO]

Originally Posted by Chicho Makedonski

So you believe he was an ethnic Macedonian that fell for the Bulgarian propaganda and thus had pro Bulgarian views as he supposedly stated the reason for a self governing Macedonia was because San Stefano Bulgaria wasn’t achievable ?

Still isn’t clear for me. Why would he state such thing and have pro Bulgarian views if he wanted Macedonian language instead of Bulgarian in the school and also the fact that Macedonians wanted a free Macedonia with no main Bulgarian component and no foreign influence ? It just doesn’t add up. It’s either just a fake Bulgarian created quote or he was just a confused individual.

Are we talking about Hristo Tatarchev or Petar Pop Arsov?

My post was about Petar Pop Arsov.

[Chicho Makedonski]

Originally Posted by VMRO

Are we talking about Hristo Tatarchev or Petar Pop Arsov?

My post was about Petar Pop Arsov.

Znam, I was talking about Tatarchev.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

VMRO established a branch in Adrianople around 1895 due to the belief that the conditions there were similar to in Macedonia and therefore saw the opportunity to establish a united front. Anyone know why no similar action was taken in the so-called "Old Serbia". I know there was some 'Committee for the Liberation of Old Serbia and Macedonia' established in Skopje but not aware of any attempts by VMRO to collaborate with the movement out there. What made "Old Serbia" different to Adrianople in this case?

[maco2envy]

What is the geographic extent of "Old Serbia"? "Old Serbia" sounds like a propaganda term to lay claims on the Shop region, Kosovo and northern fringes of Macedonia.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Originally Posted by maco2envy

What is the geographic extent of "Old Serbia"? "Old Serbia" sounds like a propaganda term to lay claims on the Shop region, Kosovo and northern fringes of Macedonia.

Pretty much summed it up. Was the region north of Macedonia that was still under Ottoman rule. I believe all of it is apart of Serbia now (Kosovo debatable).

[VMRO]

Old Serbia i believe reflected Kosovo/Sandzak region and parts of Macedonia depending on which Serbian philologist/Linguist you use. Eg: Vuk Karadzic is a prime example as it most likely him who first penned this term for that area.

Old Serbia can also be claimed as far as Thessaly due to Dusans empire once stretching to there.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Originally Posted by VMRO

Old Serbia i believe reflected Kosovo/Sandzak region and parts of Macedonia depending on which Serbian philologist/Linguist you use. Eg: Vuk Karadzic is a prime example as it most likely him who first penned this term for that area.

Old Serbia can also be claimed as far as Thessaly due to Dusans empire once stretching to there.

Any theories as to why VMRO never established a presence there as they did with Adrianople?

[VMRO]

Originally Posted by Liberator of Makedonija

Any theories as to why VMRO never established a presence there as they did with Adrianople?

I think maybe it was to do with the accepted borders of Macedonia in those times. Another factor might be that the churches which Macedonians controlled where not that established far north.

They might've expanded had the Serbs not pushed their influence after failing to expand North/West so they looked to go South.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Originally Posted by VMRO

I think maybe it was to do with the accepted borders of Macedonia in those times. Another factor might be that the churches which Macedonians controlled where not that established far north.

They might've expanded had the Serbs not pushed their influence after failing to expand North/West so they looked to go South.

All my thoughts exactly.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

I still have many uneasy feelings regarding Hristo Tatarčev, I feel his actions ran in contradiction to his words. I dislike his referral to us as "Macedonian Bulgarians" in his article on Ilinden in 1933, which was written in Italy so the excuse of Bulgarian censors can't be used here. I understand such terminology wasn't uncommon for the time, but you would expect more from one of the founding members of the Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation - I am not aware of the other founding members or later major figures referring to us as "Bulgarians" with such frequency and consistency as Tatarčev. He's also the only original organisation member I know who joined the Bulgarian Constitutional Clubs during the Young Turk Revolution, as oppose to the People's Federative Party. I know there are suggestions he maintained contact with Ivan Mihajlov during the 1940s as well, which only adds to the suspicions.