Bulgarian National Identity in Macedonia, 1870 - 1878

Abstract

This thesis examines the question of the Bulgarian national identity in the historical-geographical region of Macedonia in the period between the establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate and the Eastern Crisis (1875-1878). Macedonia remained on the periphery of the Bulgarian national religious movement, which meant that the processes of national maturation took place there at a slower pace and simultaneously with the growing foreign influences: Greek, Serbian, and Catholic. Therefore, the thesis explores the intercommunal relations among the Orthodox population of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. The aim of the text is to look into how the Bulgarian Exarchate, as a subordinate to the Ottoman Empire institution, attempted to influence the Bulgarian national identity in Macedonia. This happened in several different ways, because the Exarchate was responsible for the spiritual issues among the local Orthodox population as well as for some secular ones, including the educational activities. This thesis uses the methods of content analysis and triangulation of memoirs, newspapers, letters, and diplomatic documentation to present the problem posed in the title in its entirety. As a result, it is found that both the local Bulgarian population of Macedonia incited the activities of the Exarchate and the...