Grecomans
Pejorative term for Greek-identifying people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grecomans or Graecomans (Greek: Γραικομάνοι, romanized: Graikománoi; Bulgarian: Гъркомани, romanized: Gărkomani; Macedonian: Гркомани, romanized: Grkomani; Romanian: Grecomani; Albanian: Grekomanë; Aromanian: Gricumanji) is a pejorative term that generally means "pretending to be a Greek" (implying a non-Greek origin).[1] It is used in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, and Albania to characterize Albanian-speaking,[2] Aromanian-speaking,[3] and Slavic-speaking[4] people who self-identify as ethnic Greeks. Another meaning of the term is fanatic Greeks.[5]
The "Grecomans" are regarded as ethnic Greeks in Greece, but as members of originally non-Greek, but subsequently Hellenized minorities, in the neighboring countries.[6] The historical controversy surrounding such people stems from the fact that during the rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire they used to identify themselves as Romioi, as part of the Rum millet.[7]
Macedonian Struggle
In the region of Macedonia the term appeared during the 19th and early 20th century nationalist propaganda campaigns and the struggle for Macedonia.[8][9] Two notable Makedonomachoi, who were Slavophone and self-identified as Greeks, were Gonos Yotas and Kottas in Central and Western Macedonia, respectively.
Aromanian question
Greek influence is deeply rooted in the Aromanians.[citation needed] They have always been linked to the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has bounded their cultural and economic activities with the Greek church. Therefore, wealthy urbanized Aromanians had been active promoters of the Greek language for a long time. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this language was used as a lingua franca in various parts of southeastern Europe, and it was necessary to speak it in order to achieve a higher social status or to receive education. Due to the influential position of Greek, not only several Aromanians but also Albanians, Bulgarians and Macedonian Slavs began to declare themselves as ethnic Greeks. Such was the strength of this influence that the first texts in Aromanian, written in the Greek alphabet, promoted the spread of Greek culture. Many settlements in central Greece were easily Hellenized without the need of political or religious movements.[10]