Görög Örökség Ελληνική Κληρονομιά - H-ellin.com

the West Roman state. The latin remained the main official language of the Byzantine Empire until
the time of Erakleios. Consequently, it is believed that the birthplace of the Valchiki language was
Pindos and it was used only by family members, whereas the Greek language was used in trade and
writing. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, during the Turkish occupation, the Vlachoi are under
the protection of Sultana Valinte and they pay the minimum tax, organize stockbreeding cooperations
(tseligata), armatolikia, they become cartdrivers, small manufacturers, craftsmen and
traders.
The big Vlachikes communities are formed during the 16-17* centuries in Metsovo,
Kallarites, Zagori and Moschopolis or Voskopolis near the area of contemporary Koritsa.
In Moschopolis, the population consists of 60,000 residents, the number of orhodox
churches is 22 and the New Academy of Platonas is established in 1730 along with the first Greek
Printing Office where the first greek books were published. Moreover, important communities are
formed in Budapest and Vienna.
During the 18 l century, due to the development of Trade, many Vlachoi from Macedonia
immigrate in Russia, Hungary, Austria, Serbia and the Danubian sovereignties, which at that time
were partly-independent, Vlachia and Moldavia( which in 1859 are united to form the contemporary
Romania).
Here, Vlachoi along with Fanariotes (meaning the eminent Greeks from Fanari in
Constantinople) are the ruling class. In the danubian sovereignties, the language used by the
administration and for the inter-Balkan communications is the Greek language. The contribution of
the greek-orthodox education in enlightening the people through churches, schools and greek
publications, is enormous.
After the end of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of national states, Vlachoi are
scattered in all Balkans. Never did Vlachoi consider creating their own national state because they
never felt they are a separate nationality. On the contrary, the families of distinguished Vlachoi
supported the greek interests in every possible way.
As a result, as soon as the new borders are drawn, Vlachoi are separated into 4 nations:
Greece, Albania, Serbia and Romania. Summing up, Vlachoi are residents of the Balkans, belonged
to the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires, were Orthodox Christians, were speaking a latin idiom
which remained oral, had always had greek consciousness and their religious ceremonies and
education were done in greek.
Finally, there has been a great number of heroic Vlachoi fighters who fought for the freedom
of the Greeks.
Vlachavas Efhtimios 1770-1808, Voulgaris Eugenios 1716-1806, Vlachopoulos Alexios
1787-1865, Georgakis Olymbios 1772-1821, Gantelos Ioannis ..-1822, Grivas Theodoros 1792-
1862, Dionyssos the Skylosofos...-1611, Doukas Neofytos 1760-1845, Panagiotis Zidros 1630-
1750, Ziakas Georgios...-l 769, Karaiskakis Georgios 1782-1827, Kassomoulis Nikolaos,
Kosmas Aitolos 1714-1779, Liakatas Georgios...-1821 Manakis Anastasios, Bantralexis Pavlos and
Bantralexis Petros, Missios Gogos, Botsaris Markos 1786-1823, Boukovalos Dimos 1715-1780,
Nikolaos (Neomartyras of Trikala)...-1617, Nikotsaras, Oikonomos Konstantinos 1 780-1 857,
Papagiannis Ziogos, Priftis Giannis, Ragos Ioannis 1790-1865, Rigas Velenstinlis or Feraios ...-
1789, Stathas Giannis 1758-1812, Stavrou Georgios, Stournaris Nikolaos 1775-1826, The heroic
family of Tzavelaion from Souli, Tzimas Dimitrios, Tsapos Ioannis..-1822, Farmakis Ioannis, Floros
Giannis, Chatzipetrou Christodoulos.
Bibliography:
Association of Vlachoi from Almiros.
Folklore association of Vlachoi from Veroia.
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