Talk:Gagauz people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Moldova, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to articles related to Moldova on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please join the project and help with our open tasks. | ||||||
| B | This article has been rated as B-Class on the quality scale. (If you rated the article please give a short summary at comments to explain the ratings and/or to identify the strengths and weaknesses.) |
||||||
|
|||||||
 |
Gagauz people is part of the WikiProject Russian history, a collaborative effort to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Russian history. If you would like to participate, you can visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. |
| ??? | This article has not yet received a rating on the quality scale. |
| ??? | This article has not yet received a rating on the importance scale. |
--Sifakis 03:41, 29 July 2006 (UTC)I wanto to know more about Gagauz, because my family Dermengi is one of then and I live in Brazil, very far from Moldova
Contents |
[edit] Enver Pasha
The hero of Liberty was also from Gagauz Turkish origin. Are you planing to prepare a seperate section about famous Gagauz people? See you, Deliogul 11:05, 1 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] "related groups" info removed from infobox
For dedicated editors of this page: The "Related Groups" info was removed from all {{Infobox Ethnic group}} infoboxes. Comments may be left on the Ethnic groups talk page. Ling.Nut 20:24, 19 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Origin of Gagauz people
Cheboksari (talk) 02:19, 9 February 2008 (UTC) The Gagauz people were the descendants of autochthonous Turkish populations of Balkans, but which were keeping their Orthodox religion unlike the big majority of those Balkan Turks.
Those Balkan or “Danubian” Turks were absurdly accused as same as “Bulgarians” (Rumelian Slavonics) from Ottoman reformist politicians in 19th, and today they are declared as same as Anatolian and Ottoman Turks. For sure the Muslimization and Ottomanization of those Turks since the 15th was joining those Turks to one historical, traditional and cultural Ottoman and Turkish community in empire, but that is not at all a reason of declaring them as being the guests on their own land and of denying them their own Balkan history, tradition and identity which was besides lasting much longer in their own homeland – the Balkans than those of the Turks and the Ottomans in Anatolia.
Turkish areas of Balkans were those in East of peninsula – those of the ancient local autochthonic Moesian Turks in East Balkans, forming for half-millennium their two Turkish Moesian states in 681-971 and 1185-1395 and staying highly concentrated in their old areas of East Moesia – Turkish region of Deliorman with old capitals of Pliska and Preslav and near the Black sea coast – in Dobroudja and southerner (like also in Rhodopes).
Those Turks since 15th quickly Muslimized and Ottomanized (except Gagauz) and becoming thus close and united with their Ottoman and Anatolian Turkish Muslim brothers, though having different origin, history, tradition or identity – those were in East Balkans the autochthonous Huns since 5th (established with the Byzantine support in Dobroudja after disintegration of Hun empire, meaning coming much before the Slavonics) and joining them since end of 7th Onogondours (coming small after Slavonics) forming a first Moesian Turkish state conquering, occupying and dominating local Slavonics (feudally dependent in most of history before 1878), then having a second wave of Turkish invaders – of the Pechenegs, Ouz and Koumans (Koumans most powerful from those were delivering to second state its principal aristocracy and 3 dynasties – of Assan or John-Assan, John being translation of Kouman Assan-Hassan, then having Terters’ and Shishmans’ dynasties) which since middle of 11th for about century were practically depriving Byzantines from their “Cis-Danubian” theme, commiting unheard outrages, cruelties and devastations in the Lower Moesia and Thrace, for later, joining old Turkish settlers, forming second Turkish-Moesian state.
After defeated from Byzantines – parts of those Turkish new-comers were established from Byzantines under Byzantine control in the Central Balkans from where them escaping at first possibility for continuing in their East Balkans their wild outrages. Since 13th innumerous immigrants from the Tatar khanates and Tatars from Anatolia were establishing in regions like Dobroudja – those more minor movements for sure were though not important changing ethnical or political situation there.
Moesian Turks were special case on Balkans, initially steppe horse nomadic populations, hardly controllable, strongly mobile and in constant movements with a military way of life, always strongly relating their Turkish brothers over Danube, but turned in peasants under Ottomans, those Moesian Turks still today are speaking their special Danubian Turkish language. In beginning of 20th famous Polish Turcologist prof. Tadeusz Kowalski was establishing its Huno-Bulgarian North-Turkish basis with a powerful Pecheneg-Ouz South-Turkish layer – defining its South-Turkish and Ogouz character, Kouman language occupying special position among Turkish languages was not strongly influencing as Koumans – most powerful from those invaders were dominating the area, but staying strongly mobile with their principal parts remaining over Danube. The same language was spoken for those Muslim Danubian Turks and their Gagauz cousins which separating from the Muslim majority of Turks since 15th. Also finally for that Turkish language of the Moesian Turks having a thin superficial Ottoman layer – inevitable with establishment of Ottoman Turkish as official language of society, administration and state or culture (Ottoman immigrants like everywhere staying inconsiderable).
When coming on Balkans the Onogondours were pretending attributing for themselves the “Bulgarian” name as shortly belonging to a shortly surviving Caucasian “Bulgaria” of khan Koubrat (separating from West-Turkish khaganate), those pretensions on name of Turks-Bulgarians were later adopted from uniting those older local Turkish populations the new-comers Pechenegs, Ouz and Koumans – as Turks-Bulgarians close to the Huns were staying in European Antiquity and Middle Ages much famous, feared and respected Barbarians. Was known during Middle Ages great Bulgaria of the Volga – spreading its power or influence on enormous territories in Eurasia and destroyed from Mongols-Tatars, but becoming center for spreading of Islam in Tatar territories (succeded on its principal territory from a Kazan Tatar khanate).
Weakly relating the local Orthodox Churches with their Slavonic-Byzantine language and culture (unlike their Turkish Moesian aristocracy adopting Slavonic-Byzantine culture and Orthodoxy and being massively slaughtered from Ottomans), those Turks are quickly and easily muslimized and ottomanized, though part of them – the Gagauz persecuted for their Christian religion and immigrating to Bessarabia were actually keeping Orthodoxy (together with their native Turkish language), but those Gagauz in the East Balkans though sharing same situation sure never thought of “assimilating” with local Orthodox Slavonics.
Church Slavonic as only alternative language of Orthodoxy – religion being introduced there (by force) from Byzantines was sure means of resisting grecization (inevitable with great power and influence of the Byzantine neighbor) without smallest danger of “slavonization”, “assimilation” and loss from Turks of their dominating position because of always weak and inferior cultural, political or military and social development of local Slavonics (two communities of dominated Slavonics and dominating Turks always keeping much different culture, way of life and society), though “united” from a common official Orthodox religion mixture between two races – of Slavonics and Turks was realized only with practice of spread among Turks customs of rapes and forced picking of Slavonic women for wives. Would be much more probable supposing that local populations like Slavonics or another would be entirely or partially assimilated from those Turks (like that happening from a small minority of the Turkish Seljuk conquerors in Anatolia) but that has never much happened.
Introduced there from the Illyrian Bulgaria (with its principal Slavonic-Byzantine Ohrid school forming since 886 – that is much before Preslav school in Turkish Moesia starting forming under Simeon) and specially through great influence of the known (Illyrian Bulgarian from origin) St. Clement over local prince Boris – Church Slavonic language (becoming Latin of the Orthodox East) and Slavonic-Byzantine culture couldn’t sure much influencing without speaking of “slavonizing” Moesian Turks in their own state and country – as that elevated elitarian aristocratic and minoritarian culture like in all medieval states was concerning narrow circle of social elite, and from opposite was actually separating Turks from official Orthodoxy and their Byzantine-influenced aristocracy.
Church and official culture – could never assimilate anyone in those medieval states as was case with Latin in West Europe – only language of state, and religion, literature or science for more than one millennium until 16th (could be later compared to spreading of the fashionable French – spreading among social elite) – Latin was never Latinizing anyone in medieval epoch, having the Church Slavonic – kept for about one millennium in Wallachia, Moldavia or Albania and Kossovo, either the Bielorussain in Lithuania for about half-millennium (then replaced by Polish), actually medieval states were highly characterized with opposition – social, political or cultural between elite and populace with their respective cultures.
Province of Lower Moesia (lying between North and East Barbarians and Constantinople and occupied originally from Moesian Turks) is from beginning of the 1st millennium totally devastated from Barbarians, described generally as a “Scythian desert” and having only importance for empires of Byzantines then Ottomans as buffer for empire against North Barbarians, Byzantine sovereigns were preferring supporting there rule of Moesian Turks occupying area – province of Moesia with Danubian plain was un-needed for empire, practically un-protectable (specially after break of Danubian limes in 602) and was anyway not meaning much for empire after being totally destroyed and devastated from Barbarians which finally occupying it, depriving it from its Byzantine populations.
Establishment of Moesian Turks was preferred or tolerated – instead for empire itself assuring its defense against hostile Barbarians, either when risking leaving it to a much more dangerous foreign invader and enemy – when Moesian Turks would be protecting as buffer principal Balkan imperial parts without generally representing themselves serious danger; in 705 (twice dethroned) Justinian II is recognizing to khan (Turkish prince) Tervel power over Zagore – Slavonic name (“land over the mountain”) of “Moesia” (with its North-Thracian neighborhood in the East Balkans) – empire preferring losing thus officially a Slavonic territory of “Zagore” to its own old Roman province of the Lower “Moesia” (some are supposing that the name of Zagore indeed attributed like to whole of Turkish Moesia also sometimes to different East-Balkan regions was meaning here a region in East Thrace).
As recognized, organized and independent Orthodox state Turkish Moesia was existing for about century and half, after 864-971 becoming a Byzantine province of Paraistrion or “Cis-Danubia” in 971-1204, in upsurge from 1204 to 1241, then becoming a Tatar (becoming practically Tatar province in end of 13th), Serbian and finally an Ottoman dependence and protection. The short periods of military and political expansion (when using as principal support Turkish troops of brothers-Turks from Trans-Danubian lands) were quickly exhausting resources of Turkish Moesian state for being followed from long periods of loss of power and of military and political decadence.
The Onogondourian power was replacing for local Slavonics Avarian, from example of Avarian state was there existing a two-degrees structure where the Turks were controlling their Slavonic subjects (on the lower degree) through their Slavonic aristocracy (supported somehow for few decennia until final centralization process following Byzantine model), Turkish Moesian state was though quite quickly becoming ordered, organized and centralized and feudalized – following model of Byzantium and having a real, important and entire control over its own territories in Moesia (with adjacent East-Balkan North-Thracian parts on road to great Constantinople), when the other territories shortly recognizing union or presence with Turkish Moesia were quite weakly either not related and controlled or influenced, the Moesian Turks with their troops, rulers, aristocracy, administration and two always Turkish states were so, later muslimized and ottomanized, controlling Balkan East with its (feudally dependent) East-Dacian Slavonics for 12 centuries until 1878 – when after the 15th becoming also religiously opposed for local Orthodox Slavonics.
Besides being weakly related to local Orthodx Church an important part of those Turks could be staying before later Muslimization and Ottomanization also Pagan – as seen for example in the Volga Bulgaria with case of Chouvash which staying there un-reached from Muslimization.
Remaining Orthodox Moesian Turks – Gagauz, or the Gyaour “Infidel” Ouz, were forming (being centered near their principal city and area of Kavarna) their “Republic” in Dobroudja which had to be routed from Ottomans in the 1850’s. Turks of Macedonia were generally settlers moved from Byzantines or Ottomans from Anatolia united under Ottomans with local Muslimized populations. Tatars penetrating East Balkans from Crimea or the North Anatolia (principally under the Ottomans) were staying attached to Muslim Turks, they were establishing among other in Turkish land of Dobroudja (keeping big part of Gagauz populations when Muslim sects were since 13th penetrating Dobroudja – principal Turkish Balkan land) receiving its name from turcisized name of local Turkish Kouman Orthodox feudal (from dynasty of Terters) named in Slavonic Dobrotitsa or “Dobroudja” in Turkish.
Thus Gagauz (without counting Orthodox East-Balkan Slavonics – much more numerous but not ethnically related to their conquerors Turks) were the only Turkish and true and original remnants of existing for few centuries East-Balkan Orthodox Turkish Moesia. Keeping their Orthodox religion was meaning that part of those Turkish populations was staying attached to its old identity, traditions and culture though much bigger part of Turks was quickly and easily and definitely joining their Ottoman conquerors. Like all other Orthodox in empire the Gagauz were somehow underprivileged because of their Christian culture and so they were like some from the local Slavonics escaping imperial dominions for Russian Bessarabia where were keeping until now their principal parts, and only small part from them was keeping in their East Balkans. Gagauz were keeping for those many centuries their original culture, tradition, identity or definitions despite even having from long Ottomanized and Muslimized their Moesian Turkish brothers and despite hostility of Ottoman authorities.
Gagauz and Chouvash (both Turkish peoples were somehow relating the Turks-Bulgarians – Chouvash being their direct descendants and Moesian Turks pretending for long on their name) are considered now the only Orthodox Turkish peoples but certainly Gagauz were keeping their Christianity for those many centuries and Chouvash becoming Christianized from Catherine the Great only in the 18th. Meaning Gagauz are the only Turkish people staying originally Orthodox as being Christianized from Byzantines and their princes and aristocracy since 864 – that is before many of the European nations of today.
[edit] Turkish Moesia and its Balkan relations
Cheboksari (talk) 02:27, 9 February 2008 (UTC) After forming on the South side of Danube in 681 Turkish Moesian state was having on Balkans a narrow strip along Danube (up to Iscar or Northwestern Haemus-Balkan) to control and was starting also penetrating the North Thrace, but was becoming in beginning of 9th a Balkan power after disintegration of Avarian khaganate destroyed from Franks of Karl the Great. Then the khan Kroum (considered from some coming from Bulgarians of khaganate, starting last and most important dynasty of Moesian Turkish state – dynasty of princes Boris and Simeon) was annexing whole East of the ex-Avarian empire and also a Danubian strip up to Belgrade, from where in 9th was starting penetration of Moesian Turkish influence in south along the axis of Morava-Vardar (with those always opposing empire Slavinias in Macedonia inclined easily towards some alliance or union with anti-Byzantine powers), when lands south of Balkan staying protected from the strong Byzantine limes – fortification line of Haemus and southerner.
Indicative of the growing power and self-assurance of the principality-khanate was the bold Moesian Turkish campaign towards a Byzantine stronghold like Sardica-Sofia. Kroum is advancing into “Greek regions” and is even entering Sardica where doors of the city are open from garrison which is promised from prince keeping their lives, the prince is staying there for three days (obviously not feeling welcome) and is quickly escaping (before that slaughtering garrison with part of citizens) as the Byzantine emperor learning of Moesian Turkish campaign is instantly organizing expedition towards Sardica where emperor is occupied of restoring city walls damaged from Kroum. The Moesian Turks for sure never put their feet there until beginning of next century, but local Slavonic principalities – Slavinias were already starting establishing and increasing their power and influence.
The prince Omourtag was signing in 820 a peace treaty with empire where confirming border on Haemus-Balkan range, the same prince in his inscription on a stone column was wishing for himself of continuing “trampling on the emperor and on the Slavonics”, the state was centralized under Byzantine model – probably creating later known the “10 comitates” on principal territories of the principality.
The khanate is having drastic transformations under Boris and Simeon (defeated from their neighbors), Boris was losing all his wars, when Simeon advancing up to Serbia was finally defeated from coming to Serbian support Croatian king.
The prince (keeping always his title of prince or archon – confirmed from Byzantine authorities, the patriarch was even crowning the prince with archon’s diadem) Simeon was even preparing declaring himself as “Roman emperor” that is Byzantine emperor – as seen with his seals produced and found in Preslav, with incredible idiocy and insolence the prince which naming himself that way was aiming replacing himself the lawful Roman emperor in Constantinople and was so proposing to the Arab Caliphs of attacking and taking together Byzantine capital of Constantinople, needing for this the support of the powerful Arab navy (was known for everyone that Constantinople can be taken only from a great navy). Fortunately Byzantine policy was frustrating the prepared alliance which was menacing the existence of Byzantium – staying then the only European power able of defending the continent from great Arab Muslim menace which was fought in one total, exhausting and decisive struggle of 4 centuries. If plans of Simeon would be realized preserving him as small Arab sheikh was quite improbable and Arab occupation of continent would be eminent.
Should be always made principal difference between Turkish Moesia in Balkan East (with its two Moesian Turkish states in 681-971 and 1185-1395) and the older Slavonic-Byzantine Illyrian Bulgaria in the Balkan West of Illyria which was generally named as “Bulgaria” when Turkish Moesia was generally known as “Moesia” or “Zagore” (for Slavonics). Byzantines were naming sometimes both with the names of “Lower” (for the Illyrian Bulgaria) and “Upper” (for the Turkish Moesia) either “Bulgaria” or “Moesia” as both were having their pretensions on “Bulgarian name” and were located on territories of ex-provinces and dioceses of Moesia (diocese of “Thrace” of Odryssians in Balkan East for the Moesian Turks – including earlier created province of the Lower Moesia, when the first and veritable or Upper Moesia was staying in Illyria and giving its name to diocese of Illyria). The Moesian Turkish presence or union in Illyrian Bulgaria was in some relatively short periods only formally recognized from local Slavonic principalities – Slavinias always keeping, supporting and protecting there their principal power.
Indicative of growth of Moesian Turkish power was Moesian Turkish presence and union or influence in Illyrian Bulgaria and in a principal Byzantine and Slavonic-Byzantine stronghold like Shopeskho with eventually there Sardica – it was happening principally in four periods – between 904-930, then between 1202-08, between 1230-46 and 1341-56.
In 904-930 it seems that even a Byzantine and Slavonic-Byzantine stronghold like Sardica was falling under the Moesian Turkish presence and union or influence, though the local Slavinias sure were always keeping their power – recognizing formally some alliance or union with Moesian Turkihs principality, and those Slavinias were after 927-930 originating the great Illyrian empire of the Comitopouls, under Moesian Turkish king Peter I Moesian Turkish state is losing the conquests of prince Simeon, Rassa-Serbia is so separating in 927-930 and so is the neighboring Shopeskho.
It is notable that the Byzantine sources were always naming the four brothers – Slavonic-Byzantine Shope princes as “Comitopouls” that is as sons of a comita or comes-count but not being a comita for some of them, meaning that their father “the mighty comes-count of Sredets-Sofia Nikola” was losing its title long ago (before transferring it to some of his sons) – as a Byzantine either as Moesian Turkish comes-count – as his lands were since long ago losing their union with one of both monarchies and he couldn’t be succeeded from his sons as his title was lost before that. Thus the anti-Byzantine revolt of Comitopouls was started in one staying formally Byzantine land from long separated from Turkish Moesia (after Byzantine and Russian attacks over Turkish Moesia Comitopolus were starting pretending also on lands of the quickly and inevitably disappearing Moesian Turkish state).
If Moesian Turkish prince Peter I was receiving from Byzantine emperor title of Caesar or Kaiser (highest court title after imperial one in Byzantium, already received from a Moesian Turkish khan Tervel in 705) with title as patriarch for Moesian Turkish archbishop – which though staying canonically submitted to the patriarch in Constantinople (same as for example the Abkhazian patriarch-Catholicos was staying submitted to one of Georgia), great Illyrian Bulgarian Slavonic-Byzantine empire was first time establishing later known and used imperial Slavonic title as “tsar” – documented for Illyrian Bulgarian tsars Samuel and John-Vladislav (first named as “Autocrat”), and with its independent patriarchate was giving birth to first independent European national Church recognized from emperor Basil with three imperial charters in 1019-20 – the Church transferred from him important part of power over principal territories of Illyrian Bulgarian empire (that is the Illyrian Bulgaria proper) now in union with great Byzantium, the reformed from Basil “autocephalous” that is independent archbishopric of Ohrid and of “Bulgaria” was transferred the official great state seal of the Illyrian Bulgarian empire.
With its enormous territory reaching from Illyria with North Greece and Bosnia or Dalmatia to Slovakia, South Poland and South Russia or Black sea – it was first great Slavonic empire with the first Slavonic-Byzantine culture, centers and schools and Church, and which playing principal role in Christianization of neighbors Poland and Russia, strategic alliance is established with powerful Hungarian neighbor (later playing important role in Illyrian Bulgarian history, policy, directions), and empire becoming later united in a monarchical union with great Byzantium (in 1018-1204).
Union with Illyrian Bulgaria was greatest victory and success of greatest Byzantine Medieval emperor Basil II, like his contemporaries and himself are rightfully considering – for fighting Illyrian Bulgaria the empire is concentrating on Balkans after the year 1000 its principal military forces of more than 100 thousand soldiers. Byzantine attacks are ravaging principally the Slavonic-Byzantine Macedonia whose Slavinias are the traditional opposers of Byzantium.
After Slavonic invasions since the 6th and 7th (principally sure after 602) Central Balkans (with Shopeskho – principally since the 9th) like most of Illyria were staying firmly controlled from the local Slavinias – Slavonic principalities – often recognizing some kind of union and presence or influence from Byzance and sometimes from the Moesian Turks, when the East Balkans – strategic for both states were staying firmly and directly controlled from the Moesian Turks either Byzantines and their rulers, troops, aristocracy, administration and states, Moesia between Balkan and Danube was staying under incontestable control of the Moesian Turks and in Thrace the control was changing from Moesian Turks to Byzantines.
Sardica and Slavonic-Byzantine Shopeskho – a principal Slavonic-Byzantine stronghold in the Central Balkans – were again reached from a Moesian Turkish union or influence in 1202-08 (Serbian or Turkish Moesian attacks were before that already reaching Sardica and its region since end of 12th) with a second Turkish Moesian state under the Moesian Turkish king Kaloyan – receiving its title from pope against a religious union – receiving also archbishop and 2 bishops for the 2 ex-Byzantine dominions of Varna and Velbouzhd-Kyustendil, meaning important parts of Shopeskho were under Moesian Turkish union or presence most probably without Sardica.
Kaloyan’s successor Boril was totally defeated from Franks in Constantinople taking all his lands south from Balkan, Shopeskho was forming a conglomerate or federation of Slavonic principalities known for Franks as “Slavonia” (as “Slavonians” were called in West Europe the West Slavonics) which were knowing it being once a “part of Thrace” (Roman province of Thrace), “Slavonia” was becoming probably somehow a protection – being real or wanted of Frank empire in Constantinople which was proposing it as a future dominion to future emperor Jean de Brien.
In 1230-46 Shopeskho and Sardica were again under Moesian Turkish presence and union or influence, that is after catastrophal defeat of Thessalonica’s emperor against Moesian Turkish king John-Assan II in 1230, king in 1235 was receiving also recognition for his position on an Orthodox Council in 1235 establishing (together with for first time in Turkish Moesia the title of “tsar”) for a first time an independent Moesian Turkish patriarchate with few metropolitan seats and bishoprics and also three archbishoprics for the ex-Byzantine dominions in South – of Sredets-Sardica, Dragovitia and Anhialo. Dragovitia was peopled by West-Slavonic Dragovitians (only West Slavonics in East Balkans) region in Central Rhodopes transmitting its name to whole area and sometimes even the whole East Balkans of Slavonic population.
John Assan was having title of tsar or emperor. In his inscription on a stone column in Tarnovo he was bragging of taking from Thessalonica emperor all his lands – south from Haemus-Balkan “all his land – Greek and also Albanian and Serbian” and is declaring himself even as lord of Franks in Constantinople.
Already in 1246 in Sardica is establishing as independent ruler a Russian prince Jacob-Svetoslav escaping to Balkans from Tatar invasion of Russia (in 1237-41). The prince is most probably taking shelter at the court of Moesian Turkish tsar John-Assan II, and is already in 1246 establishing as independent ruler in Sardica and Shopeskho with support of the Byzantines, either Hungarians or even Moesian Turks (in 1246 Turkish Moesia is losing practically all areas occupied since 1230 from John-Assan). He is having his title of (title introduced in Byzantium in 12th as second after imperial was becoming also one of Balkan independent rulers) despot most probably from Byzantines and marrying a daughter of emperor, like his Russian “brother” Rostislav Mikhaylovitch in Belgrade and Machva he is declaring as “emperor of Bulgaria” (Illyrian Bulgaria) and is pretending even on Moesian Turkish throne after death of tsar Constantine Tih.
Constantine Tih was an aristocrat from Scopye which was pretending on Moesian Turkish throne during Civil war in Turkish Moesia (his own Scopye was since long lost for Turkish Moesia), for some he was supported for the throne from Sardica’s ruler despot Jacob Svetoslav which was though refusing the Moesian Turkish tutelage in 1246. It seams the expeditions of Constantine Tih (already on throne of Turkish Moesia) were reaching even the direct surroundings of Sofia like the Boyana fortress – like showing it frescoes of Boyana Church (made from an anonymous local master) when despot Jacob Svetoslav was keeping its stronghold of Sardica.
He was later delivered from his suzerain the Hungarian king vast lands in Triballia with Vidin and also Small Wallachia (or “Severin”) forming a considerable in territory Illyrian Bulgarian empire. After death of Constantine the despot is declaring his pretensions even on Turkish Moesian throne (which was later occupied from the rebel Ivaylo, despite one quite spread opinion he was not a peasant but a small Turkish Moesian aristocrat and military chief from Danubian plain), but is empoisoned from Turkish Moesian tsarina.
After that all lands of despot south from Balkan are annexed from the Byzantines keeping them for more than 60 years until beginning of Civil war in Byzantium, in 1341 with support of its Serbian protectors lands of North and Northeast Shopeskho with Sardica are annexed from Turkish Moesia become a Serbian protection under Serbian king and tsar Stephan Doushan. Under tsar John Alexander Turkish Moesia is for a last time appearing on Balkan political and military scene. With disintegration of both Serbia and its protection Turkish Moesia in 1356 following death of Doushan Sardica and Shopeskho with their Slavinias are independent again under the power of a local ban (“ban” was always a title of independent West Slavonic rulers). The ban Yanouka is stopping for 14 years Ottoman advance towards Illyria and Serbia (giving the possibility to the Serbian forces preparing for the decisive fight), in 1385 Sardica protected from local troops of ban and the allied forces of Serbian prince Lazar Hrebelyanovitch is falling under the Ottoman control.
Staying independent are the lands of West and South or Central Shopeskho become in 13th and 14th part of Serbian state with dominions of the Dragashs – Shope feudals (known in Byzantium to which providing its last dynasty as the “despot of Serbia”, Constantine was declaring himself as tsar and lord of Bulgaria and of the “Cis-Danubia” – that is Turkish Moesia, after death of Constantine in 1395 he’s replaced in his “Constantine’s land” from his son becoming probably Muslimized and named from Ottomans as Yussuf) or the successors of despot Hrelyo – Shope feudal Stephane Dragovola, his successor is credited from Ottomans as defeating the first on Balkans their forces and is called from them as Sariyar or “Despot Kral”. Those lands are keeping their relative independence or autonomy until beginning and middle of the 15th.
If adepts of Islam in other areas of peninsula were principally those in cities, populations like Albanian, Bosnian and Moesian Turkish were becoming quite quickly Muslimized, Albanians were always divided between influence of different foreign powers – final from which was Ottoman empire, Bosnians were Bogomiles opposing the Orthodoxy and so then transferred to Islam, and the Moesian Turks unlike their Orthodox aristocracy were weakly relating their Orthodox Church and official Slavonic-Byzantine culture.
[edit] Name of the Gagauz
Cheboksari (talk) 02:30, 9 February 2008 (UTC) Many would be wondering why there the Gagauz would be considered or considering themselves as “Bulgarians”. Question is that Moesian Turks were considering and naming themselves as “Bulgarians” much before the Moesian Slavonics which certainly being dominated from them for 12 centuries and which were borrowing the name (principally in the 19th when the Moesian Slavonics appearing on Balkan scene) from them, though today being those principally named as “Bulgarians”. Much probably the Gagauz should be renouncing to their old and traditional “Bulgarian” appellation in 19th for distinguishing from those newly appearing Moesian Slavonics – thus would be appearing or prevailing as new appellation name of Gagauz and would be establishing during the 19th and the 20th.
