American TV: Alexander the Great not Greek

[Hax]

Interestingly, the Young Ottomans initiated a movement in which every subject of the Ottoman state, regardless of religious or ethnical background was automatically an Ottoman citizen. The concept of nationality did exist in the Ottoman Empire, but only fairly late, and only after European (in particular French) influence.

[James Purefoy]

The question was "what nationality was Alexander" so the answer of Makedonian was entirely correct, there was no state called "Greece" back then but there was one called Makedonia, and he was from it. This has no relation to any modern day nation, the whole argument over who "owns" the name is a bit silly IMO, the only difference between people in the FYROM and Greek Makedonia is that they speak different languages, both are equally descended from the Makedones (and other peoples that carry less fame).

A dubious statement at best.

The Slavic invasions of the 6th century are the defining element of "modern macedonia". Also, its land coincides with ancient Paionia, which simply shares a border with ancient macedonia proper, so it's difficult to see much if any genetic connection between modern "macedonians" and the ancient ones.

Add to it the fact that the slavic speakers further south (i.e. the ones living in the ancient macedonian homeland) chose to migrate to Bulgaria in an exchange of populations with Greece in the early 20th century then Bulgaria has more of a potential genetic connection to ancient Macedonia than modern macedonia.


Personally I find the arguments based on genetics to be in poor taste. I think it's more of a cultural question, and there is simply no debating in that area.

[Arjos]

Alexandros was an Argeades, that's all he was...

[jirisys]

Alexandros was an Argeades, that's all he was...

“Alexander, father of Perdiccas, and his forebears first settled and ruled a Macedonia
alongside the sea, having driven by battle the Pierians from Pieria who later occupied
Phagres and other places below Mount Pangaeum beyond the Strymon river. And they also
drove the Bottiaeans from the region called Bottiaea; they now live as neighbors of the
Chalcidians.”

-Thukydides, 2.99. 2-3

~Jirisys (Alexander the First... Huh, I got me an idea)

[Sylon]

The issue is, as I see it, not because Alexander is a historical figure claimed by both countries, but because he is the historical figure claimed by both countries, a veritable behemoth in the annals of history, rivaled only by the likes of Caesar and Napoleon. This considered, the nationalistic fury displayed by both sides is not a result of some Balkan squabbling mentality or any suchlike.

To draw on a parallel situation, suppose Italy were to claim Napoleon as one of their national heroes; seeing as he was born in Corsica, which is historically closer to Italy than it is to France. The resulting anger and outrage on both sides would make this conflict seem insignificant.

[Arjos]

Corsica was Genoese territory, then was Franco-Ottoman, after independent and in the end French...
What was Napoleon? Italy didn't even exist at that time...
To me all these matters are much like the many "what if...", this is all mental masturbation...

[vartan]

this is all mental masturbation...

So much win. Here's to you, my elite Celtic warrior.