Macedonians – Millennium-long Testimonies to the Ethnic Name

Macedonians – Millennium-long Testimonies to the Ethnic Name by Branislav Svetozarević-Pokorni, is a study and a collection of sources that explores the historical name and identity of the contemporary Macedonian people. The author's motivation for the book stems from the modern political pressures that challenge the continuity of the Macedonian nation and its name. The core thesis of the work is that the Macedonian people are "just Macedonians" and that their ethno-cultural identity is a unique blend of ancient and Slavic roots. The book argues against the claims that Macedonians are Greek or Bulgarian, and posits that a people cannot be invented or erased by political decrees.

The book is structured to provide a chronological account of the name "Macedonians" from antiquity to the present day. It details how the name of the ancient Macedonian people and the land of Macedonia were preserved even after Roman rule. The study highlights three forms of self-identification: territorial, ethno-historical, and national. The author argues that the territorial identity of Macedonians, derived from their land, has endured since the Middle Ages, with the name re-emerging in sources from the 12th century onwards. The book documents how this identity persisted even as the name was at times suppressed, denied, or co-opted, and despite the assimilation of other groups into the Macedonian ethnic community over time. The author also provides numerous quotes from various sources, including prominent Macedonian figures like Boris Sarafov and Nikola Karev, who emphasized that Macedonians are distinct from Serbs and Bulgarians and that Macedonia belongs to the Macedonians.

The book also covers the period of the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on the emergence of an ethno-historical and then a national self-awareness among Macedonians. It examines the negative impact of foreign propaganda from neighboring states like Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria on the development of the Macedonian national identity. The author provides sources that show how foreign powers and historical commissions, such as the Carnegie Commission, acknowledged the distinct identity of the Macedonian people. The book concludes that the Macedonian people's struggle for independence and their rejection of being annexed by other countries demonstrates their unique national character and resilience. It concludes by affirming the existence of a distinct Macedonian nation with its own history, language, and culture.