The German Slavist Wolf Oschlies writes that in the 15th century the Germans did not know anything about Bosnia or BULGARIA, but were well informed about Macedonia, what kind of country it was and where it was situated.

IF EUROPE LOSES MACEDONIA?

The mid-century German authors did not make any distinction between ancient Macedonia and any other Macedonian country. As far as they were concerned, Macedonia has always existed as an entity. They acknowledged that Macedonia offered Europe the best examples of wisdom. Therefore, according to them, if Europe were to lose Macedonia it would soon be lost itself, says Wolf Oschlies.

I would not bother the readers, but I think that such a work, like Brandt’s literary poem, has contributed to the formation of the German sympathy towards the Macedonians. This sympathy still exists and is shown by the words of the German Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel who, during the visit of his Macedonian counterpart Blago Handziski to Bonn, said:” Macedonia is very much liked in Germany.”

Wolf Oschlies, Berlin

The greatest king was, of course, Alexander the Macedonian. The Germans knew that without a doubt. Macedonia was a very popular subject among the Germans at the time. This was the 15th century--the time when the Turks occupied the Balkans. Most Germans did not know anything about Bosnia or Bulgaria, but they all knew Macedonia-- they knew what and where it was. The scholar Brandt knew all these countries by their classical names. Chapter 10 entitled About the Fall of Religion deals with the military campaign of the Turks in the Balkans. It is a kind of atlas drawn by Brandt as an expression of his sincere sympathy for the losses of Christian Europe:

“How much has Europe lost in such a short time?

On April 6, 1690, Leopold I sent an appeal to the Balkan peoples, the Macedonians among them, to rise up again against the Ottomans and to assist the Austrians armies. Twenty days later, the Habsburg emperor issued the "Letter of Protection to the Macedonian People", wherein he referred to the statements of Marko Kranda from Kozhani and Dimitri Georgi Popovich from Thessaloniki, both Macedonians, about "how much the Macedonian people, out of respect for Our most just deed, with eagerness and zeal towards Our service and with serious intent, wish to free themselves from the heavy Turkish yoke and place themselves under Our protection, if Our mercy be extended to it... For that reason," stressed the emperor, "We mercifully accept and receive under Our imperial and royal mercy, in any manner and kind, the above-mentioned Macedonian people, kindly recommending to all Our military commanders not to attack the Macedonian people or cause any difficulties to them, but, in accordance with the forces available, to protect, defend and help them always and under any circumstances.

1690, Leopold I sent an appeal to the Balkan peoples, the Macedonians among them, to rise up again against the Ottomans and to assist the Austrians armies. Twenty days later, the Habsburg emperor issued the "Letter of Protection to the Macedonian People", wherein he referred to the statements of Marko Kranda from Kozhani and Dimitri Georgi Popovich from Thessaloniki, both Macedonians, about "how much the Macedonian people, out of respect for Our most just deed, with eagerness and zeal towards Our service and with serious intent, wish to free themselves from the heavy Turkish yoke and place themselves under Our protection, if Our mercy be extended to it... For that reason," stressed the emperor, "We mercifully accept and receive under Our imperial and royal mercy, in any manner and kind, the above-mentioned Macedonian people, kindly recommending to all Our military commanders not to attack the Macedonian people or cause any difficulties to them, but, in accordance with the forces available, to protect, defend and help them always and under any circumstances."