Macedonia Key Dates
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Republic of Macedonia

Key Dates


Iron Age    Macedonians, formed during the Iron Age, from Brygian substratum and from Indo-European superstratum settled at the end of the second millenium.
498 - 454 BC    Macedonia are already present on the international scene.
360/359 BC    Philip II united Macedonia and enforced Macedonian dominance upon the neighboring nations.
336 BC    Under Alexander III lidership, Macedonia became the most powerful country, with the most organized and most unified army.
9th century    The Slavic tribes in Macedonia accepted Christianity as their own religion.
11th century    The Ohrid archbishopric, with main seat in Ohrid, was founded during the rule of Czar Samoil.
14th century    Macedonia fell under Turkish rule and remained as such for five centuries (1392 - 1912).
1767    The Ohrid archbishopric was cancelled.
2 August 1903    The Ilinden uprising had begun. The rebels in the town of Krusevo organized their own power, well known as the Republic of Krusevo ("Krushevska Republika"), which lasted 10 days.
1912    First Balkan War in which the allied Balkan countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece, achieved victory over the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).
1913    The Second Balkan War was led by the country allies from the First Balkan War (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria) with the aim of ruling Macedonia.
10 August 1913    Peace treaty in Bucharest - the territory of Macedonia was partitioned into three parts among Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece.
1915    During the First World War, Bulgaria occupied Macedonia.
29 September 1918    Bulgaria surrenders to the Allies.
1919    Peace conference in Versailles. The "Vardarian" part of Macedonia (today Republic of Macedonia) fell under the rule of the newly formed Kingdom of SHS (Serbia).
1941    The Bulgarian and Italian military forces invade and occupy "Vardarian" Macedonia
11 October 1941    Beginning of an armed anti-fascist battle in Macedonia with a national and revolutionary character, for the realization of an independent Macedonian state.
1943    The first military unit of the Macedonian army was formed.
2 August 1944    A decision was reached to constitute a modern Macedonian country that will become part of the new Federal Yugoslavia.
1945    Control of Macedonia transferred from Bulgaria to Yugoslavia
17 July 1967    The Ohrid Archbishopric was renewed as the Macedonian Orhodox church.
late 1990    First non-Communist government elected in Macedonia.
8 September 1991    Successful referendum for independence held in Macedonia.
27 March 1992    Yugoslav Peoples Army (JNA) completed the withdrawal from Macedonian. Macedonia gains its full independence.
8 April 1993    The Republic of Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations.
23 November 1993    The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia passed a decision for full NATO membership.
November 1995    Republic of Macedonia became a full member country of the NATO initiative - the Partnership for Peace.
March-June 1999    Kosovo War in neighbouring Yugoslavia causes over 400,000 ethnic Albanian refugees to cross into Macedonia
10 June 1999    Kosovo War ends and Albanian refugees begin returning home
7 January 2000    Ethnic Albanian forces begin terrorist* attacks on Macedonian security forces
March 2001    Fighting between ethnic Albanian terrorist* forces and Macedonian security forces intensifies
9 April 2001    Macedonia officialise its relations with the EU.
mid 2001    NATO brokers a ceasefire between the Macedonian government and the Albanian terrorist* forces
13 August 2001    'Framework Agreement' signed by Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian representatives to strengthen inclusive, multi-ethnic, democratic structures within Macedonia
September 2001    The so-called Albanian National Army (ANA) informs the world that they will continue the fight against "occupiers of the Albanian territories" in Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece on their way to creating a Greater Albania.
4 December 2001    USA offically designates the Albanian National Army (ANA) and the National Committee for the Liberation and Defense of Albanian Lands (KKCMTSH) as terrorist organisations

* The use of the word 'terrorist' is the official policy of the Macedonian Government, and the preferred phrase of our Macedonian correspondent Igor Bozinovski. See our Glossary for a formal definition of the word.


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First Created: 24 May 2008 - Last Revised: 24 May 2008
Copyright © 2008 John Hayles.     e-mail: john@aeroflight.co.uk