Krater Makedonski wrote:
>
> "++" <friend@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message=20
> news:QtmdnSpYuPzKHr_VnZ2dnUVZ_quhnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> Krater Makedonski wrote:
>
>> Here is another EVIDENCE for the EXISTENCE of "the=20
>> non-existent-Macedonians-prior-to-1945" (according to bulgar and=20
>> greek propagandists). This one is from the 1700's.
>>
>> http://makedonika.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/macedonians-found-in-the-me=
moirs-of-baron-de-tott-1786/=20
>>
>
>
> THe Baron De Tott was a fascinating individual, a spy, a mercenary, an
> Hungarian noble from France. He made his way in the world for sure.
> I'm somewhat fascinated by finding out what is an auvergnat since he ha=
d
> 1,500 Macedonian ones to help him clear rock. I know what an auvergnant=
> is, a tanner of skins, but this is a different word. He seems rather
> to be enamored of Macedonians. This is the English translation of
> Francois Baron De Tott's French *M=E9moires du Baron de Tott, sur les
> Turcs et Les Tartares*. The entire book is on Goggle books here:
> http://tinyurl.com/698zx7
This is a revision of the original
> translation. It would be interesting to get the French text and take a=
> look at city names, country names and peoples' names. You can buy the
> original for 750 dollars if you are rich enough from one American
> antiquarian and then go around an sell it for 650 Euros to the Europea=
n
> market.:
>
> To the best of my knowledge the Baron had been invited to Turkey, by=20
> the Sultan, to build some buildings for him in Istanbul. What is not=20
> known very well outside of Macedonia, is, that there were renowned=20
> Macedonian master builders during those times. Even now the builders=20
> from Vevchani, Smilevo, for example, are renowned master craftsmen of=20
> their trade not only in Macedonia but much, much further afield. He=20
> was "enamoured" of the Macedonians because, as he describes, they were =
> very hard, fearless workers and most likely master craftsmen amongst=20
> them.
I solved the puzzle in a later post from a note in the book online. He=20
had called the Macedonians Auvergnat since they reminded him of French=20
mountain people of that region. As far as De Tott's history, it is well =
known. Through the book we see the Ottomans using various people for=20
various work, regionally. The Macedonians were being used as expert=20
stone dressers. They were paid for their work. Elsewhere in the book=20
we see that the Albanians, used for other work, had started a protest=20
over their pay.=20
Even today, you can see expert stone dressing by Macedonians whose=20
fmailies have been engaged in this particular craft for hundreds of=20
years. Stone is cut from a block source by expertly hitting it and then =
when the rough shape is attained for the bui8lding blocks, one side or=20
two is dressed, i.e. made smooth, or edged or left rough on purpose a=20
certain way. De Tott was incredibly impressed at two thing, the work of =
the craftsmen and their character, and the fact that they were capable=20
of efficiently preparing the rocky site
De Tott was put in charge of several buildings, all associated with=20
training military or military outposts. He was also serving double duty =
as a spy the entire period, and especially hatched plans against the=20
Russian conquest of Ottoman territory.
Still would love to find a source of the French text online. It would=20
be copyright free. I am also interested in knowing why he, as an=20
Hungarian nobleman raised in France, decided to return to Hungary at a=20
certain point.
Read the two volumes online. he has very interesting observations=20
particularly about the Holy Land and its administration.
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