The original manuscript of the proclaimation and other printed proclaimations of Emperor Leopold the first from 1690 with which he takes the Macedonian people under his protection

8 proclamation, originally written in a Latin manuscript, was also recently discovered by Mr. John Todorovski in theAustrian StateArchives in Vienna. The content of this important proclamation reads in full as follows: We hereby make it known that both Macedonians (and our Captains), Marcus Craida born at Cosana and Demetrius Georgius Popowik born at Saloniki in Macedonia have demonstrated to Us just how much the Macedonian People, in light of our most just cause and with ardor [and] zeal toward our service would, with serious intention, turn away from the crushing Turkish yoke toward our devotion for their passage, provided that [that people/nation] be restored by our grace and stalwart protection. In light of which, moved by our inborn kindness by the benignity for protecting those touched by the holy Christian religion by which we are driven, we graciously accept the Macedonian people in general and in particular into our Imperial and Royal grace, obligingly ordering each and every of our military magistrates that they neither harass that same Macedonian people in any manner, nor that they take it upon themselves to molest them on any occasion at all, but rather that the magistrates, to the best of their ability, in fact ward off coming dangers, defend the Macedonians, and assist them to this end with our full Imperial and Royal favor; and that they make that same nation entirely sure and secure through the preservation of their the magistrates’ laws and liberties; and that in the event that anyone from that people and by decree of our captains mentioned above should wish to serve under our banners, and at the order of our captains mentioned above, they [the captains] should be obligated to encourage rather than impede their designs, just as we might kindly oblige them, so that, with the knowledge and permission of the general in charge there and our men, they would be able to come together into their own regiment and act separately, or to join together with us and thus fight against a common enemy. In which case they will work themselves in with the above stated general, under his command for a single common good, God willing; and they shall not cease to watch over our interests and to cooperate with distinction in the fashion befitting a man, in all they encounter. Given at Vienna, 26 April, 1690 * * * * The original Latin manuscript text of this proclamation reads as follows: Notum hisce facimus exposuisse Nobis ambos Macedones, Marcum Craida Cosanae (et Capitaneos nostros) et Demetrium Georgium Popowik Soloniki in Macedonica natos qualiternam Gens Macedonica intuitu justissimae causae nostrae, et fervore atque zelo erga servitia nostra serio cum affectu inclinet ab immani Turcico jugo in devotionem nostram transeundi dummodo gratia et protectione nostra secura redderetur. Quare ex innata benignitate, et qua Nobis sanctaque religioni Christiana affectos protegendi ferimur clementia moti, praefatam Gentem Macedonicam