According to the prime ministry Ottoman archives documents of Vlach political, religious and educational activities (1876-1910)

Beginning from the 19th century, the weakening of Ottoman rule, economic problems, and the growth of Nationalism in Balkan Statesgave rise to independence attempts and thus some nation-states laid their foundations. By signing the Berlin Agreement in 1878, the Ottoman Empire lost the majority of its territory in Balkan States except for the Macedonian Region. Thereafter the Rûms, Bulgarians, and Serbians, takingtheir long-lasting ambitions into account, launched campaigns to exert dominance in the Macedonian Region, which later led to the emergence of "the Macedonian Issue".Up to those times, Vlachs had been living in that region for many centuries, mainly under the Ottoman rule. As they were originally Orthodox Christians, Vlachs were affiliated with the Istanbul Rûm Orthodox Patriarchate. Proclaiming that the Macedonian Region was their own territory, the threestateswere seeking to establish schools and churches in this region and also—by assimilating the Vlachs—were trying to disseminate an impression that Vlachs descended from their origins, thereby attempting to reinforce their dominance across this region. To achieve these goals, the statesestablished or supported the emergence of illegal gangs which would cater to their interests. Fed up with these pressures and oppressions, Vlachs launch expeditions through their own nationality. As a result, Vlachs launched campaigns for maintaining the Vlach nationalityunder the Ottoman Rule, where they would carry out their religious and educational activities in the Vlach language. As a result of the pressure exerted by the Romanian Community and due to the Yanya Issue between the Roman State and the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman Empire enacted an order in May 22, 1905, authorizing the Vlachs to perform their educational and religious activities in their own language. By virtue of this authority, Vlachs gave prominence to constructing schools in Macedonia (Rumelia) and started to independently perform their activities in their own language.Moreover, with this authority, they became more confident to appropriate the schools they were already using, in a more insistent manner. However, this manner later gave rise to an increase in the disputes over schools and churches. Key words: Vlach, Balkans, Macedonia, Rumelia, Balkan States, Orthodox