1. Vlachophone Greeks – The Vlach-speaking populations of the Greek Peninsula

The Latin-speaking or Vlach-speaking populations in the Greek peninsula, often referred to as Vlachs or Aromanian people, emerged largely due to the extended presence and influence of the Roman Empire in the Balkans.

By the 6th century AD, there is documented evidence of Latin-speaking populations within Greek territories. Historian Ioannis Lydos, in his work On the Origins of the Roman State, notes the presence of “inhabitants, though mostly Greeks, who speak the language of the Italians, especially those who engage in public affairs.” This observation highlights a unique blend of cultural and linguistic influences, where Latin remained prominent among certain Greek communities, particularly in administrative and public domains.

The Vlach metropolitan centers in the mountainous regions of Epirus and Macedonia began to develop around the mid-15th century, driven by historical and economic factors following the Ottoman conquest of the Greek peninsula. Many of these centers evolved into important intellectual and cultural hubs, such as Moschopolis. Konstantinos Koumas (1777 – 1836), a pioneer of the Modern Greek Enlightenment, described Moschopolis as follows:

“…a Macedonian city, entirely inhabited by Vlachs, while it thrived, it strove to lead the intellectual enlightenment of the Greeks through its public initiatives. About a hundred years ago, it not only supported two Greek schools but also imported a printing press from Europe, allowing it to publish essential books for learning.”

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Hellenic Vlach shepherds, kiratzi (carriers), tailors, icon painters, silversmiths, innkeepers, merchants, industrialists, and bankers—some holding noble titles from kings and emperors—left an indelible mark on society. Alongside their Greek compatriots, whom Konstantinos Koumas described as “indeed both peoples being children of the same homeland and descendants of the same ancestors,” they served as ambassadors of the Greek Orthodox tradition across the Ottoman Balkans and into Imperial Austria-Hungary.

These Vlach benefactors contributed generously to the Greek communities in both their adopted and ancestral homelands, becoming national benefactors of modern Greece. Their donations and work continue to fulfill philanthropic purposes today, reflecting a lasting legacy of cultural and national devotion.