Alexander The Great Was Albanian, Author Claims

Calling the controversial state funded Macedonian Encyclopaedia released by the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences, MANU, a “failure” and an “unfortunate publication”, Muhamedi argued that he wanted to correct misconceptions of Albanian history and to combat the many attempts to steal historical figures from them.

He said that his book came as a direct reaction to the Macedonian Encyclopaedia, published earlier this year and then withdrawn after outrage among ethnic Albanians over passages referring to them as settlers in Macedonia and “Shiptari”, a derogatory term. 

“The goal is to show unity because Albanians have always been part of this state”, Muhamedi said.

Nijazi also provoked controversy by suggesting that the renowned composer Todor Skalovski and the famous writer and poet Mateja Matevski had been wrongfully portrayed as ethnic Macedonians and were in fact Albanian.

Although during their life they had indisputably pronounced themselves Macedonians he said that despite this, their ancestors had been forced to accept a Macedonian identity. 

Muhamedi said that he was not motivated nor supported by politicians and that his approach was strictly scientific.

The book is the first part of three volumes, financed by local businessmen from the western Macedonian town of Tetovo which is mainly populated by ethnic Albanians.

Macedonian Albanians make one quarter of the overall population.