William Mitford on ancient Macedonians

William Mitford was an English historian, born in 1744 at famous English family. In July 1761 he was sent to Queen's College in Oxford, as a gentleman commoner. He married Miss Fanny Molloy in 1766, the daughter of James Molloy of Dublin. He retired to Exbury for the rest of his life, and made the study of the Greek language his hobby and occupation. He was encouraged by French scholars whom he met in Paris, Avignon and Nice to give himself systematically to the study of Greek history. But it was Edward Gibbon, with whom he was closely associated when they both were officers in the South Hampshire Militia, who suggested to Mitford the form which his work should take. While his book was progressing, Mitford was a Tory member of the House of Commons, with intervals, from 1785 to 1818, but it does not appear that he ever visited Greece. Typical for such a man, Mitford was an impassioned anti-Jacobin from the 1790s, and his partiality for a monarchy led him to be unjust to the Athenians. Hence his "History of Greece", after having had no peer in European literature for half a century, faded in interest on the appearance of the work of George Grote. Clinton, too, in his "Fasti hellenici", charged Mitford with "a general negligence of dates," though admitting that in his philosophical range "he is far superior to any former writer" on Greek history. Byron, who dilated on Mitford's shortcomings, nevertheless declared that he was "perhaps the best of all modern historians altogether." This Mitford certainly was not, but his pre-eminence in the little school of English historians who succeeded Hume and Gibbon would be easier to maintain.

Into his work "The History of Greece" (Vol. VI), he wrote a lot about Macedonia and ethnogenesis of ancient Macedonians.

Analysis of his work:

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 50]

- Mitford about Greek blood, Greek language, Greek manners and Greek religion of ancient Macedonians from Greek historians from antiquity.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 59]

- About reign of Archelaus and his Olympian festival at Dion, dedicated to Muses from Greek mythology. According to Mitford, Macedonians worshiped the nine Muses from Greek mythology.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 59]

- Mitford confirms that festival at Dion was Olympian festival (called Olympian, perhaps from the neighboring mountains of Olympus), not Macedonian Olympic Games, how Slavomacedonian historians claim. According to this excerpt, on this festival was promoted literature, science and arts, not sport activities. Soon Macedonia become celebrated among all other Greeks.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 62]

- Once again are refuted unfounded claims of Albanian and Bulgarian historians for Illyrian and Thracian origin. Mitford claims that ancient Macedonians were different race and spoke a different language from the Illyrians and Thracians.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 63]

- Excerpt about connection of Macedonian royal family with Greek mythological hero Hercules.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 64]

- With this excerpt, Mitford supported the thesis of common origin of Macedonian and Thessalian nobilities as Hellenes, with common ancestor Hercules.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 67]

- According to Mitford, Macedonia participated at Pan-Hellenic general congress at Athens, as Greek state.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 81]

- Philip has the best system of tactics for his military in whole Greece.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 89]

- Mitford says that Paeonian prince Agis had Greek name.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 89]

- In this excerpt, Mitford confirms Greek origin of Paeonians.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 254]

- Excellent excerpt about Greek origin of Epirotans, Macedonians and Lyncestians. Also this excerpt emphasizes that Epirotans spoke a Greek dialect simillar with Macedonian.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 288]

- Excerpt where Philip is mentioned as protector of Greek religion.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 289]

- Intresting excerpt which maybe will be abused by Slavomacedonians, to prove that Thessalians are not Greeks, but separate nation. For Thessalians there is no doubt, that they were Greeks. Nation present-day are more ethnicities who live in one country form nation. Nation present-day is political formation. At 19 century nation in antiquity mean more tribes at one geographical region. Ancient Macedonian nation is contains more tribes as Lyncestians, Orestians, Pierians, Mygdonians, Almopians and others. But they were all with Greek origin as William Mitford's says. In this book there is not mentioned Macedonian nation, but we must to explain what mean Thessalian nation with parallel examples.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 415]

- Excerpt which confirms that Philip's aim was to unite all Greeks against the barbarians (Persians).

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 416]

- About the common origin of Macedonian and Lacadaemonian royal families, from Hercules.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 420]

- Hercules, ancestor of Macedonian royal house mentioned as benefactor of all Greece.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 420]

- According to Isocrates, Philip supposed to be peacemaker of Greece, and commander at war against the barbarians (Persians). Another proof that Macedonians weren't barbarians.

[William Mitford, The history of Greece (vol. VI), Boston 1823, pg. 436]

- Another excerpt about common religion of Macedonians and other Greeks.

Author (M.P.)