ΛΑΛΟΥΝΤΕΣ ΜΟΝΟΝ ΤΗΝ ΟΘΩΜΑΝΙΚΗΝ Η ΑΝΑΓΚΗ ΓΙΑ ΔΙΕΡΜΗΝΕΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΜΟΥΣΟΥΛΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΠΛΗΘΥΣΜΟ ΤΗΣ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ ΤΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΔΟ 1882-1898

Abstract

The study deals with the ability of muslim population that remained in Larissa after the annexation of Thessaly to the Greek State to speak and write in greek. The political transformation at the end of the nineteenth century affected muslim populations living in Thessaly and Ipirus. Once a privileged majority, they had now become a minority group in a predominantly orthodox christian society, while greek was now the official language of the state and the administration. Research is based on purchases of property and goods registered in the notarial archive of Agathagellos Ioannidis. Having studied more than a thousand such acts we come to conclusions of how familiar the Othomans were with the greek language. The research is showing that an interpreter is needed in a small percentage of the acts (about 15%). Usually, the muslims in need of interpreter are women, living in Larissa, or peasants of the villages M. Kaeserli (Sykourio) and Kazaklar (Ampelonas), where until the annexation inhabited exclusively muslim population. Ιt also focuses on the Moufti of Larissa, who is referred in the acts of the archive. Making good use of the opportunity, unpublished information is given for various persons and their activities in the city during the period being studied.