From: ls0823@wuche1.wustl.edu (Labros Skartsis)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.romanian
Subject: Re: Romanians in Greece?
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:01:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: wuche2.1992Apr10.190143.12083
Organization: Washington University in St. Louis

Dear Joe,
let me try to contribute a little to this point - to the best of
my knowledge, of course.

Indeed there have been some people in central-northern Greece,
who were called "Vlachs" ("Vlachoi" in greek (plural); "Vlachos" 
in singular form). Actually, as your friend said, the use of the term
"Vlachos" has expanded in the everyday language to denote "not-too-
sophisticated-villager" (say, "hoozier" if I may say!) thus diverging
from its original ethnic/cultural sense (nothing offensive, you know
how these terms evolve!).

But let's return to the real, original "Vlachoi". These people,
basically living in the countryside used to speak a version of latin...
This is the reason that they were supposed to be associated with
the modern Romanians. Actually not much evidence exists about their
movement (?) to Greece and other details. I'll tell you, however,
some other proposed explanations:
(i) they are descendants of ancient latinized thracians (as , I think
you suggested). The same process, presumably, gave birth to the 
modern Romanian nation.
(ii) they are descendants of romanized greeks (i.e., latin-speaking
greeks); the scholars who proposed this theory argue that "it would
be extremely surprising centuries of roman occupation to leave no
influence whatsover in any part of the population" - regardless if the
greek culture was considered "superior" by the locals and latinization
occured in hardly any extent.
(iii) they are descendants of roman soldiers/colonists in Greece.

Indeed, not much more is known and only speculations are made. It is
certain, however, that direct links with Romania cannot be proven.
Now you'll ask me: how come the name "Vlachs" sounds so much like
this of the Romanian territory? I don't know. I don't know even how
old is the use of this term (i.e., whether it was created by the 
perception / speculation of links with the Romanian territory) or
whether it is pure coincidence. Somebody else might help here...

Actually I have seen in Greece books about the (superb) Vlach 
folk poetry which included their poems  in their
latin-based language; actually I remember my father, who was trying
to learn Romanian (to study this country's poetry) commenting about
some similarities of the two languages. I don't know much more...
Unfortunately the Vlach language is all but dead today.

One more thing that comes to my mind (briefly):
 These people don't consider themselves linked to any other country.
Actaully Romania, I have read, made an unsuccessful effort to 
"prosylitize" them in the beginning of the century. 
The second effort to create a national identity in them was made
by Mussolini, during WWII (when Greece was occupied by both 
German and Italian forces); he tried to create the "Vlach
principality of Pindos" , i.e., in the Pindos mountain region
of central Greece. I guess, Mussolini was trying to focus on the....
roman version of the theory of these peoples' ancestry. Even this
attempt failed, basically because the Vlachs didn't care to associate
themselves with any other nation (including  "their own").

I'll be glad to hera any more information on this interesting topic.

Best regards,
L. Skartsis
Post-doc, Chemical Engineering Dept.
Washington Univ., St. Louis