Ullah millet

The Ullah millet was a recognized ethno-religious and linguistic community for Aromanians (also known as Vlachs) within the Ottoman Empire, established in 1905. Before this, Aromanians were under the jurisdiction of the Greek Ecumenical Patriarchate, which led to tensions due to language barriers and cultural conflicts. These issues escalated into physical violence between Aromanians and Greeks.

The Ottoman authorities initially rejected Aromanian demands for autonomy, fearing political instability and loss of control over Macedonia. However, growing Bulgarian influence on Aromanians and German pressure compelled the Ottomans to act. On 22 May 1905, Sultan Abdul Hamid II issued a decree granting Aromanians the right to use their own language in religious services and allowing them to choose their village mayors, effectively creating the Ullah millet.

The decision was celebrated in Romania but faced strong opposition from Greece, leading to violence against Aromanian clergymen and schools. Despite not achieving an independent church, Aromanians were satisfied with the new rights, though challenges persisted in multiethnic areas. After the Balkan Wars, the Ottoman Empire lost territories inhabited by Aromanians, stripping them of their minority rights.

The Ullah millet's establishment is commemorated annually on 22 or 23 May by many Aromanians as the Aromanian National Day, though it is rejected in Greece. In Romania, a similar celebration exists on 10 May as Balkan Romanianness Day, recognizing Aromanians and other Romanian subgroups.