ABSTRACT
This chapter examines changing representations of Serbs and Bulgarians in the Greek historical imagination and attempts to place them in their particular historical context. The participation of the Slavs in the Greek War of Independence, the vision of an all-Balkan revolution that this inspired, and the enduring traditions of the Christian commonwealth, offered the Slavs their last major opportunity to be depicted as trusted Christian allies of the Greeks. Given the context, it is hardly surprising that the image of the Balkan Slavs also underwent important changes, with the Bulgarians suffering the most. Although there had always been voices that had stressed the barbaric nature of their language and character, they were initially perceived as Christians and allies of Christian heroes. Panayiotis Kodrikas and Athanasios Stayeiritis, held the Bulgarians in utter contempt: just like their medieval forefathers. Following a Byzantine trend, modern Greek historiography paid scant attention to them, and examined their history mostly during periods of crisis.
