Ottomans fought often against Russia, Austria-Hungary. Serbia and Greece and settled Turks from these countries into Gostivar, Raptişah, Üsküp, Selanik, Manastır, Serez, Kavala etc. Ottomans were alone against all European country, in other words, all Christian World. So they had to give autonomy and independence to some of its countries in order to withdrew from these places temporarily. Bosnia-Herzegovina was given to Austia-Hungary Empire and Cyprus to British Empire with the Berlin Congregate. Serbia gained independence and Bulgaria autonomy. Turks in these ex-Ottoman countries suffered oppression and murder. They started to assimilation over Turks in these countries. Some of the Turkish inhabitants could not endure this tyranny and migrated to Anatolia. But some of them still live in such places as Macedonia, Trace, Albania and other places, which are still Turkish regions in Rumelia.
Thousands of Turks migrated from Nis, Lefkofcha, Vranye and other Turkish towns and villages after Serbian invasion and they settled in Ustup, Manastir and Selaniko provinces. Thousands of them also settled in Uskup where their district is called Immigrant District. Ottoman government sent its distinguished teachers, doctors and officers to these places in order to save and protect Rumelia. They equated the future of Ottoman country with the future of this region.
In order to meet the public needs in respect of economy, education, science, transportation and training, Ottoman country built valuable architectural works. Cultural works increased in time gradually after Yildirim Bayezid conquered the region. In 1874 there were two libraries, five mosques, two dervish lodges, three schools, seven hotels, 15 bars, a bath and a clock-watch. After the Ottoman Army withdrew from Kumonava on 22 October 1912 under the command of Zeki Pasha, Serbians invaded Gostivar on 28 October 1912. Thus, Ottoman sovereign of 522 years finished.
Gostivar had a complex ethnic structure throughout history. Except Turks, there lived Slavs, Albanians, Kiptis and other ethnic groups in the city. Ottoman Turks caused important changes in international differentiation in this period by settling Turkish families in the region.
Before Turkish conquest, Orthodox Greeks and Slavs were majority in Gostivar. But they met Ottomans as saviors because their clerical administrators tortured them. Upon the justiful applications of Ottomans, these non-Muslim groups became Muslims volunteerly. Other than this, some Christians also accepted Islam because of privileges given to those who changed their religion. So, Muslims and Turks became majority in the region.
Gostivars population increased in time and reched 3735 in 1890. There were 3,0100 Turks, 31 Slavs, 100 Albanians, 25 Ulah and 200 Kiptis. As seen again, Turks were majority in Macedonian cities such as Selanik, Üsküp, Manastır, Kavala, Serez, Kastorya, Demirhisar, Petriç, Drama, Kalkandelen, Gostivar, Raptişah, Debreşe, Kumanova, Kıratova, Koçana, Radoviş, Pravişte, Nevrekop, Kozana, Kayalar, Florina, Bereya, Eğridere. Turkish population decreased a great number because of atrocity applied to Turks during Balkan Wars and World War I. They even became minority in those places. But this did not affect the population of Turks in Gostivar. According to census of Serbian-Croation-Sloven Kingdom in 1921, there were 150,000 Turks in Macedonia and 430,000 in Jugoslavia. This census also proved that Turks were majority in Gostivar.
To be continued