 The term is occasionally used in an apologetic sense by some Macedonian authors, but has also faced strong criticism from moderate political views in North Macedonia and international scholars.The roots of the concept were first developed in the second half of the 19th century, in the context of Greek, Bulgarian and Serbian initiatives to take control over the region of Macedonia, which was at that time ruled by the Ottoman Empire.It was originally used in a contemptuous manner to refer to Slav Macedonians, who believed they constituted a distinct ethnic group, separate from their neighbours.