Eleni Karinte
Eleni Karinte was a Greek woman of Aromanian background, popularly known as the first love of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Little is known of Mustafa Kemal's relationship with Eleni, who fell in love with him while he was a student in Monastir. According to the folk story, they exchanged glances while she watched him from her balcony, but her wealthy merchant father did not approve of this relationship, and locked her in the house when she tried to elope. Eftim Karinte later took her to Florina, where he tried to marry her off to another man.The love story inspired a play by Dejan Dukovski, later filmed by Aleksandar Popovski. It has also inspired a monodrama with Nikolina Vasilevska in the role of Eleni.
