The Turks are officially recognized as a minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina,[1] Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Romania; in Greece the Turkish minority is recognized as "Greek Muslims".
The Ottoman Empire conquered parts of the Balkans between the 14th and the 16th centuries.
Thrace Historically, from the Ottoman conquest until the 19th century, ethnically non-Turkish, especially South Slavic Muslims of the Balkans were referred to in the local languages as Turks (term for Muslims).
This usage is common in literature,such as in the works of Ivan Mažuranić and Petar II Petrović-Njegoš.
Today, the largest mainly Muslim Slavic ethnic group is known as the Bosniaks followed by Pomaks.