"WELCOME TO SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO!" Top 5 Page for this destination Former Republic of Serbia and Montenegro by atrosanguinea

Former Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Travel Guide: 457 reviews and 908 photos

this is my country

In the 6th and 7th century Slav tribes from the basin between the Oder and Vistula rivers migrated south and settled in the Balkans, which were back then part of the Byzantine Empire.
Serbs fought many wars with the Byzantines and finally secured their independence. Serbian ruler with highest achievements was Stefan Dusan. He drafted the Serbian law codes and opened new trade markets. Serbia flourished, featuring one of the most evolved countries and cultures in Europe.

The throne eventually passed to Lazar Hrebeljanoviæ. Lazar was confronted by a Turkish emissary carrying a declaration of war. Lazar marched his army onto the Field of Kosovo (1389), that ended in a bloody draw. He turned back the invaders, but was killed along with his entire army. Belgrade finally fell to the Ottomans in the mid-15th century.

WELCOME TO SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO! - Former Republic of Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia was formerly a principality (1817-1882), kingdom (1882-1918) and part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1945, until 1929 the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes).
Serbs entered their present territory early in the 7th century AD, settling in six distinct tribal delimitations: Rascia/Raska (present-day Western Serbia and Northern Montenegro), Bosnia (indistinct from Rascia until the 12th century), Neretva/Pagania (middle Dalmatia), Zachumlie/Zahumlje (western Herzegovina), Trebounia/Travunija (eastern Herzegovina) and finally Zeta (predecessor to Montenegro).
The first Serb state emerged under Caslav Klonimirovic in the mid-10th century in Rascia. However the first half of the 11th century saw the rise of the Vojislavljevic family in Zeta. Finally, the middle of the 12th century saw once more the rise of Rascia with the Nemanjic dynasty. The Nemanjic were to lead Serbia to a golden age which lasted for over three centuries and produced a powerful Balkan state which had its apogee under the reign of Tsar Stefan Dusan in the mid 14th century, before finally succumbing to Ottoman Turkish subjugation (with Zeta, the last bastion, finally falling in 1499).
Serbia gained its autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in two uprisings in 1804 and 1815, though Turkish troops continued to garrison the capital, Belgrade until 1867. Renewed war alongside Russia against the Turks in 1877 brought full independence and large territorial gains toward the south-east, including Niš, henceforth Serbia's second city (Treaty of Berlin, 1878).
The new country was, like most of the Balkan lands, overwhelmingly agrarian with little in the way of industry or modern infrastructure. The total population rose from a million in the early 19th century to 2.5 million in 1900, when Belgrade contained 69,000 inhabitants, Niš 24,500 and half a dozen other cities 10-15,000 each.
Internal politics revolved largely around the dynastic rivalry between the Obrenovic and Karadjordjevic families, descendants respectively of Miloš Obrenovic, (recognised as hereditary prince in 1829) and Karadjordje (Black George), leader of the 1804 revolt but killed in 1817, allegedly at Miloš's behest,. The Obrenovici headed the emerging state in 1817-1842 and 1858-1903, the Karadjordjevici in 1842-1858 and after 1903.
Historical map showing Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia in 1897. The borders are result of enlarging of Serbia in 1877 and were unchanged until 1912, except for annexation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary.

Durmitor

The Republic of Montenegro is situated in the Balkans. On one side it exits to the Adriatic-Mediterranean region, and on the other, through the Pannonian basin, it is connected with the Central Europe and further to the world's economy/markets.
Montenegro is small in area, but its comparative natural advantages, its richness in cultural and historical sights and others features, make it one of the most attractive receptive tourist destinations.

Intro Updated Dec 13, 2004
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Reviews (64)

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Comments (12)

nomad7890 Apr 17, 2008 at 5:51 AM Report Abuse

Your photos and stories of the places I would love to visit are beautiful! My husband used to play soccer/football with teams from Yugoslavia (San Pedro Yugoslavs in LA), then with a team from Croatia - many many years ago!
munki May 7, 2005 at 12:43 PM Report Abuse

Milana, great page of Serbia and Montenegro. I like your story about the plums. Marcos
beogradjanka Jan 31, 2005 at 5:35 AM Report Abuse

Welcome :o) Your page looks great! Svaka cast :o)
junkyard Jan 25, 2005 at 12:53 PM Report Abuse

oh, I love that photo of the man and the horse! super shot! I cannot wait to return this year and see much more of Serbia
anna-m Dec 16, 2004 at 8:39 AM Report Abuse

Sve si bolja i bolja, stvarno! SUPER su ti slike!
Serbia Dec 14, 2004 at 4:22 AM Report Abuse

Grat page. I hope you'll continue your good work.
Gili_S Dec 13, 2004 at 1:18 PM Report Abuse

Very interesting, more comments by e-mail ;-)
blint Dec 11, 2004 at 12:57 PM Report Abuse

I noticed most people start their comments at the bottom of your page with wow! I was going to, but now I feel I have to be more original. Though to be honest wow really does sum up my feelings about your photos and tips!
Yubert Dec 11, 2004 at 12:47 PM Report Abuse

Wow, Cele Kula sounds very gruesome!! And sad...
Fen Dec 11, 2004 at 12:18 PM Report Abuse

Wow I really loved these pages on Serbia and Montentegro. Excellent pics with lots of info and history. Hvala Milana :-)