Government of Serbia

The Government of Serbia is a republic. General elections are held in a multi-party election every four years. The officials of Serbia are (from Wikipedia):

Head of Government

• Vojislav Koštunica - Prime Minister
• Ivana Dulić-Marković - Deputy Prime Minister

• Dejan Mihajlov - Secretary-General

[edit]

Ministers

• Velimir Ilić - Minister of Capital Investment - (incorporated Ministries of Urbanism and Construction, Traffic and Communication)
• Mlađan Dinkić - Minister of Finance
• Zoran Stojković - Minister of Justice
• Dragan Jočić - Minister of Interior
• Predrag Bubalo - Minister of Economy
• Slobodan Lalović - Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Affairs
• Goran Živkov - Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (appointed in June, 2006)
• Radomir Naumov - Minister of Energy and Mining
• Milan Parivodić - Minister of International Economic Relations (appointed in October, 2004)
• Bojan Dimitrijević - Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services
• Slobodan Vuksanović - Minister of Education and Sport (appointed in October, 2004)
• Zoran Lončar - Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government
• Dragan Kojadinović - Minister of Culture
• Aleksandar Popović - Minister of Science and Environmental Protection
• Tomica Milosavljević - Minister of Health
• Milan Radulović - Minister of Religion
• Vojislav Vukčević - Minister of Diaspora

Temporary Ministers (45 days after 5 June 2006):

• Vuk Drašković - Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Zoran Stanković - Minister of Defence

The political layout of Serbia is (from Wikipedia)

Parties	Votes	%	+/-	Seats	+/-
Serbian Radical Party (Srpska Radikalna Stranka)	1,008,074	27.3	+18.9	82	+59
Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska Stranka Srbije) including candidates of the People's Democratic Party (Narodna demokratska stranka) Serbian Liberal Party (Srpska liberalna stranka) Serbian Democratic Party (Srpska demokratska stranka)	656,788	17.8		53	+7
Democratic Party (Demokratska Stranka) including candidates of the Civic Alliance of Serbia (Građanski Savez Srbije) Democratic Centre (Demokratski Centar) Social Democratic Union (Socijaldemokratska unija) Bosniak Democratic Party of SandzakBosnjacka demokratska stranka Sandžaka) ( Social Liberal Party of SandzakSocijalno-liberalna stranka Sandžaka) (	468,367	12.7		37	-8
G17 Plus including candidates of the Social Democratic PartySocijaldemokratska partija) (	427,714	11.6		34
Serbian Renewal Movement (Srpski Pokret Obnove) New Serbia (Nova Srbija)	284,134	7.7		22
Socialist Party of Serbia (Socijalisticka Partija Srbije)	278,502	7.5	-6.2	22	-14
Together for Tolerance (Zajedno za toleranciju) League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (Liga socijaldemokrata Vojvodine) Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (Savez vojvođanskih Mađara) Sandzak Democratic Party (Sandžačka demokratska partija) League for Šumadija	563,839	4.2		-	-44
Democratic Alternative (Demokratska alternativa)		2.2		-
For National Unity (Za narodno jednistvo) Party of Serbian Unity (Stranka Srpskog Jedinstva) People's Peasant Party (Narodna Seljacka Stranka) People's Party (Narodna Stranka) Our Home Serbia (Naš Dom Srbija) Serbian Party (Srpska Stranka)		1.7		-
Otpor		1.6		-
Independent Serbia (Samostalna Srbija) Democratic Christian Party of SerbiaDemohrišcanska stranka Srbije) ( Democratic Fatherland Party (Demokratska Stranka Otadžbina) Democratic Movement of Serbian RumaniansDemokratski pokret Rumuna Srbije) ( Peasant Party (Seljacka Stranka) Serbian Truth (Srpska Pravda)		1.1		-
Others				-
Total	3,687,418			250

Religion of Serbia

The main religion in Serbia is Serbian Orthodox Christianity. Serbia was Christianized shortly after the Slavic trbes settled in the Balkan Peninsula by the Greek (Byzantine) saints Cyril and Methodius. The Romainian Orthodox Church also has a presence in the northern province of Vojvodina particularly in areas with a Romainian majority. Some Serbs, in the Ottoman Era, converted to Islam due to pressure from the invading Ottoman Empire. They are todays Bosniaks. The stats below are the religious groups in Serbia excluding Kosovo.

• Orthodox Christians = 6,371,584
• Roman Catholics = 410,976
• Muslims = 239,658
• Prtostant = 80,837
• Jews = 785
• Adherents of Oriental Cults= 530
  

The Roman Catholic and Protestant religions are mainly in Vojvodina where Hungarian, Czaech, and Slovak minorities exist. The followers of Islam are mainly situated in the Novi Pazar region and in Kosovo.

Demographics of Serbia

Serbia is mainly populated by ethnic Serbs. In Vojvodina, there are considerable ethnic minorities of Hungarians, Slovaks, Croats, and Germans. Also, Russians, Czechs and Montengrin Serbs inhabit the province. Vojvodina has approximately 25 major ethnic communities. The sothern province of Kosovo has a primarily Albanian majority. Much of the ethnic Serbs have been expelled or killed in the Kosovo War. Kosovo also contains Gorani (Muslim Serbs), Torbeshi, Turkish, and Janevci minorities. However, throughout Kosovo's history, it was usually Serbian. By the end of the 14th century, the Non-Serb populations accounted for only 2% of the total population. Now, through settlement, mass imigration, and the expulsion of Serbs, Albanians account for 89% of the population of Kosovo.The Novi Pazar region (Sandzak) is populated my Serbs and Bosniaks. Sections of the eastern borderlands between Serbia and Bulgaria posses some Bulgars. Serbia's future demographic projections indicate a steady growth of Serbian population. However, Kosovo is becoming more and more ethnically homgeneous with a growing Albanian majority. The chart below are the census result for Serbia (excluding Kosovo) in 2002.

	Total		Central Serbia		Vojvodina
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
TOTAL	7,498,001	100	5,466,009	100	2,031,992	100
Serbs	6,212,838	82.86	4,891,031	89.48	1,321,807	65.05
Montenrgin Serbs	69,049	0.92	33,536	0.61	35,513	1.75
Yugoslavs	80,721	1.08	30,840	0.56	49,881	2.45
Albanians	61,647	0.82	59,952	1.1	1,695	0.08
Bosniaks	136,087	1.82	135,670	2.48	417	0.02
Bulgars	20,497	0.27	18,839	0.34	1,658	0.08
Bunjevci	20,012	0.27	246	0	19,766	0.97
Germans	3,901	0.05	747	0.01	3,154	0.16
Gorani	4,581	0.06	3,975	0.07	606	0.03
Croats	70,602	0.94	14,056	0.26	56,546	2.78
Citizens of FYROM	25,847	0.35	14,062	0.26	11,785	0.58
Muslims by nationality	19,503	0.26	15,869	0.29	3,634	0.18
Roma	108,193	1.44	79,136	1.45	29,057	1.43
Romainians	34,576	0.46	4,157	0.08	30,419	1.5
Russians	2,588	0.03	1,648	0.03	940	0.05
Ruthenes	15,905	0.21	279	0.01	15,626	0.77
Slovaks	59,021	0.79	2,384	0.04	56,637	2.79
Slovenes	5,104	0.07	3,099	0.06	2,005	0.1
Czechs	2,211	0.03	563	0.01	1,648	0.08
Ukrainians	5,354	0.07	719	0.01	4,635	0.23
Hungarians	293,299	3.91	3,092	0.06	290,207	14.28
Vlachs	40,054	0.53	39,953	0.73	101	0
Others	11,711	0.16	6,400	0.12	5,311	0.26
Unspecified	107,732	1.44	52,716	0.97	55,016	2.71
Unknown	75,483	1.01	51,709	0.95	23,774	1.17

Geography of Serbia

The Geography of Serbia is rich and varied. Vojvodina is located on the central Panonian plain and borders Coratia, Hungary, and Romainia. Its fertile field produce the finest quality wheat in the world maiking it the agricultural heartland of Serbia. Vojvodina has a host of rivers which include the Danube, Tisa, Sava, Begej, Tamis, Karas, Zlatica, Nera, Bosut, Krivaja, Cik, Mostonga, and Plazovic Rivers. Vojvodina has three canals (the Begej, Jegricka, and Jarnica canals) and five major lakes (the Palicko, Ludosko, Ledinacko, Rusanda, and Obedska lakes). Four major mountains and hills cover areas of Vojvodina and they are Fruska Gora, Titelski Breg, Vrasacki Breg, and Zagajicka Brda.

The Geography of Central Serbia is quite different. Central Serbia is located in the Balkan region and parts of it are located in the Pannonian Plain. Central Serbia is bordered by Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, FYROM, Bulgaria, Romainia, and Hungary. The regions closer to Vojvodnia have a fertile and flat environment with a thriving agriculture industry. The rest of central Serbia consists primarily of foothills and mid range mountains. Cetral Serbia's major mountains are Tara, Divcibare, Zlatibor, Kopaonik, Brezovica, and Fruska Gora. The highest peak in Central Serbia is Midzor on Stara Planina (2,169 m).

Serbia (all) has five national parks and many national nature reserves.

National parks:

• Fruska Gora (250 km²)
• Kopaonik (120 km²)
• Tara (220 km²)
• Derdap (640 km²)
• Sar Planina(390 km²)

Nature parks:

• Prokletija(1000 km²)
• Gornje Podunavlje(100 km²)
• Stara Planina(1420 km²)
• Golija (750 km²)
• Kucajska planine (1150 km²)

Special nature reservations:

• Delibato Sands (300 km²)
• Ludas Lake(5.93 km²)
• Obendska Pond (175.01 km²)
• Stari Begeji--Czarska Bara (17.67 km²)

Nature monuments:

• Djavola Varos (0.64 km²)

Kosovo has a mainly hilly and mountainous environment with little arable land. The Gorani (Muslim Serbs) posses some of the best skiing conditions on their mountains. Sadly, due to the war and the persecution of Serbs by Albanians, the potential resorts remain largely undeveloped.

Transportation and Communications in Serbia

Communications In Serbia

Telephones - main lines in use: 2,685,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile/cellular: 4,729,600 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA

domestic: NA

international: country code - 381; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)

Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)

Internet country code: .yu (.sr is the unofficial internet country code for Serbia as well)

Internet hosts: 22,046 (2005)

Internet users: 1.2 million (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISP): 9 (2000)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Serbia"

Transportation in Serbia

Serbia has a number of rivers flowing through it. The most important one is the Danube. Belgrade's key position of the Danube makes it a shipping power in the region. The country has three international airports with JAT Airlines being the countries' carrier. The airports are: Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Nis Constantine the Great Airport, and the Pristina International Airport. Many roads pass through Serbia. The new Balkan Highway the EU is planning excpects Serbia to be in the center of the highway and it will pass straight through Belgrade which will no doubt bring an economic boom in Belgrade. The countries railways are operated on a national level by Serbian Railways and in Belgrade by Beovoz.

Tourism in Serbia

Tourism in Serbia is a relitavely small sector of the total PPP of the nation. However, Serbia arguably has some of the most beautiful and pristine natural and man made wonders of the world. Serbia has an abundance of mountains including the Balkan Mountains and the Carpathian Mountain chain. They add to Serbia's natural beauty. The winter tourism in Serbia is unlike any other. Kopaonik, one of the countries most famous resorts offers unparalled ski and relaxation services. Zlatibor is the country's best relaxation and sports resort. Also, the Brezovica resort resmbles the Alps in many ways.The country is dotted with lakes and covered in majestic rivers. Notably, the River Sava and the River Danube. The Danube flows right through the glorious capital at Belgrade under a spectacular medival fortress named Kalimegdan. The Sava Rivier is a large river that spans approximately 900 km and joins with the Danube at Belgrade. The plains of Vojvodina pose a stark contrast to the rest of Serbia with rolling hills and fragrant orchards and meadows. The game in Serbia is particularly good as it is perfect for hunting.

The cities in Serbia are also a wonderful site. Belgrade, the heart and "soul" of Serbia has spectacular fortresses, monuments, and churches. Kalimegdan is a magnificent fortress which withstood the Seige if Belgrade. The recently completed St. Sava Orthodox Church is a symbol of the religious importance in Serbia. The Night life in Belgrade is also particularly excellent. Cafes are most active during the night with people flooding city center cafes to sit and have a Sinalco under the moonlight. Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac and other Serbian cities also have a host of history and delight to offer as well.

Economy of Serbia

Real GDP - PPP: $28.37 Billion (2005)

Real GDP - Exchange rate conversion for SCG: $25.46 Billion (2005), $22.73 Billion for Serbia (Central SR and AP Vojvodina)

GDP Per Capita - PPP: $2600 (Expected for 2005)

Real GDP Per Capita - Non PPP: $3200 (2005)

GDP growth rate: 7% (2004), 4% predicted for 2005 [1]

Real GDP growth rate in Q1 2005: 5.6%

Real GDP growth rate in Q2 2005: 7.3%

Real GDP growth rate in Q3 2005: 6.4%

Real GDP growth rate in Q4 2005: 5.9%

Total growth for 2005: 6.3%

Source: http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=22094

Industrial production growth rate for 2004: 7.1%

Industrial production growth rate March 2005: -6.2%

Industrial production growth rate April 2005: 0.9%

Industrial production growth rate May 2005: -3.5%

Industrial production growth rate June 2005: -2.3%

Industrial production growth rate July 2005: -1.1%

Industrial production growth rate August 2005: 8.3%

Industrial production growth rate September 2005: 6.3%

Industrial production growth rate October 2005: 5.2%

Industrial production growth rate November 2005: 2.8%

Industrial production growth rate December 2005: 0.3%

Total for 2005: 1.3%

Industrial production growth rate January 2006: 0.8%

Industrial production growth rate February 2006: 10.0%

Source: http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=22005&q=industrial+production

Employment by sector (2005)

Tertiary: 57.9%

Secondary: 25.5%

Primary: 16.6%

Total labourforce: 3.22 Million

Unemployment rate: 32.60%

Average income: $5,368

Government budget (2005)

Revenues: $11.45 Billion

Expenditures: $11.12 Billion

Trade in 2004

Export: $3 701 Million (34.3% increase)

Import: $11 139.2 Million (49.1% increase)

Total trade: $14 820.2 Million (31.1% increase)

Balance of trade: -$7 438.2 Million

Trade, 2005

Export: $4 080 Million (31.1% increase)

Import: $9 540 Million (4.7% increase)

Total trade: $13 630 Million (11.4% increase)

Balance of trade: -$5 450 Million (9% decrease in deficit)

Trade, 2006 (January and February)

Export: $682.2 Million (14.8% increase)

Import: $1490.2 Million (32.5% increase)

Total trade: $2172.4 Million (26.4% increase)

Balance of trade: -$808 Million (52.3% increase)

Source: http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=22107

Other statistics

Inflation: 13.7% (2004), 16.5% for 2005

Foreign debt: $12.97 Billion (45.7% of GDP)

Total estimated foreign investment for 2005: $1.5 - $2.0 Billion

Privatisation receipts for 2005: $774 Million

Foreign currency reserves: $5.05 Billion

GDP trends over the past 10 years

Year / Real GDP ($ Millions - in 2002 dollars) / Real GDP growth rate:

1995: $21 315 / 5.7%

1996: $22 296 / 4.6%

1997: $23 946 / 7.4%

1998: $24 521 / 2.4%

1999: $20 728 / -18.3%

2000: $21 909 / 5.7%

2001: $23 158 / 5.7%

2002: $23 922 / 3.3%

2003: $24 281 / 1.5%

2004: $25 980 / 7.0%

Estimates for next four years

2005: $27 669 / 6.5%*

2006: $29 191 / 5.5%

2007: $30 650 / 5.0%

2008: $32 336 / 5.5%

(*This has be revised to 6.5% due to strong growth being recorded in the first three quarters of 2005)

Source: www.nationmaster.com

Modern Serbia

The Federal Republic of Serbia was created in 1992, when the former Yugoslav republics of Slovenia, FYROM, Bosnia, and Croatia. It consisted of Serbia and Montenegro. It faced many problems. Namely, war on three fronts. Though not directly involved, FRY was helping Serbs in the Serbian Republic of Kraijna and Republika Srpska through military supplies and volunteer military assistance. The war of Kosovo also took its toll. Albanian KLA extremist militants were attackeing Serbs in the contested province and opted for separation. The Military of FRY took action. However, the West, decided to, in all three wars, take the side of Serbia's enemy. This resulted in the mass assistance of enemy troops and punitive land and air strikes against Serbia. Soon, the Serbian people had enough and deposed president Slobodan Milosevic. The air strikes ended and peace agreements were reached in Bosnia and Croatia. However, the war in Kosovo went on. On February 4, 2003, the parliament decided to insitute a looser confederation named the State Union of Serbia and Montengro. SCG would exist for another three years. On May 21, 2006, Montenegro held a referendum of independence. The votes for independece were 55.4 % in favor of and thus, Montenegro delcared independece. However, the vote was fraudulent. Though busloads of Albanians and Bosnians were allowed to vote and come in to the country to vote, Montenegrins in Serbia were denied access. Despite this, the EU and the Western yoke decided to recognize the state and the last pice of the former SFRJ was gone. Serbia declared independence on June 5, 2006. The Quick Facts section of this page provides up to date data on the Republic of Serbia.

Yugoslavia (SFRJ)

The Modern Yugoslav state was formed when the Communist Partizan forces headed by Marshal Josip Broz Tito seized control of the government and rebuilt Yugoslavia. Tito successfully stripped Serbia of Bosnia, Kraijna, Montenegro, FYROM, and Kosovo. By creating a de-centralized state, Tito destroyed the Serbian nation. He created the Macedonian ethnicity and made Bosnians a separate ethnicity though they are Muslim Serbs and were recognized as that by most of the world.

The SFRJ (Socalist Federative Repuplic of Yugoslavia) was a socialist government with a workers self-management economy. The administrative division were:
1. Bosnia and Herzegovinia
2. Croatia
3. Macedonia (FYROM)
4. Montenegro
5. Serbia
5a. Kosovo (Serbian province)
5b. Vojvodina (Serbian province)
6. Slovenia

The economy of the SFRJ differed greatly from those of other Communist nations. Instead of large state owned factories and farms, the companies were socially owned meaning that the workers had self management. The economy, despite a slight ressecion in the mid-1960's, generally prospered. However, much of the profits were invested in Slovenia and Croatia instead of the other republics even though Serbia had more people and natural resources making it have greater economic potential than the other republics. This left Montenegro and FYROM impoverished and Serbia with an economy unworthy of its potential. The Yugoslav Dinar was the official currency of the SFRJ. The Nationalism that was surpressed under Tito's regime was unleashed and 4 of the six republics declared independence. FYROM and Slovenia broke away peacefully. However, in Croatia and Bosnia, the Serbs there were trying to declare independence and were challenged by the militaries of NATO, the US, Bosnia, Croatia, and a large chink of the UN. The end result was the mass extermination and expulsion of Kraijna Serbs. In BIH however, Serbs have created a Republika Srpska. They are opting for union with the fatherland and are pushing for a referendum. Tito succesfully created a Bosnian and Macedonian ethnicities and thus destroyed Serbia and its former glory. He censored much of Serbian history. The bloodshed of the Civil War was due to Tito's creation of a de-centralized state in which inter-ethnic hatred was rampant. The horrors Serbia endured in the past decade can much be attributed to the SFRJ and Tito. The remaining two republics, Serbia and Montengro would form the FRY, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Nedic's Serbia

Nedic's Serbia is the puppet government in place in Serbia during the Nazi Occupation in 1941. The head of government was Milan Nedic. The germans decided to establish a puppet government in Serbia with the idea of stablizing the Serbian region as it was fiercly resisting the German rule. The Germans first wanted Dimitrije Ljotic to head the government. However he refused. Nedic, keeping in mind that nearly half of the Serbian population was lost in WWI, reluctantly accepted the job with the idea of "saving the core of the Serbian Community". However, Nedic first required that the Nazi's grant his puppet state certain privalleges. They go as follows:
-The Serbian, not the German, government would be in charge of National Security under the supervision of German command
-That Yugoslav prisioners of war above the age of 55 and the sick soldiers are freed
-That Yugoslav prisioners of war be sent packages from Serbia in order to aid the nutrition and health of these fromer soldiers.
-To allow the appaling genocides of Serbs in Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria to be stopped by Nedic's government
-The National emblems of Serbia are still legal
-The German government may not target innocent civilians

The government of Germany agreed to all of these terms. Nedic's Serbia's main enemies were the Ustasha Croats and the Partizan. Becuase of this, many times they signed joint deals with the Chetniks as the the Chetniks were fighting the fasicst Ustasha Croats and the Communist Partizans as well. The puppet government of Nedic, and his two main fighting forces, the Serbian State Guards and the Serbian Volunteer Corps, were dibaned in 1944.

Nedic's Serbia

Nedic's Serbia is the puppet government in place in Serbia during the Nazi Occupation in 1941. The head of government was Milan Nedic. The germans decided to establish a puppet government in Serbia with the idea of stablizing the Serbian region as it was fiercly resisting the German rule. The Germans first wanted Dimitrije Ljotic to head the government. However he refused. Nedic, keeping in mind that nearly half of the Serbian population was lost in WWI, reluctantly accepted the job with the idea of "saving the core of the Serbian Community". However, Nedic first required that the Nazi's grant his puppet state certain privalleges. They go as follows:
-The Serbian, not the German, government would be in charge of National Security under the supervision of German command
-That Yugoslav prisioners of war above the age of 55 and the sick soldiers are freed
-That Yugoslav prisioners of war be sent packages from Serbia in order to aid the nutrition and health of these fromer soldiers.
-To allow the appaling genocides of Serbs in Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria to be stopped by Nedic's government
-The National emblems of Serbia are still legal
-The German government may not target innocent civilians

The government of Germany agreed to all of these terms. Nedic's Serbia's main enemies were the Ustasha Croats and the PArtizan. Becuase of this, many times they signed joint deals with the Chetniks as the the Chetniks were fighting the fasicst Ustasha Croats and the Communist Partizans as well. The puppet government of Nedic, and his two main fighting forces, the Serbian State Guards and the Serbian Volunteer Corps, were dibaned in 1944.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was proclaimed by Aleksandar Karadjeordjevic I on December I,1918 with the aim of uniting the Slavic peoples on the Balkan Penunsula. The state was divided into Banovinas for administrative purposes and at first was headed by Nikola Pasic. However, Pasic was quickly replaced with Stojan Protic soo after his appointement. At first, the government of Yugoslavia was a constituent Assembly (democracy. However, political upheaval and the killings of Croatian Opposition Members by the Montengrin Deputy Minister. Aleksandat Karadjordjevic was the Dictator of Yugoslavia and witnessed gret political turmoil in his land. The Serbs wanted Serbia, Montengro, Vojvodina, FYROM, and parts of Bosnia to be one unifyed Serbian Banovina and the Croats wanted Dalmatia and parts of Vojvodina to part of their autonomous Banovina. Croatia also claimed to have ownership of all of Bosnia and Herzegovinia. Aleksanadar was planning to attempt of find common ground between Serbs and Croats and introduce Democratic reforms. However, on October 9,1931, Aleksandar Karadjordjevic was assasinated by an IMRO activist. As specified in Aleksandar's will, a council of three would rule the nation with Prince Paul being the dominant figurehead. In an attempt to satisfy the Croatian desire for autonomy, the ruling class proclaimed a Croation Banovina. However, the Croats still weren't satisfied. In fear of a Nazi invasion, Prince Paul signed an alliance with Germany and declared Yugoslavia an Axis ally. However, huge protests in Belgrade ousted the puppet government and Peter the II took the leading position. He delclared allegiance to the Allies. The Axis forces, in 1941, invaded Yugoslavia. The Croats swore Nazi allegiance and formed the "Independent State of Croatia" which was a Pro-Axis puppet state with its intent on killing Serbs and taking land that didnt rightfully belong to Croatia. The Serbs, present-day Macedonians, and Slovenians were largely Chetnik. They swore allegiance to the King. Their ideology was that Yugoslavia shouldnt have existed and that a Serbian state should be established. They also believed that Serbia should have united with Slovenia only, and not Croatia. The third camp was the Partizan movement under Tito. They wanted a communist Yugoslavia to be re-created.In the end, the communists won, however, Serbia also had a state during the Nazi occupation, Nedic's Serbia.

The Kingdom of Serbia and WWI

On 1878 , the Treaty of Berlin was signed by the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and the Ottoman empire. The signing of the treaty officially stated the complete independence and recognition of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romainia. The treaty also guaranteed the Autonomy of Bulgaria though it still remained formally under Ottoman administration. However, the traditionally Serbian lands of Bosnia and Novi Pazar remanied under Ottoman rule only later to annexed to Austria. On October 8, 1912 the Balkan League, consisting of Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro, declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The League fought with the Ottomans and quickly defeated them and thus liberated Aegean Macedonia and todays FYROM. Soon after, the Second Balkan War was declared. The Bulgarians, unhappy with their gains from the first war declared war of Serbia and Greece. However, Serbia and Greece had signed a military pact before the Bulgars attacked. Also, Romainia and the Ottomans joined the war later on. The result was a Bulgarian defeat and the re-incorpoartion of Vardarska Banovina (Old Serbia) into Serbia. Aegean Macedonia was fully under Greek control. However, Ottoman rule was re-established in Ariadonople.

In Bosnia however, nationalist youth groups were still strong. A prominent group was called Young Bosnia. They were primarily Serbs and Muslim Serbs (Bosniaks). They were conspiring against the Austrian throne in an attempt to re-unify Bosnia with Serbia. On June 28, 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot and killed by Nationalist Gavrilo Princip outside a Sarajevo cafe. This spurred the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia. The Serbs accepted all but one of the terms in the ultimatum. The Austrian Empire deemed the response insufficient. Thus, they declared war on Serbia. The declaration of war caused a chain effect in Europe. Thus Russia, France, Britain, Germany, and many other European nations became involved. The Austrians attempted to invade Serbia by crossing the river Drina and the Danube. However, they were met with stiff resistance and lost some decisive battles. Notably, the Battle of the River Drina and the Battle of Cer. In 1915, the Austrians, seeing they could not defeat Serbia alone, decided to enlist the help of Germany and Bulgaria. The three nations invaded Serbia from all sides. However, General Putnik, instead of surrendering or fighting a hopeless fight, ordered an all out retreat through Montenegro and Albania. Later the troops would be transported to Corfu and Thessaloniki where they would regroup and return to action against the Triple Alliance six months later. After the Serbian troops were re-mobilized on the Greek front, they were on the defensive against Bulgarian troops. Steadily, the Serbs begain pushing the line up and though the Germans attempted to bloster Bulgarian forces the French-Serbian army succesfully captured Manastir. More and more Bulgarian troops began surrendering without a fight and the Serbs recaptured all of Serbia. The Corfu declaration was also signed which signalled the creation on the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

Principality of Serbia

The Principality of Serbia was the state formed as a result of the Serbian Victory in the Second Serbian Uprising. In this state, Milos Obrenovic was the hereditary prince until 1882. In 1878, the treaty of Berlin made Serbia into an independent nation (no longer an autonomous state). The second Serbian state was the Voivodship of Serbia and Tamis Banat. The Voivodship was primarily inhabited by Serbs that migrated northwards after the defeat of the Serbian Desposate. The Hapsburg Emperor of Austria decided to make the autonomous state in order to try and satisfy the wants of independence from the ethni Serbian populace. In 1860, the state was abolished and incorporated into the Austrian and Hungarian Empires. The Symria regions of the state were incorporated into the Kingdom of Slavonia. Later on in history, the Voivodship of Serbia and Tamis Banat would be renamed Vojvodina and be incorporated in the the modern Serbian state.

The Second Serbian Uprising

The Second Serbian Uprising was the rebillion in 1815-1817 which led to the liberation the Serbian State from the Ottoman Empire. The First Sebian Revolt, though ultimately unsuccessful, paved the way and inspired the Second Revolt. At first, many Serbs were largely still eager for another revolt and were suspicious of Turkish attempts to kill more Serbian citizens. Thus, Hadzi Podran Gligorijevic decided to rebel against Turkey. However, Milos Obrenovic, the Knez of Serbia (vassal of Turkey) did not provide assistance as he deemed the timing wrong. Hadzi fled to neighbouring Austria after his small scale rebellion failed. The Turks began persecuting Serbs more and more. On April 23, 1815, the national council proclaimed a revolt and Milos Obrenovic was chosen as the leader. Soon after, the Turks learned of this rebellion. The Serbs attacked Cacak, Palez, Posarevac, Dublje and seized the former capital of Serbia, Belgrade. In the summer of 1815, negotiations between the Ottoman governors and Obrenovic. They signed a treaty whichguaranteed an autonomous Serbian state. However, a small garrison of Turkish troops had to remain in Belgrade and Serbia had to pay a yearly tax to the Ottomans.

The First Serbian Uprising

The First Serbian Uprising was the rebellion of Serbs aganist the Ottoman rulers. In 1791, the Austrian forces had succesfully defeated the Ottomans in the Austro-Turkish War. Learning this, many Serbian leaders realized that perhaps they could succeed in a rebellion of their own and they began to conspire aganist the Ottomans in hopes of starting their own rebellion and liberate Serbia. Seeing the growing discontent among Serbs, the Ottomans attempted to give Serbia a level of self autonomy and greater freedoms by allowing free trade and practice of religion. In 1799, the Turkish court allowed the Jannisaries to return to Belgrade. The Jannisaries began ruling Serbia as if it were their own. They greatly heightened taxes and suspended any liberties the Serbs had before they came and disobeyed the central government of Turkey's orders for the liberties granted to the Serbs, remain. Also, on February 4, 1804, the Jannissaries began slaughtering Serbian leaders. Infuriated , the Serbs began a rebellion in Orasac. There they chose Karadjordje was their leader. Soon, Valjevo and Pozerevac were liberated and the Seige of Belgrade was underway. In 1805, the Battle of Ivankovac was desicevly won by Karadjordje's forces. In 1806, the Battle of Misar was won by the Serbs. Soon after, rebels under Petar Dobrnjac crushed Turkish forces in the Battle of Deligrad. Belgrade soon after fell to the Serbian armies. The Serbs then formed a Narodna Skupstina (Parliament) and began governing Serbia and established diplomatic relations oversees and managing their own affairs. Unfortunately, the state had many problems and the Turks took advantage of the poor condition of the Serbian state and the Turks soon retaliated and re-conquered Serbia. Nevertheless, a large degree of autonomy was secured after Serbia's re-incorporation into the Ottoman Empire and Serbs were allowed to manage some of their own affairs. However, the 1st Serbian uprising paved the way for the 2nd Uprising which led to creation of Modern Serbia.

Serbian Despotate

The Serbian Desposate were the Serbian states that remained intact even after the Ottoman invasion. These states continued on until about the mid 14th century. The capital of the desposate was Belgrade becuase other imperial cities such as Krusevac, Skopje, and Pristina fell to the Ottomans. Stefan Lazervic, son of Knez Lazar, the last true Serbian emperor headed the state. Lazerevic turned Belgrade into a massive city numbering 100,000 inbabitants. He made it into a bastion of Orthodox Christian power. After Stefan Lazerevic died, Belgrade was incorporated into the Hungarian Empire. In fact, some say that Lazarevic's Serbia experienced a cultural renaissance during his reign. Unfortunately, he had to accept treaties and vassalage from Hungary in order to preserve the sanctity of his state. He had cobbled together a Serbian-Hungarian Alliance against the Turks and defeated them in various battles. As a result, his land steadily grew as he incorporated more Serbian territories back into the fatherland. After he had succeeded to recapturing lands up to Nis, he attempted to pursue better relations with the Ottomans in hopes of quelling any potential plans by the Turks to invade Serbia. Lazerevic's brother also ruled a separate (though often intertwined) kingdom in the south of Serbia and many times, the two brothers quarreled sometimes. However, Stefan Lazerevic took advantage of the various inter family quarrels in the Turkish family and he often sided with one brother and because of this, if his side won, he was awarded with more formerly Serbian territories. Also, Princess Milica was regent for a time and she too ruled wisely and was known for her skill in the diplomatic fields. She successfully managed to balance the Ottoman Turkish threat and was an efficient ruler.

Belgrade would then witness perhaps one of the largest seiges in European history. The Serige of Belgrade. The defenders (Serbs and some Hungarian soldiers) numbered approximately 75,000 whilst the attacking forces (Ottomans) numbered some 100,000. The Turks fist set up a naval blockade on the Dunav. However, the Hungarian flotilla broke through the blockade and was able to maintain a supply route to and from Belgrade. Approximatly a week later (the 21st of June) Mehmet II (the Turk commander) ordered an all out assault on the city. Turkish forces began flooding the city. The defending commander, Hunyadi, ordered his men throw flaming objects and flaming tar onto the city below. Thus, about 5,000 Turkish Janniseries were cut off from their comrades attempting to breach the upper town. The Janniseries were massacred by the Serbs and Hungarians. The Turks breaching the upper town suffered heavy casualities. An Ottoman troop attempted to pin the sultans flag on a tower in Belgrade. He nearly succeeded when a Serb, Titus Dugovic, came running at him and both men fell to their deaths, the flag unpinned.The next day, Hunyadi ordered his men not to loot Turkish positions. Despist the orders, many Serbian defenders climbed from their positions and began harrasing Ottoman troops. The Ottomans were taken completely by surprise.At that time, the Hungarian calvalry was ordered to charge at Turkish artillery. The Turks began fleeing the battle and the defenders captured artillery from the Turks. The Sultans Guards, approximately 5000 Jannisaries unsuccesfully tried to reclaim the Turkish camp. Under the cover of darkness, the Turks retreated and the battle was won by the defenders.

Smederevo then became the capital of the Desposate. It fell to Turkey approximately 28 years later and Bosnia feel to Turkey about 10 years after the fall of the remnants of the Serbian Empire.

Battle of Kosvo and Ottoman Invasion

On June 28, 1389, Serbian Forces marched onto the Kosovo Polje and confronted the massive Ottoman Empire. The battle was fought by three Serbian commanders (Knez Vlatko Vukovic, Knez Vuk Brankovic, and Knez Lazar Hrebeljanovic) and three Ottoman Turk comanders (Yakub, Murad, and Bayezid I). The Serbs, though heavily outnumbered, put up a heroic fight in the name of their homeland and greatly slowed down the Ottoman invasion of Europe.

The Serbs had three sections of their army. The wings were comanded by Vuk Brankovic and Vlatko Vukovic. The centre was comanded by Knez Lazar. At first, due to the charge of Serbian heavy cavalry, the battle was in Serbian favour as the cavalry had heavily damaged the Turkish Wing. However, the Turkish armies were far greater in numbers and after withdrawing, the Turkish armies counterattacked and defeated the Heroic defenders. The Serbian political elite had nearly been wiped out in the conflict. One of the few Serb Nobility that survived was Bosnian Duke Vlatko Vukovic who managed to escape the battlefield and continue fighting the Ottomans in his later years. A Serb noble, Milos Obrenovic died a noble death. He came to the Turkish camp under the pretext of being a Serbian traitor who was willing to give information to the Turks. When he knelt before the Sultan, he pulled out his knife and killed him. Milos was executed immdeiately after. The end result was a stalemate sue to the fact that by the end of the battle the fighting had been so intense that both sides didn't have the manpower of resources necessary to continue the fight. In addition to this, both Knez Lazar and Sultan Murad (the two leaders of their respective Serbian and Turkish Ottoman Armies) died in the fighting. However, because the Ottomans had a much larger country and and many more people, they could recuperate (though with difficulty) more easily than the Serbs and would later continue their fight against the remainder of the Serbian nation and the rest of the Balkan people.

The Serbs put up a fight like no other and had united in the most desperate hour with the common goald of saving their fatherland. The result was the next 500 years under Ottoman rule (excluding Montenegro, which continued fighting the Turks and later played a key role in the liberation of the Serbian mainland). But, the Serbian spirit was never broken and todays Serbs look back upon Kosovo 1389, and strive to be as courageous and selfless like their Serbian heroes in the past. Recently, Albanians began flooding into Kosovo and desecrating Serbian land. This should not be permit able, especially after the fight our forefather put up in the name of Kosovo. We, the Serbs of today should respect our forefathers and never let go of Kosovo! We will fight once more if needed!

Serbian Empire

The mid 11th century saw the rise of the Vojislavljevic dynasty in Zeta. In the 12th century, the Nemanjic Dynasty rose to prominence in Raska (Serbia). The Nemanjic family brought Serbia into its Golden age by enlarging the state and turning it into a bastion of power and unity. Stefan Nemanja brought independence to the Serbian state. He recieved (with the help of his brother Saint Sava) temporal and religious independence from Byzantium. An independent Serbian Orthodox Church was established at this time by his son, Rastko (also known as Saint Sava). The picture on the left shows Stefan Nemanja's of the Nemanjic Families' Serbia. The founder of the dynasty, Stefan Nemanja (originally born in Zeta, which is now Montenegro), first siezed control over Rascia. Though he was often favoured by the Byzantine Empire , many times he was in a direct conflict with the Hellenes. Stefan Nemanja led Serbia into her golden age. Culture flourished and the borders of Serbia were expanded to include the four Dalmatian Serbian kingdoms and incorporating them into Rascia. Stefan Nemanja and Saint Sava helped build many spectacular churches such as the one on Mount Athos, Greece named Hilandar. Stefan Nemanja closely co-operated with the Kulin Ban of Bosnia (who were blood related) at many times and had various conflicts with the Bogomils, eventually declaring them heretics and doing whatever he could to try and rid his nation of them. Stefan Nemanja was the grand Prince of the nation. However, his brothers were usually appointed to govern local provinces. His excellent rule of prosperity set the precedent for the next phase of Serbian Empire.

Nemanja had three sons: Radoslav, Uros I, and Vladislav Vladislav overthrew King Radoslav. Uros I suceeded the throne and his sone, King Draguntin went to war with the Hungarian Empire. He established the Kingdom of Srem and conquered the land from Hungary. This was the first time Serbia had encompassed those lands. King Milutin then succeeded the throne and improved Serbia's militart, economic, and cultural stature. He was famous for building many Orthodox Christian churches. The throne was then succeeded by Emperor Stefan Dusan. Emperor Dusan greatly improved the strength of the Serbian nation by passing a series of laws entitled Dusanov Zavovnik and developed new trade routes and economic centers. Serbia had become an evolved economic and cultural bastion and was the envy of Europe and a power that was feared. He also expanded the Serbian nation to include sections of eastern Bulgaria and much of the Greek mainland by occupying these nations. He was proclaimed the King of Serbs and Greeks by the Serbian Patriarch in Skolje . Tzar Dusan also married a Bulgarian noblewoman which created a blood link between the two royal families of Serbia and Bulgaria at the time. Because of this, an era marked by relative peace and friendship emerged for the two nations. He had battled and won twice in large scale conflicts with the Hungarians. Towards the end of his unfortunately short life, he began seeing Turkey emerge as a new Balkan superpower and decided he should shift his military priorities to the Ottoman Sultanate. Just before he died, he tried to organize a crusade against the Turks with the Serbs at the helm and involving other European Christian Nations. However, he died prematurely on December 20, 1355. He was succeeded by his son, Uros (later known as Uros the Weak), and the empire began to crumble into a anarchic state due to his son's weak military and economic policies.

Serbian History: First Serbian States

The Slavs are said to originate from the Carpathian Mountains in present day Ukraine. Approximately 6th century, the Slavic Migration occured. Slavs living in present day Ukraine and Russia supposedly began migrationg southwards towards the Balkan Peninsula. These people included the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. At first, the Serbs settled in present day Serbia and Montenegro and formed tribes. In mid 7th the Serbian tribes (under the house of Vlastimirovic) began unifying and formed the first Serbian state known as Raska. Raska, though the largest and most powerful state,
was not the only Serbian Kingdom at the time. There were four other Serbian Kingdom located in present day Montenegro and parts of Croatia. The Serbian state continued. The most prosperous era of the Serbian state was perhaps Knez Caslan Klonimirovic's reign from 927-950 AD. He secured a voluntary cofederation with the states of Zahumlje, Pagania, Neretva, Travunia, Zeta and Raska. Thus, the unified state had sea borders on the Adriatic sea, an excellent position on the Danube, and encompassed present day Bosnia, Serbia, Northern Albania, and Montenegro. When Knez Caslav died, the Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria took advantage of the situation and attempted to take land from Serbia. The Bosnian element of the Serbian state dissolved into tiny statelets and they were conquered by Croatia. The rest of Serbia was incorporated into Bulgaria and Byzantuim. Rascia was constantly warring with the Bulgarian and Byzantine empires and was by far the most successful Serbian state. It propspered and Rascia held great influence over the 4 Dalmatian Serb states.However, many believe that infact Zeta is the most important state to the history of Serbian statehood.

Duklja/Zeta: Duklja was the southermost Serbian state with territories roughly encompassing Lake Skadar, Zeta River, and the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska). The state was populated mainly by Serbs migrating under the leadership of the Unkown Archont. At first, Duklja was a semi indepndnet statelet within the Grand Prinicpalty of Rascia. Along with the rest of the Serbian states with the exculsion of Pagania, Duklja became Christianized in the 9th Century. In the 10th century, a long series of wars errupted between Travunia and Duklja. Travunia ended up winning the war and the two nations became united under one ruling family. After Rascia was conquered by the Byzantine Empire, King Predimir fled the country. Later however ,he returned and instigated a rebellion in the occupied Serbian states and eventually ousted the Byzantine from Serbian land. After Predimir's death, the land was divided like this:Predimir's sons from the marriage with the Rascian Princess Prechvala split his land after his death: the oldest son, Chlavimir ruled Zeta and the Zhupanates of: Lusca, Podlugaie, Gorsca, Cupelnich, Obliquus, Prapratna, Cermenica and Budva with Cuceva and Gripuli. Second son, Boleslav, got the Zhupanates of: Libomir, Vetanica, Rudina, Crusceviza, Vrmo, Rissena, Draceviza, Canali, and Gernovizia. Dragoslav ruled in Zahumlje and got the following Zhupanates: Santantia, Papava, Yabsko, Luca, Vellica, Gorimita, Vecenike, Dubrava and Debre. The youngest son, Svevlad, ruled Submontana (Podgoria ) and got the following Zhupanates: Onogost, Moratia, Comerniza, Piva, Gerico, Netusini, Guisemo, Com, Debreca, Neretva and Rama. The system of the tetrarchy was adopted in the realm. The 11th century was characterized with a long series of successive wars and rebellions Stefan Voislav led his people into a full scale geurilla war with the Byzantines in order to free his people. After the death of King Stefan, his son, Mihaljo immdeiately took the helm and for 20 years, he had co-existed with the East Roman Empire (Byzantine). However, later he attempted to annex Rascia into his realm and in 1072, he dispatched his son, Bodin (who was later to become the Bulgarian emperor) and his finest troops into Sopkje and annexed it, along with Ohrid and Prizen. However, after the Byzantines succesfully quelled a rebellion in Macedonia, they began advancing on his territory and Bodin attempted to flee into Duklja but his army was defeated along the way. In 1077, Prince Mihaljo incorporated Pagania into Dulklja and was proclaimed King of the Slavs by the Pope and he himself wore the title King of Tribals and Serbs. Bodin inherited his father's realm and in around 1081, he placed his sons at the heam in Rascia and Bosnia. In around 1089 and 1091, Bosnians kingdom survived however, Zahumlje, Rascia, and Bosnia seceeded their own governors. Throughout Duklja's history, Skadar was the main capital with Kotor being the capital only for a brief period of time. Below is a short timeline.

• mid-late 10th century- Travunian Princes defeat the Ban of Doclea and absorb his realm
• 22 May 1060 - Jovan Vladimir loses his life in a plot by the Bulgarian Czar, Ivan Vladislav
  
• 1018 - the denizens of Kotor corner and lynch Prince Dragomir
• 1034 - the beginning of a rebellion led by a Travunian nobleman by the name of Stefan Voislav against Byzantine rule or
• winter 1039/1040 - a Byzantine Galley loaded with Gold crashes on the Doclean coast
• 1042 - Stefan Voislav I Dobroslav decisevly defeats the Byzantine Army at the Battle of bar, keeping Duklja's independence
• 1047-1050- Travunian rebellion under Domenec
• 1054 - the Great Schism
  
• 1067 - an autocephalous branch of the Serbian Catholic Church in the new Bishopric of Bar
• 1072 - He Slavic rebellion in Macedonia and the central balkans under Constantine Bodin (Peter III)
• 1074 - end of the hard Byzantine aggression on Doclea
• 1077- Duklja becomes a Kingdom, with Mihajlo Voislav as its first King; Mihailo captures Ragusa
• 1081 - Battle for Dyrrachion
• 1089 - Autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric of Barfounded under Constantine BOdin
• winter 1906- the Crusaders of Raymond of Toulouse pass through Skadar
• 1150 - Battle of Tara
• 1185 - Prince Stracimir raided Korcula and Vis
• 1186 - Stefan Nemanja's annexation of Duklja and establishment of Duklja as a Serbian Province
• 1189 - Duke Stefan Nemanja's annexation of Duklja is finished

Pagania: Pagania was settled by unbaptised Serbs who were unsatisfied with their first homeland in Macedonia. The previous inhabitants (Latins and Greeks) were quicly overwhelmed and assimilated into the Slavic Serbian majority. Their cherished the Slavic pagan religion until the 12th century when they were Christianized. The Paganians (also called Narentines) were perhaps the most sea faring Slavs of the time. They were excellent ship builders and terrorized the Italian coast and much of the Italian naval power was spent attempting to battle the Narentines for supremacy of the seas. Thnigs got much worse for Italy when the Arabs were heavily attacking them. The Paganians utilized this and their pirating attacks become more brazen and they sacked a neighbouring city of Venice. However, the Arabs soon ransacked a Paganian town and they had naval supremacy until the Byzantine Empire ousted them form the Adriatic. After 917 when the Bulgarians destroyed the Serbian ralm, the last of the House of Vlastimirovic re-built Serbia and after civil war errupted in Croatia, the Narentines captured outlying islands on the Dalmatian coast. This period was marked also by the attack of 33 Venetaina galleys to oust the Paganians from the Adriatic. However, the attacks miserably failed and he Narentine continued their naval supremacy. When the Slavic Czardom in Macedonia was destoryed, Pagania accepted Byzantine rule. Pagania, in the 12 century was absorbed into Zahumlje and later the unified Serbain state under Stefan Nemanja.

Zahumlje: Zahumlje was a medival serbian state located in Herzegovina and the south Dalmatian coast. In 869 Byzantine Empero Basil I's (of the Macedonian dynasty) Imperial Admiral Nikita Orifas in his missions to ally the Serbina tribes in the Ragusian hinterland and the Croats convinced the Zachlumians to join them and the Travunians (and Konavlians) in an allience against the Saracens. Rascian Grand Prince Petar Gonjikovic of the House of Vlastimirovic started to expand his reign at the expense of Zachlumia at the end of the 9th century, calling upon his old Grand Princely right of Zachlumia being historicly only a Serbian fief. He pressed greatly the Zachlumian native hereditary Great Prince Mihailo Višević, who was pushed from the land and fell back to the islands. Grand Prince Petar was negotiating in Pagania with the Byzantines regarding an allience against the Bulgarians at the beginning of the 10th century, and Prince Mihailo reported this to the Bulgar Khan Simeon. In 912 Mihailo kidnapped the Venetian Doge's son Peter Badoari that was returning to Venice from Constantinople and sent him to Czar Simeon as a sign of loyalty; he generally maintained a pro-Bulgarian foreign policy hoping that that will hep him to restore power in his realm. After the Bulgarians under Pavle Branovic deposed Petar, Great Prince Mihailo was able to restore the majority of control. In the following several years Mihailo Višević reigned peacefully and carefully watched the throne turbolence in the neighbouring Rascia. In 925 Prince Mihailo attended the Ecclesiastical Council in Split, together with Tomislav of Croatia. Zahumlje fell under Croatian infuence; it became subjected to the Archbishopric of Split and Mihailo recognized Croatian-Dalmatian Duke Tomislav's authority upon his crowning as King of Croatia. After the Italian city of Siponte was heavily jeoperdized by the raiding Arabs and Langobards, Mihailo ousted a magnificent military victory by taking the city upon the recommendations from Constantinople and orders from his liege, King Tomislav Trpimirovic, but didn't keep it permanently. Mihailo Višević later loossened his relations with Bulgaria went into closer relations with the Byzantine Empire and gained the title patrikios and hypatos, a. k. a. viceroy, officially recognizing him as the ruler of his land in Byzantine name. The dynasty of Višević lost its importence, and with the reuniting of the Serb People under Prince Ceslav Klonimirovic, last of the House of Vlastimirovic, the Serbian character and authority is preserved.

Serbian Prince Desa took over Zahumlje in the 12th century and it was subsequently incorporated into the unified Serbian state. It became the spiritual center of the Serbs and the Serbian Orthodox Church and gave numerious medieval Serbian dynasties; and as the most Serbian-populated part of medieval Serbia the valley of Neretva gave many Serbs.

Travunia: Travunia was a medival Slavic Serbian state loaced in eastern Herzegovina, Western Montenegro, and Southern Dalmatia. Until the 10th century, it was a part of the Grand Principality of Rascia, but later on, it was incorporated into an independent Dukljan state. One of the greatest Serbian leaders, Jovan Vladimir, helped Travunia flourish but was killed due to a Bulgarian ploy. Travunia remained a part of the state of Duklja until it was incorporated into the unified Serbian state.