Balkan History

1350 CE
Serbia begins its expansion after the Battle of Velbuzd in 1330 CE.

1529
The Ottoman Empire claims Macedonia and southern Serbia after the Battle of Marica in 1371 and controls most of the Balkan region by the early 1500s. Montenegro retains autonomy.

17th & 18th Centuries
During Ottomon domination, Serbs flee from northern Albania & begin settling in Kosovo

1907
Ottoman Empire loses foothold by end of the 19th century. Serbs regain Kosovo in 1912 when Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Bulgaria defeat the Ottoman Turks, ending more than 500 years of Turkish rule.

1917-1941
After World War I, Austria-Hungary is dissolved and Independence is proclaimed under King Alexander of Serbia. Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is established in 1918; name later changed to Yugoslavia and ruled as a dictatorship.

End World War II - 1945
New Dictator, Josip Broz Tito reorganizes the state and proclaims People's Republic of Yugoslavia as federation under Communist rule. Ethnic rivalries within the new state are brutally suppressed.

1980
Yugoslavian dictator Marshal Tito dies.

1990
Country remains intact until several provinces declare themselves to be independent republics. War between Croatia and Serb-led Yugoslav government kills at least 10,000.

1995
Bosnia suffers through 3 1/2 years of brutal war which kills hundreds of thousands of people divided along ethnic and religious lines before a shaky peace is established.

See Also:

Religious Wars in the Balkans
In what ways are the conflicts in the Balkans, like in Bosnia or Kosovo, ultimately reducible to religious hatred?

Albania
Facts and details about this key nation

Balkan Overview
An overview of the different ethnic/religious groups involved

Kosovo
Basic facts and details about Kosovo, including a historical time line.

Slobodan Milosevic
Who is he and where did he come from?

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