Position of Central Serbia within the territory claimed by Serbia and recognized by the United Nations

Central Serbia (Serbian: Централна Србија or Centralna Srbija), also referred to as Serbia proper or Narrower Serbia (Serbian: Ужа Србија or Uža Srbija), is the region of Serbia that lies outside the autonomous province of Vojvodina and Kosovo. Serbian (sr-Cyrl српски језик sr-Latn ''srpski jezik'' is a South Slavic language, Serbian (sr-Cyrl српски језик sr-Latn ''srpski jezik'' is a South Slavic language, Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina ( Serbian: Аутономна Покрајина Војводина or Autonomna Pokrajina Vojvodina; Hungarian: Vajdaság

Political status

The region of Central Serbia is not an administrative division of Serbia as such; it is under the direct jurisdiction of the republic authorities. Vojvodina has a certain degree of territorial autonomy.

Administrative subdivisions

Districts in Central Serbia

The territory of Central Serbia is divided into 17 districts and the city of Belgrade, while districts are further divided into municipalities. Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. The districts are:

• Mačva District
• Kolubara District
• Moravica District
• Zlatibor District
• Podunavlje District
• Braničevo District
• Šumadija District
• Pomoravlje District
• Raška District
• Rasina District
• Bor District
• Zaječar District
• Nišava District
• Pirot District
• Toplica District
• Jablanica District
• Pčinja District
• Belgrade City

Also see: Districts of Serbia. Mačva District ( Serbian: Мачвански округ Mačvanski okrug) is a district (okrug of Serbia The Kolubara District ( Serbian: Колубарски округ Kolubarski okrug) occupies the central part of western The Moravica District (Моравички округ Moravički okrug) is located in the central parts of Serbia Zlatibor District ( Serbian: Златиборски округ Zlatiborski okrug) is a district in the western mountainous The Podunavlje District (Подунавски округ Podunavski okrug lies in Serbia, it expands across the Municipalities It encompasses the municipalities of Veliko Gradište Požarevac Golubac The Šumadija District (Шумадијски округ Šumadijski okrug is located in the central part of Serbia The Pomoravlje District (Поморавски округ Pomoravski okrug expands in the central part of Serbia The Raška District (Рашки округ Raški okrug) expands in the south-western part of Serbia. The Rasina District ( Serbian: Расински округ Rasinski okrug) expands in the central part of the Republic Bor District (Борски округ Borski okrug) is a district ( Okrug) of Serbia with seat in Zaječar District ( Serbian: Зајечарски округ Zaječarski okrug) is a district (okrug of Serbia The Nišava District ( Serbian: Нишавски округ Nišavski okrug) expands in the south-eastern parts of The Pirot District (Пиротски округ Pirotski okrug) expands in the south eastern parts of Serbia. The Toplica District ( Serbian: Топлички округ, Toplički okrug) expands in the southern part of The Jablanica District ( Јабланички округ, Jablanički okrug) expands in the south eastern parts of The Pčinja District ( Serbian: Пчињски округ Pčinjski okrug) expands to the southern parts of Serbia Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. See also Subdivisions of Serbia Districts (Окрузи Okruzi) are the Administrative units of Serbia, comprising several municipalities

Cities

The following cities of Central Serbia have a population higher than 50,000 (according to the 2002 census):^[1]

History

Viminacium (present-day Kostolac) was a capital of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in the 2nd century. Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. Kragujevac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Крагујевац) is a city in Serbia, the largest city of the Šumadija Smederevo (Смедерево is a city and municipality in Serbia on the Danube at 44 Kruševac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Крушевац) is a city and a municipality located in Serbia at 43 Čačak ( Serbian Cyrillic: Чачак is a city and municipality located 140 km south from Belgrade in Serbia at 43°50' North 20°20' East Leskovac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Лесковац Leskofça is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia at 43 Valjevo ( Serbian Cyrillic: Ваљево is a city located in Serbia at 44 Kraljevo ( Serbian Cyrillic: Краљево) is a city and municipality located in Serbia at, built beside the Šabac (Шабац Hungarian: Szabács, Turkish: Böğürdelen is a city and municipality located in Serbia at 44 Vranje ( Serbian Cyrillic: Врање Bulgarian: Враня Vranya; Turkish: Vranya) is a town and municipality located in Užice ( Serbian Cyrillic: Ужице IPA:) is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 43 For the town in Bulgaria see Novi Pazar Bulgaria. Novi Pazar ( Serbian: Нови Пазар Viminacium was a major city of the Roman province of Moesia (today's Serbia) and the capital of Moesia Superior. Kostolac (Костолац Romanian: Caştelu is a small Serbian town on the Danube river in the Braničevo District. Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the The capitals of several medieval Serbian states were also located in the territory of present-day Central Serbia: Ras (the capital of Raška), Debrc and Belgrade (the capitals of the Kingdom of Syrmia of Stefan Dragutin), Kruševac (the capital of the state of Lazar Hrebeljanović), and Smederevo (the capital of the Serbian Despotate). Stari Ras ( Serbian Cyrillic: Стари Рас English: Old Ras known at the time as Ras was one of the first capitals of the medieval Serbian state Raška ( alternative spellings have included Raschka, Rascia and Rassa) was the central and most successful Medieval Serbian Debrc (Дебрц is a former city today a village located in the Vladimirci municipality in Mačva District Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. Stefan Dragutin (died March 12 1316) was King of Serbia from 1276 to 1282 and King of Srem from 1282 to 1316 Kruševac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Крушевац) is a city and a municipality located in Serbia at 43 Stefan Lazar (Стефан Лазар Tzar Lazar Hrebeljanović ( Serbian Cyrillic: Кнез Лазар Хребељановић or Knez Lazar Smederevo (Смедерево is a city and municipality in Serbia on the Danube at 44 The Serbian Despotate ( Serbian: Српска деспотовина or Srpska despotovina) was among the last Serbian states to be conquered by the

After the Serbian Despotate was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, an Ottoman administrative unit named the Sanjak of Smederevo was formed with its seat in the city of Smederevo. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish The Sanjak of Smederevo ( Serbian: Smederevski sandžak or Смедеревски санџак, Turkish: Semendire Sancağı) also Smederevo (Смедерево is a city and municipality in Serbia on the Danube at 44 Later, the seat of the sanjak was moved to Belgrade and the territory also became known as the Pashaluk of Belgrade. Sanjak and Sandjak (other variants sinjaq sanjaq) are the most common English transcriptions of the Turkish word sancak Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. The Sanjak of Smederevo ( Serbian: Smederevski sandžak or Смедеревски санџак, Turkish: Semendire Sancağı) also

Borders of Serbia in 1878, which were similar to the borders of present-day Central Serbia

Between 1718 and 1739, the region was under Habsburg rule, and after the First Serbian Uprising in 1804, it became a free Serbian state known as Serbia. Year 1718 ( MDCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1739 ( MDCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The First Serbian Uprising was a Serbian national Revolution which lasted for nine years and approx Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a One of the first Serbian states Raška, was founded in the first half of the 7th century on Byzantine territory by the Unknown It was conquered again by the Ottomans in 1813, but the Second Serbian Uprising (1815-1817) resulted in Serbia being recognized as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire. Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Second Serbian Uprising (1815-1817 was a second phase of the national revolution of the Serbs against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after Year 1815 ( MDCCCXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish In 1878, Serbia became a fully independent state, also enlarging its territory in the south-east. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The borders of Serbia established in 1878 were very similar to the borders of the present-day Central Serbia.

In 1913, Serbia further expanded its borders to the south, taking control of much of present-day Kosovo and Macedonia. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Republic of Macedonia (Република Further territorial gains were made in the north and south-west in 1918. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Serbia became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes on December 1, 1918. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croato-Slovene ie Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene: Kraljevina Jugoslavija Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican The region today known as Central Serbia did not have a separate political status within the Kingdom, although in 1929, when new provinces of the Kingdom were formed, one of the provinces (Morava Banovina) was established in the eastern part of the present-day Central Serbia with its capital in Niš. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Morava Banovina or Morava Banate ( Serbian: Моравска бановина/ Moravska banovina) was a province ( banovina) of the

Between 1941 and 1944, the territory of present-day Central Serbia was occupied by German troops and was part of the puppet state of Serbia that included present-day Central Serbia, Banat and the northern part of Kosovo. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries the eastern part lies in Romania (the counties The south-eastern parts of present-day Central Serbia were during this time under Bulgarian occupation, while the south-western parts were occupied by Italy and were annexed to the neighboring puppet state of Montenegro. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Montenegro ( British English) Montenegrin / Serbian: PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE LANGUAGES WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE!

Administrative division of Central Serbia 1974-1990

The Axis occupation ended in 1944 and the Democratic Republic of Serbia was formed as one of the republics of the new socialist Yugoslavia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: In 1945, Vojvodina and Kosovo (known as Kosovo and Metohija in Serbian) became autonomous provinces within Serbia, thus the part of Serbia that was outside of these two regions became known as Uža Srbija ("Serbia Proper" in English). Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Autonomous Province of Vojvodina ( Serbian: Аутономна Покрајина Војводина or Autonomna Pokrajina Vojvodina; Hungarian: Vajdaság At the beginning of the 1990s, the term Uža Srbija was replaced with the new term Centralna Srbija ("Central Serbia" in English) and this new term is today used in all official publications of the Serbian government that refer to the region.

Geography

Some important geographical regions located in Central Serbia are:

• Šumadija
• Mačva
• Timočka Krajina
• Pomoravlje
• Podunavlje
• Posavina
• Podrinje
• Zlatibor
• Raška
• Sandžak
• Preševo Valley

Also see: Geography of Serbia. Šumadija (Шумадија is a geographical region in Serbia. Mačva (Мачва (Hungarian Macsó is a geographical region in Serbia, mostly situated in the northwest of Central Serbia. Timočka Krajina (Тимочка Крајина is a geographical region located in Serbia. Also see Podunavlje (disambiguation Podunavlje (Подунавље is the name of the Danube river basin parts located in Posavina ( Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian Posavina, Serbian Cyrillic Посавина is a Slavic name for the Sava river Podrinje ( Cyrillic: Подриње is the name of the Drina river basin located in Serbia ( Central Serbia) and Bosnia and Herzegovina For other meanings see Zlatibor (disambiguation. Zlatibor ( Serbian Cyrillic: Златибoр is a mountain region situated in Raška (Рашка is a region in south-central Serbia. It is mostly situated in the Raška District. Sandžak ( Serbian: Санџак Sandžak or Рашка Raška; Bosnian: Sandžak; Albanian: Sanxhak or The Preševo Valley Albanian: Lugina e Preshevës) ( Serbian: Прешевска Долина or Preševska Dolina; is a geographical region Serbia is country located in the Balkans (a historical and geographical region of southeastern Europe) and in the Pannonian Plain (a region of

Name of the region

Besides the name "Central Serbia", the term "Serbia Proper" is also used in English to refer to the region. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States "Serbia Proper" is simply an English translation of the Serbian term "Uža Srbija" (Ужа Србија), which was used as a name of the region during the existence of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: The term "Uža Srbija" was controversial and it is no longer in use, but Serbian government publications now use "Centralna Srbija" (Central Serbia) instead. The term "Uža Srbija" was rejected because it implies a distinction between Serbia and its autonomous provinces.

According to the Library of Congress, "Serbia Proper" denotes "the part of the Republic of Serbia not including the provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo; the ethnic and political core of the Serbian state. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress " [1]. However, the ethnical and political centre of the Serbian people between 12th and 17th centuries was Kosovo, while between 17th and 19th centuries it was Vojvodina. The region designated as "Serbia Proper" became the political centre of Serbs in the 19th century, although its parts had important political role between 12th and 15th centuries.

The term "Serbia Proper" has also been used to differentiate the whole of Serbia (including the autonomous provinces) from the Serbian statelets in Croatia and Bosnia, and to differentiate the rest of Serbia (including Vojvodina) from the autonomous province of Kosovo. Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan

The use of the term "Serbia Proper" in English is purely geographical without any particular political meaning being implied. It has been used most often by the (non-Serbian) English-language media but also by the United Nations, English-language reports by the Serbian media and even on occasion by the Serbian government. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Its usage crosses political boundaries, with both pro- and anti-Serbian groups employing it.

Ethnic groups (2002 census)

• Serbs = 4,891,031 (89. Serbs ( Serbian: Срби Srbi) are a South Slavic people living in the Balkans and Central Europe, mainly in Serbia, 48%)
• Bosniaks = 135,670 (2. The Bosniaks or Bosniacs (Bošnjak pl Bošnjaci bɔ'ʃɲaːt͡si are a South Slavic people living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Bosnia" 48%)
• Roma = 79,136 (1. The Romani people (singular Rom, plural Roma as a Noun; also known as Romanies or Roma people) are an ethnic group with origins 45%)
• Albanians = 59,952 (1. } Albanians (Shqiptarët are an Ethnic group and a Nation, in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture speaking the Albanian language 10%)
• Vlachs (Roumanians) = 39,953 (0. Vlachs ( Endonym: Rumâni, Serbian: Власи or Vlasi) are an ethnic group of Serbia, culturally and linguistically 73%)
• Montenegrins = 33,536 (0. Montenegrins ( Serbian: Црногорци/ Crnogorci) are a South Slavic people closely akin to the Serbs, associated to Montenegro 61%)
• Yugoslavs = 30,840 (0. Yugoslavs ( Bosnian: Jugosloveni/Jugoslaveni; Macedonian and Serbian: Југословени Jugosloveni; Croatian 56%)
• Bulgarians = 18,839 (0. The Bulgarians (българи balgari) are a South Slavic people generally associated with the Republic of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language 34%)
• Muslims = 15,869 (0. Muslims by nationality ( Muslimani, Муслимани was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of 29%)
• Macedonians = 14,062 (0. The Macedonians (Македонци transliterated Makedonci) also referred to as Macedonian Slavs --> --> are a South Slavic people 26%)
• Croats = 14,056 (0. Croats (Hrvati are a South Slavic people mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries 26%)

Most of the municipalities of Central Serbia have an ethnic Serb majority, three municipalities (Novi Pazar, Tutin, and Sjenica) have Bosniak majority, two municipalities (Bujanovac and Preševo) have Albanian majority, one municipality (Bosilegrad) has a Bulgarian majority, and one municipality (Dimitrovgrad) is ethnically mixed with a Bulgarian relative majority. For the town in Bulgaria see Novi Pazar Bulgaria. Novi Pazar ( Serbian: Нови Пазар Tutin ( Serbian: Тутин Tutin, Bosnian: Tutin) is a town and municipality in Sandžak region of Serbia (part of Sjenica ( Serbian Cyrillic: Сјеница Bosnian: Sjenica) is a town and municipality in Zlatibor District of Serbia, in the Bujanovac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Бујановац Albanian: Bujanoci) is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of Serbia Preševo (Прешево; Preshevë or Presheva) also known as Presevo and Preshevo, is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of Bosilegrad ( Serbian: Босилеград Bosilegrad; Traditional Serbian name Босиљград Bosiljgrad; Bulgarian: Босилеград Dimitrovgrad ( Serbian: Димитровград Dimitrovgrad, Bulgarian: Цариброд Tsaribrod) is a town and 483 km² large municipality ^[1]

Politics

Since Central Serbia is not an administrative division of Serbia, in recent years the political movements that ask for autonomy of the parts of the region have appeared. Such political movements are found in Šumadija, Sandžak, and Niš. Šumadija (Шумадија is a geographical region in Serbia. Sandžak ( Serbian: Санџак Sandžak or Рашка Raška; Bosnian: Sandžak; Albanian: Sanxhak or

Some other political parties in Serbia (notably Democratic Party of Serbia) also propose creation of new administrative units of Serbia. The Democratic Party of Serbia ( Serbian: Демократска странка Србије or Demokratska stranka Srbije) is the largest Conservative According to these proposals, territory of present-day Central Serbia would be divided into 4 regions:

• Šumadija (capital city: Kragujevac)
• Podunavlje (capital city: Niš)
• Podrinje (capital city: Užice)
• Belgrade City Region

Culture

The region of Central Serbia possess rich cultural monuments. Šumadija (Шумадија is a geographical region in Serbia. Kragujevac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Крагујевац) is a city in Serbia, the largest city of the Šumadija Podunavlje (Подунавље is the name of a proposed new administrative unit of Serbia. Podrinje ( Cyrillic: Подриње is the name of the Drina river basin located in Serbia ( Central Serbia) and Bosnia and Herzegovina Užice ( Serbian Cyrillic: Ужице IPA:) is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 43 Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. There are numerous remnants of Roman civilization, such as Gamzigrad, Viminacium, Mediana, etc. Gamzigrad (Гамзиград is a spa resort in Serbia, located south of the Danube river, near Zaječar. Viminacium was a major city of the Roman province of Moesia (today's Serbia) and the capital of Moesia Superior. Mediana is an important archeological site from the late Roman period located in the eastern suburb of the Serbian city of Niš. There are also notable medieval fortresses such as Kalemegdan in Belgrade, Fortress of Smederevo, Golubac, and Fetislam near Kladovo. Kalemegdan ( Serbian Cyrillic: Калемегдан) is a Park in an urban area neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital Belgrade (Београд Beograd is the Capital and largest city of Serbia. Smederevo (Смедерево is a city and municipality in Serbia on the Danube at 44 Golubac ( Serbian Cyrillic: Голубац Romanian: Golumbei, Güvercinlik Hungarian: Galambóc) is a village and municipality Kladovo ( Serbian Cyrillic: Кладово Romanian: Cladovă is a town and municipality in the Bor District of eastern Serbia. One of the important features of the region are numerous medieval Serbian churches and monasteries such as Đurđevi Stupovi, Studenica, Sopoćani, Žiča, etc. Đurđevi stupovi ( Serbian Cyrillic: Ђурђеви cтупови ( English: The Pillars of Saint George is a 12th-century Eastern Orthodox The Studenica monastery ( Serbian: Манастир Студеница / Manastir Studenica) is a Serbian Orthodox Monastery situated 39 The Sopoćani monastery ( Serbian Cyrillic: Сопоћани an endowment of King Stefan Uroš I of Serbia Žiča ( Serbian Cyrillic: Жича is a Serb Orthodox Monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia, located at.

Gallery

Golubac	Kalenić village in Šumadija	Đurđevi Stupovi, Stefan Nemanja's church, 1169	Tabula Traiana near Kladovo
Nova Varoš Center in 2004

References