Serbia and Montenegro (An Honorable Retelling)

United Kingdom of the Serbs and Montenegrins
Уједињено Краљевство Срба и Црногораца
Timeline: An Honorable Retelling
United Kingdom of the Serbs and Montenegrins Уједињено Краљевство Срба и ЦрногорацаTimeline: An Honorable Retelling
Flag	Coat of arms
	Motto: ; За крст часни и слободу златну; "For the Honored Cross and Golden Liberty"
	Anthem: ; Боже правде; "God of Justice" https://althistory.fandom.com/wiki/File:Serbian_National_Anthem_instrumental.ogg;
	Location of Serbia and Montenegro (An Honorable Retelling) Location of Serbia & Montenegro (green)
Capital; (and largest city)	Belgrade
Other cities	Podgorica, Cetinje, Novi Sad, Nis, Subotica, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Vranje, Zrenjanin
Official languages	Serbian, Montenegrin
Religion	Orthodox Christianity
Demonym	Serbian, Montenegrin
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Legislature	National Assembly
Establishment
Population
Currency	European guilder (ƒ) (EUG)
Drives on the	right

Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian Cyrillic: Cрбија и Црна Гора), officially the United Kingdom of the Serbs and Montenegrins (Serbian Cyrillic: Уједињено Краљевство Срба и Црногораца) is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Bulgaria to the southeast, Albania to the south, Dacia and Hungary to the north and Croatia and Bosnia to the west. The country has an estimated 12 million inhabitants, the vast majority of whom live in the urban centers Belgrade, Podgorica, and Novi Sad, the former being its capital and largest city.

The region of present-day Serbia and Montenegro has been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. It encountered Slavic migrations in the 6th century, and several regional states emerged during the early Middle Ages. These states were occasionally recognized as tributaries by the Byzantine, Frankish, and Hungarian kingdoms. The Serbian Kingdom gained recognition from the Holy See and Constantinople in 1217 and achieved its territorial peak in 1346 as the Serbian Empire. The empire came to an end in 1371 following a conquest by Hungary as part of its frequent invasions of southeastern Europe. The Hungarians often used brutal methods to control the population, including by exporting native populations to the New World in the form of slaves.

Serbian rebellions were often aligned with Russia and Poland-Lithuania as a means to reclaim their territories from Hungary. Serbia was elevated to a duchy within Hungary in 1805, following Hungary's defeat by France during the Second Great War. The nation achieved full independence with the assistance of Rhomania and Bulgaria in 1878. It fought alongside the Allied Powers during the Third and Fourth Great Wars, successfully fending off attempts of a reconquest by Hungary. It was an ally of the GTO during the Cold War, and a conditional ally of both the United States and Russia. Following an economic redevelopment program in the 1960s, Serbia and Montenegro transitioned to a land value tax-based economy. It had frequent border and political disputes with Croatia, an ally of Germany and the Frankfurt Pact.

Serbia and Montenegro is a member of the Global Treaty Organization, the League to Enforce Peace, the European Community and the Orthodox Christian Economic Community. It ranks highly in international measures of quality of life, human rights, and has low levels of perceived corruption and inequality. Alongside Bulgaria, it is considered a major developing power in Europe in the years following the Cold War.

History[]

Prehistory and antiquity[]

Archaeological evidence of Paleolithic settlements in the territory of what is now Serbia is limited. A fragment of a human jaw discovered in Sićevo (Mala Balanica) is estimated to be between 525,000 and 397,000 years old. Around 6,500 BC, during the Neolithic period, the Starčevo and Vinča cultures thrived in the area of today's Belgrade. They exerted influence over much of Southeast Europe, as well as parts of Central Europe and Anatolia. Notable archaeological sites from this time, such as Lepenski Vir and Vinča-Belo Brdo, are still present near the Danube. In the Iron Age, the local Triballi, Dardani, and Autariatae tribes encountered the Ancient Greeks during their cultural and political expansion into the region, from the 5th to the 2nd century BC. The Celtic Scordisci tribe settled in the area in the 3rd century BC, establishing a tribal state with several fortifications, including their capital at Singidunum (today's Belgrade) and Naissos (now Niš).

The Romans conquered extensive territories in the 2nd century BC. By 167 BC, the Roman province of Illyricum was established, and by around 75 BC, the Roman province of Moesia Superior was formed. The modern-day region of Srem was annexed in 9 BC, and Bačka and Banat were incorporated in 106 AD following the Dacian Wars. Consequently, present-day Serbia overlaps with several ancient Roman provinces, including Moesia, Pannonia, Praevalitana, Dalmatia, Dacia, and Macedonia. Notably, seventeen Roman Emperors originated from what is now Serbia, a number surpassed only by Italy. Among the most renowned was Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor, who enacted an edict mandating religious tolerance throughout the Empire.

Middle Ages[]

Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic — The Coronation of the tsar Stefan Dušan, known as Dušan the Mighty, in Skopje, as Emperor of Serbs and Greeks in 1346

The White Serbs, an early Slavic tribe from White Serbia, eventually settled between the Sava river and the Dinaric Alps. By the early 9th century, Serbia had achieved statehood. The Christianization of Serbia was a gradual process, completed by the mid-9th century. However, by the mid-10th century, the Serbian state declined. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, Serbia often clashed with the neighboring Byzantine Empire. From 1166 to 1371, the Nemanjić dynasty ruled Serbia, elevating it to a kingdom in 1217 and an empire in 1346 under Stefan Dušan. The Serbian Orthodox Church was established as an autocephalous archbishopric in 1219 by Sava, the nation's patron saint, and elevated to a Patriarchate in 1346. Many monasteries and fortifications from the Nemanjić era remain, with several designated as World Heritage sites. During these centuries, Serbian territory and influence grew substantially. The northern region, now known as Vojvodina, was under the Kingdom of Hungary's rule. After 1371, the period known as the Fall of the Serbian Empire, the once-mighty state was divided into multiple principalities, ultimately leading to its conquest by Hungary.

Hungarian rule and early modern period[]

The 15th century saw Hungary endeavor to strengthen its southern border against Rhomania. The Hungarian strategy included fortifying its frontiers and creating military colonies in Serbia as a defense against southern incursions. These colonies were settled by both Hungarian soldiers and local Serbs, who received privileges for their military service. Internally, Hungary grappled with challenges as the nobility opposed centralization, weakening royal control. The Esterhazy family, through strategic marriages, began to influence Hungarian politics, sparking tensions between factions within the kingdom. Zápolya, granting considerable autonomy to the Serbs, formed the Voivodeship of Serbia as a semi-autonomous region within his realm. This Voivodeship had its own military, led by Serbian nobles loyal to Zápolya, and acted as a buffer between the Hungarian Empire and Rhomania. Under this autonomy, Serbian culture experienced a renaissance, marked by a resurgence in literature, art, and religious expression.

Arsenije III Crnojević, a Serbian priest who argued for Serbian autonomy within Hungary

The Serbian Orthodox Church, liberated from external pressures, underwent a renaissance, forging stronger connections with other Orthodox churches in southeastern Europe and Russia. However, territorial claims to the south resulted in the dissolution of the Voivodeship of Serbia, with the region falling under the direct administration of Esterhazy officials. Catholicism expanded, yet the Orthodox Church retained its influence. Under various mandates, Serbs were often conscripted into the Hungarian military, with many serving as soldiers in conflicts against the Greeks and other regional entities. Despite being under Hungarian dominion, Serbian nationalism started to surge in the 18th century. Motivated by the Enlightenment and the triumphs of nationalist movements across Europe, Serbian intellectuals began to push for increased autonomy and the preservation of Serbian cultural heritage. In response, the Hungarians enforced a policy of suppression, curtailing Serbian political and cultural freedoms.

Independence and Third Great War[]

The onset of the 19th century marked the emergence of nationalist movements throughout Europe, and Serbia was no exception. The First Serbian Uprising commenced in 1815, spearheaded by Miloš Obrenović, who aimed to create an autonomous Serbian nation. Initially, the rebellion was quelled by Hungarian forces, but the Serbs, bolstered by support from Russia and other Orthodox nations, persisted in their resistance. By the mid-19th century, Hungary, debilitated by uprisings in other territories of their empire, started negotiations with Serbian leaders. In 1867, after a succession of revolts and diplomatic negotiations, Hungary conceded semi-independence to Serbia, establishing it as a principality within the Hungarian Empire. Ultimately, in 1878, post the Congress of Berlin orchestrated by France, Serbia gained recognition as an independent kingdom. The nascent Kingdom of Serbia, now including Montenegro, sought to unify its lands, annexing adjacent areas with Serbian inhabitants and affirming its role as a significant force in the region.

Serbian Artillery WW1 — Serbian soldiers manning artillery in a trench near Novi Sad, 1915

Since their independence from Rhomania in 1868, both Bulgaria and Serbia had considered the Northern Macedonia territory a critical area of contention. On the same day as the assassination attempt on Frederick II, 29 July, Bulgaria launched an attack on Serbia. This prompted Russia to declare support for Serbia, followed by Hungary—and consequently the Continental System—declaring war on Russia. The battles of Cer and Kolubara began on 12 August, where Hungarian forces were repelled by the Serbs with significant losses over the following two weeks, thwarting Hungarian hopes for a quick victory and securing the first major Allied victories of the war.

Consequently, Hungary was forced to maintain substantial forces on the Serbian front, compromising its campaign against Russia. The Serbian repulsion of the 1913 invasion is regarded as one of the most surprising victories of the twentieth century. The spring 1915 campaign witnessed the inaugural use of anti-aircraft warfare when a Hungarian plane was downed by ground-to-air fire, and the Serbian army conducted its first medical evacuation in the autumn of 1915. Facing inevitable defeat on two fronts, the Serbian army withdrew into northern Albania. At the Battle of Kosovo, the Serbs were defeated. Montenegro assisted the Serbian retreat towards the Adriatic coast in the Battle of Mojkovac on 6–7 January 1916, but Montenegro was ultimately overtaken by Hungary. The remaining Serbian soldiers were evacuated by sea to Rhomania, and post-conquest, Serbia was partitioned between Hungary and Bulgaria.

Fourth Great War, rest of the 20th century, and contemporary period[]

Rhomanian soldiers began an advance into Macedonia and then into Serbia by 1918 that forced Bulgarian and Hungary troops to withdraw. Both Hungary and Bulgaria had faced pressure on other fronts, withdrawing occupational forces to pave way for their own strategic defense. The state was restored following the collapse of the Continental System by 1921. To pave the way for economic recovery, military expenditures were reduced, and Serbia applied for loans from the United States and Russia. Voter intimidation continued to prevent the rise in radicalism that dominated the latter half of the decade. Restrictions on the press were implemented by Prime Minister Ljubomir Davidović, who feared a communist takeover following the Wall Street Crash of 1927. A period of military government began in 1938 following the French invasion of Wallonia-Luxembourg that sparked the Fourth Great War. Milorad Petrović served as both commanding officer and prime minister, running the country as a de facto military junta to prevent takeover by fascist Hungary and Croatia. Bulgarian neutrality benefited the Serbians, who avoided attacks on their eastern flanks.

Following the war, Serbia aligned itself with Russia and the Global Treaty Organization. While maintaining a socialist economic model in the aftermath of deficits accrued by the war, Serbia viewed Spartacist Germany and its allies as a threat. The Independent Agrarian Party slashed funding for housing programs throughout the 1950s to saddle off debts, resulting in an increase in poverty. As a result, many bankers fled the country or strengthened commercial ties with Russia. Borislav Milošević, after election in 1969, began a process to abolish all existing taxes in favor of a fixed rate, following the economic model seen in Finland and the United States. Political violence and crime decreased heavily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and revitalization produced sustained economic growth. Petar Zdravkovski's status as Secretary of Development had liberalized and expanded access to education, and the country rose in international academic scores after 1965.

Following the collapse of the Union of England, and the end of German puppet states in Europe, Serbia and Montenegro expanded its enterprises into much of Western Europe. It took a leading role in interstellar colonization, successfully putting multiple satellites into orbit by the 1990s. The Prihvatanje probe, launched in 1999, took multiple underwater photos on Minerva, which were published in the Belgrade Academic Journal. In modern times, the Serbian government is collaborating with the Rio Tinto corporation to establish what could be Europe's largest lithium mine. This initiative has sparked societal debate and numerous protests against the mining operations.

Government and politics[]

Government system and representation[]

Serbia and Montenegro operates under a federal constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliamentary system. The King, a symbolic figurehead, represents the continuity of the nation’s traditions and cultural heritage. However, real political power is vested in the National Assembly and the Prime Minister. The King is largely a ceremonial figure, with powers limited to representing the nation in diplomatic matters, ceremonial duties, and the formal appointment of the Prime Minister. The royal family is highly respected, and the King’s speeches, though rare, often carry significant moral weight in the public discourse. The bicameral parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the House of Regions. The House of Representatives is the lower chamber, with 250 members elected through proportional representation from the entire kingdom. This chamber is responsible for drafting and passing laws, approving the budget, and overseeing the government. The House of Regions is the upper chamber, with 100 members representing the various regions of the kingdom.

Political parties[]

Each region is allocated seats based on its population, but with a guarantee of minimum representation for smaller regions. This chamber has the power to review, amend, and veto legislation, particularly on matters related to regional autonomy and minority rights. The Prime Minister, the head of government, is elected but must maintain the confidence of the National Assembly. The Prime Minister leads the executive branch, formulates policies, and oversees the implementation of laws. The Cabinet, composed of ministers from various political parties, is responsible for different sectors such as foreign affairs, defense, finance, and education. The political landscape in Serbia and Montenegro is diverse, reflecting the country’s complex ethnic and cultural makeup. The main political parties include:

Serbian National Party (SNS): A conservative party that advocates for the protection of Serbian cultural and religious identity. It is pro-monarchy, supports traditional values, and is often skeptical of European Community integration, preferring closer ties with Russia and other Slavic nations.
Montenegrin Democratic Union (MDU): A centrist party that represents Montenegrin interests within the kingdom. It supports greater autonomy for Montenegro, advocates for environmental protection, and is generally pro-European Community, seeking integration with Western institutions while preserving Montenegrin identity.
Social Democratic Party of Serbia and Montenegro (SDP-SM): A center-left party that champions social justice, economic equality, and workers’ rights. It is strongly pro-European Community, advocating for closer ties with the GTO and the EC. The party also supports minority rights and federalism within the kingdom.

Foreign policy and economy[]

Serbia and Montenegro’s foreign policy is characterized by a delicate balancing act between its historical ties to Russia, aspirations for further European Community integrity, and regional leadership. The kingdom faces significant challenges in balancing economic development with social cohesion, especially given its diverse population. The kingdom has a mixed economy with a strong agricultural sector, growing manufacturing industries, and a burgeoning service sector, particularly in tourism. Economic policies focus on attracting foreign investment, modernizing infrastructure, and reducing unemployment. It adheres to a land value tax system. The country maintains a comprehensive social welfare system, with universal healthcare, free primary and secondary education, and various social security programs. The government also invests heavily in public transportation and affordable housing, particularly in urban areas. Given its diverse population, Serbia and Montenegro has robust laws protecting minority rights, including language rights, cultural autonomy, and political representation.