The wider Belgrade area has been inhabited for thousands of years, with important prehistoric settlements developing along the Sava and Danube.
In the 3rd century BC, the Celtic tribe known as the Scordisci established the settlement of Singidunum, which later became an important Roman military and trading center.
The Slavic name Belgrade — “White City” — was first recorded in 878 AD** in a letter from Pope John VIII.
Over the centuries, Belgrade became one of the most contested cities in Europe. Byzantines, Hungarians, Serbian rulers, Ottomans, and Austrians all fought for control of its strategic position. According to official city records, Belgrade was destroyed and rebuilt dozens of times during its long history.
During the early 15th century, under Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević, Belgrade became the capital of the Serbian state and developed into an important commercial, cultural, and religious center.
The Ottomans captured the city in 1521 and remained its dominant rulers for centuries, while Austrian forces periodically occupied it during several wars.
Belgrade became the capital of Serbia in **1841**, and over the following decades it developed into the political and cultural center of the modern Serbian state.
Today, the city combines its turbulent past with modern architecture, creative districts, cultural institutions, riverfront developments, and one of the most energetic urban atmospheres in Southeast Europe.
