SERVIA

SERVIA, was a kingdom of Europe occupying a central position in the Balkan Peninsula between Austria (N.) and Turkey (S. and W.), with Roumania and Bulgaria on the E.; one-third the size of England and Wales.

Originally emigrants in the 7th century from districts round the Carpathians, the Servians had by the 14th century established a kingdom considerably larger than their present domain; were conquered by the Turks in 1389, and held in subjection till 1815, when a national rising won them Home Rule, but remained tributary to Turkey until 1877, when they proclaimed their independence, which was confirmed by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. In 1918, Serbia joined with the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as Yugoslavia).

The kingdom was a mountainous region and in many parts thickly forested, but wide fertile valleys produced in great abundance wheat, maize, and other cereals, grapes and plums (an important export when dried), while immense herds of swine were reared on the outskirts of the oak-forests. It was well watered by the Morava flowing through the centre and by the Save and Danube on the N. with a climate, which varied considerably according to elevation. Not much manufacturing was done, but minerals abounded and were partially wrought. The Servians were of Slavonic stock, high-spirited and patriotic, clinging tenaciously to old-fashioned methods and ideas and have produced a notable national literature, rich in lyric poetry; a good system of national education; belonged to the Greek Church; the monarchy was limited and hereditary; government was vested in the King, Senate, and National Assembly.