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Timeline of Kosovo history

This is a timeline containing events regarding the history of Kosovo.

Prehistory, Roman era – 13th century AD

  • 5500–4500 BC: The Neolithic archaeological culture of Vinča occupied a large area of Central Balkans.
  • 4th century BC: The establishment of the Dardanian Kingdom.
  • 393 – 358 - The reign of Bardyllis in Dardania.
  • 335 – 295 - (approximately) The reign of Cleitus the Illyrian (the son of Bardyllis) in Dardania.
  • 295 – 290 – The reign of Bardylis II in Dardania.
  • 231 – 206 – The reign of Longarus in Dardania.
  • 206 – 176 – The reign of Bato of Dardania.
  • 2nd century BC: The Roman Empire conquered Illyria in 168 BC. The Central Balkans was prior to the Roman conquest held by Illyrians, Thracians and Celts, while the Kosovo region was specifically inhabited by the Triballi, a Thracian tribe.
  • 87–27 BC: The Dardani settled in the southwest of Triballi area in 87BC. The Dardani were possibly an Illyro-Thracian. Dardanians were defeated by Gaius Scribonius Curio and the Latin language was soon adopted as the main language of the tribe as many other conquered and Romanised. Eastern Dardania was Thracian throughout Roman rule. The Thracian place names survives the Romanization of the region.
  • 6–9 – The great Great Illyrian Revolt against the Roman Empire
  • 2nd century AD:
  • Ulpiana (later Byzantine Justiniana Secunda) is founded, most likely during the rule of Trajan. It was settled by Roman legionaries of unknown descent. The Romans colonised and founded several cities in the region.
  • Florus and Laurus, Constantinopolitan twin brothers that worked as stonemasons, are killed together with 300 fellow Christians after building a Church on the site of a Greek temple in Ulpiana. They were proclaimed Christians martyrs.
  • 284: Emperor Diocletian established Dardania into a separate province out of territory of Moesia Superior with its capital at Naissus (NiÅ¡). However, in Ptolemy's Geographia (written in the 2nd century), Dardania is a separate unit.
  • 4th century:
  • 325: Bishops from Dardania and Macedonia Salutaris attend the Council of Nicaea, to deal with the Arian heresy.
  • 343–344: Bishops from Dardania, New Epirus and Old Epirus attend the Council of Sardica.
  • 5th century:
  • Christianity begins to spread throughout the region.
  • 441: Invasion of Huns into Illyria.
  • 479: Ulpiana is destroyed. King Theodemir sent his son Theodoric the Great with 3,000 soldiers to destroy the city.
  • 6th century:
  • 517: A "great barbarian incursion".
  • 518: Earthquake, destroying 24 strongholds in Dardania.
  • fl. 535–565: Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) rebuilt Ulpiana, naming it Justiniana Secunda after founding Justiniana Prima in 535.
  • Slavs are mentioned in the Balkans during Justinian I rule (527–565), when eventually up to 100,000 Slavs raided Thessalonica. The Balkans were settled with "Sclaveni", in relation to the Antes which settled in Eastern Europe. Large scale Slavic settlement in the Balkans begins in the early 580s. The Slavs lived in the Sklavinia (lit. Slav lands).
  • fl. 893–927: the church in Sočanica is, at latest, built during the reign of Bulgar Simeon I. It was in use in the 11th and 12th centuries according to grave finds. In the reign of Grand Prince UroÅ¡ II, the site was known as Sečenica and was defended from the Byzantines from the newly built fortress at Galič, protecting the bridge over Ibar and the road to Ras. The site draws continuity with municipium Dardanorum.
  • ca 960: Constantine VII writes the De Administrando Imperio, in which "Serbia" has the city of Dresneïk, among others. possibly modern Drsnik, in Metohija.
  • ca 1090: Serbian Grand Prince Vukan (r. 1083–1112) began raiding Byzantine territory, first in the vicinity of Kosovo.
  • Between 1166 and 1168: Nemanja, a Serbian royalty who held parts of Kosovo and southern Serbia proper, defeats his older brother and Serbian Grand Prince Tihomir at Pantino (south of Zvečan), usurping the throne.
  • 13th century:
  • between 1217 and 1235: The Peć metoh is founded by Saint Sava.
  • 1253: the Serbian see was transferred from Žiča to the Monastery of Peć (future Patriarchate) by Archbishop Arsenije after a Hungarian invasion. The Serbian primates had since moved between the two.
  • In 1289–1290, the chief treasures of the ruined Žiča monastery, including the remains of Saint Jevstatije I, were transferred to Peja.

14th century

15th century

  • 1402: Stefan Lazarević, Prince (r. 1389–1402), assumes the title of Despot (r. 1402–1427). This took place after the Ottoman state temporarily collapsed following Mongol emir Timur's invasion of Anatolia (Battle of Ankara). The Ottoman interregnum lasted until 1413, as Bayezid's sons fought over succession.
  • 1402: In the feud between Ottoman vassal Đurađ Branković and his uncle Despot Stefan, Đurađ II BalÅ¡ić sided with Stefan. Due to Đurađ II's support, Stefan defeated Ottoman forces led by Branković in the battle of Gračanica on the Kosovo field (21 June 1402).
  • 1412 After the battle of Angora in 1402, Prince Stefan took advantage of the chaos in the Ottoman state. In Constantinople he received the title of despot, and upon returning home, having defeated Brankovic's relatives he took control over the lands of his father. Despite frequent internal conflicts and his vassal obligations to the Turks and Hungarians, despot Stefan revived and economically consolidated the Serbian state, the centre of which was gradually moving northward. Under his rule Novo Brdo in Kosovo became the economic centre of Serbia where in he issued a Law of Mines in 1412.
  • 1412: Stefan Lazarević issued a Code of Mines in 1412 in Novo Brdo, the economic centre of Serbia. In his legacy, Resava-Manasija monastery (Pomoravlje District), he organised the Resava School, a centre for correcting, translating, and transcribing books.
  • 1413, 5 July: Musa Çelebi is killed, ending the Ottoman Interregnum with Mehmed Çelebi emerging as Sultan.
  • 1427 Stefan Lazarević died suddenly in 1427, leaving the throne to his nephew Đurađ Branković.
  • 1430 The whole of Macedonia was conquered by the Ottomans.
  • 1443, the Ottoman army was defeated, at the Serbian town of NiÅ¡, by a crusade under a multi-national leadership which included the Hungarian hero János Hunyadi. At this point Skanderbeg, an Albanian nobleman who had been trained as a soldier in the Ottoman army, raised a rebellion from his family seat at Kruja.
  • 1448 Battle of Kosovo (1448).
  • 1453 Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
  • Between 1455 and 1459: Ottoman conquest of the Serbian Despotate. Prizren is conquered in 1455. The Monastery of the Holy Archangels is looted and destroyed. The Ottoman Sanjak of Prizren is established, existing until 1912.
  • After 1455: Building of Namazgah Mosque.
  • 1455 Building of Xhumasë Mosque.

16th century

  • ca 1500: Building of "Maksut Pasha"-mosque, near the Marrash section just across the bridge. The bridge is still in use.
  • 1513: Building of Mosque "Suzi Prizreni" in Prizren.
  • 1526: Building of Mosque "Haxhi Kasami" at the Prizren fortress.
  • 1526: Building of Mosque of Haxhi Kasëmi (Toska), built between 1526 and 1533.
  • 1526: Building of Mosque of Jakup be Evrenozi.
  • 1534: (or 1543) Building of Mosque of Kuklibeu also known as Kukli Bej Mosque (Xhamia e Saraçhanes/Sarachane) Kukli Beu Mosque or Kukli Bej's Mosque, Mosque from Mehmet Kukli Beg/Mehmeda Kuklji bega, .
  • 1534: (1534?) Building of "Iljaz Kukës"-Mosque in Prizren.
  • 1538: Mosque of the new neighborhood 1538.
  • 1562–1563: Building of Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Prizren. Destroyed in 1950 after a storm. At the location of the former UNMIK headquarters, now municipality building.
  • 1566: Building of Mosque of Sejdi Beu.
  • 1576: Building of Sinan 1576 or 1589/1590.
  • 1591: Building of Katip Sinan Qelebi Mosque in Prizren.
  • 1594: "Arasta (Evreson beu)"-Mosque built in 1594. Renovated in 1962.

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

The time period, 1919 – 1926 was characterised by massive deportation of Kosovar Albanians

  • 1919 – 23,500 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1920 – 8,536 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1921 – 24,532 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1922 – 12,307 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1923 – 6,389 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1924 – 9,630 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 43 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1924 (25 May) – The armies of Bajram Curri start a revolt.
  • 1925 (29 March) – Bajram Curri is killed.
  • 1925 – 4,315 Kosovars immigrated to Turkey, 148 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1926 – 4,012 Kosovars immigrated to Turkey, 399 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1926 (20 November) – A revolt in Metohija begins.

The time period, 1927 – 36 was characterised by massive migrations of Kosovars.

  • 1927 – 5,197 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 316 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1928 – 4,326 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 149 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1929 – 6,219 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 216 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1930 – 13,215 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 199 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1931 – 28,807 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 624 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1932 – 6,219 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 211 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1933 – 3,420 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 181 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1934 – 14,500 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 328 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1935 – 9,565 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 386 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1936 – 4,252 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 182 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1936 (January–February) – Oil Workers start a strike in Kosovo.
  • 1937 – 4,234 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1938 – 7,251 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey, 4,046 families immigrated to Albania.
  • 1939 – 7,255 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 7 April 1939: During World War II, the majority of Kosovo was part of the Italian occupation of Albania.
  • 1940 – 6,792 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1941 (6 April) – The Invasion of Yugoslavia by Hitler's army.
  • September 1943: Kosovo becomes part of Nazi German occupied Albania.
  • 1943 (16 September) - The Second League of Prizren took place, led by Bedri Pejani.
  • 1944: The Democratic Federal Yugoslavia is created with the national boundary with Albania precisely as it had been prior to World War II.
  • 1944 (2 January) – In the Assembly of Bujan, Kosovars declared that they are a political population and that they want to unite with Albania.
  • 1944 (5 October) – The Fifth Brigade, and days later The Third Brigade of the Albanian army(UNÇSH), cross the state border to enslave Kosovo from enemy occupation.
  • 1944 (23 October) – The Pristina Massacre.
  • 1944 (7 November) – The liberation of Gjakova by the Albanian army.
  • 1944 (18 November) – The final liberation of Dukagjin and Kosovo by the Albanian army.
  • 1945: Kosovo as a political unit resurfaces for the first time since 1912. Now named the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija (1945–1963), the new entity exists as an autonomous region within the People's Republic of Serbia but it only occupies a fraction of the territory which had been Kosovo prior to 1912: whilst a part of the former vilayet remained within Central Serbia, the other lands were placed in the newly created Yugoslav republics of Montenegro and Macedonia (both outside of and equal partners to Serbia).

The time period, 1952 – 1965 was characterised by massive migrations of Kosovars

  • 1952 – 37,000 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1953 – 19,300 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1954 – 17,500 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1955 – 51,000 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1956 – 54,000 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1958 – 41,300 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1957 – 57,710 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1959 – 32,000 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1960 – 27,980 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1961 – 31,600 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1962 – 15,910 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1963 – 25,720 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1963: As a result of the new constitution, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is announced. Kosovo sees an increase in the level of self-rule, and was raised from region to province, as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1963–1968).
  • 1964 – 21,530 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1965 – 19,821 Kosovars emigrated to Turkey.
  • 1968 – A big wave of protests started in Kosovo and Europe (by Kosovars). Name of the province changed to Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1969 – 70 – The Universiteti i Prishtinës was founded.
  • 1971: A higher level of autonomy is devolved to Kosovo's authorities.
  • 1974 – The Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo significantly increased its autonomy within the Socialist Republic of Serbia.
  • 1974–(81) – Xhavit Nimani was elected president of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1980 – The death of Josip Broz Tito Death and funeral of Josip Broz Tito.
  • 1981 (March) – Mass Albanian student protests in Pristina demand independence of Kosovo.
  • 1981 – Population census (1,584,441 people were registered).
  • 1981–(82) – Ali Å ukrija was elected president of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1982-(83) - Kolë Shiroka was elected president of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1983-(85) - Shefqet Nebih Gashi was elected president of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1985–(86) – Branislav Skemberavić was elected president of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo.
  • 1986 – Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević became the leader of Serbia and seized control of Kosovo.
  • 1987 (24 April): As animosity between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo had deepened during the 1980s, Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević was sent to address a crowd of Serbs in Kosovo Polje.
  • 1989 – Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević drastically reduced Kosovo's special autonomous status within Serbia and started cultural oppression of the ethnical Albanian population.
  • 1989 (28 June) – Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević delivers a speech and led a mass celebration with hundreds of thousands (almost one million) Serbs in Gazimestan on the 600th anniversary of a 1389.
  • 1990 (2 July) – The self-declared Kosovo parliament declared Kosovo a republic in Yugoslavia
  • 22 September 1991: – The self–declared parliament declared Kosovo an independent country as the Republic of Kosova.
  • 1992 (May) – Ibrahim Rugova was elected president, during its run the Republic of Kosovo was recognised only by Albania, it was formally disbanded in 1999 after the Kosovo War.
  • 1996–1999: Clashes between the KLA and the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia intensify to become a full-scale war.
  • 1998 – The Yugoslav government signs a cease fire and partial retreat monitored by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
  • 1998 (5, 6, 7 March) – The Jashari family was executed by Serbian police, 64 members of the Jashari family killed, including at least 24 women and children (see Attack on Prekaz).
  • 1999 (January) – Račak massacre.
  • 1999 (24 March) – NATO intervened in the war by bombing Yugoslavia.
  • 10 June 1999: The Kosovo War comes to an end and Kosovo becomes a UN administrated province under UNSC Resolution 1244, which is controlled by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.
  • 1999 (10 June) – UN Security Council passed UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

21st century

See also

References

Further reading