= Belgrade = '''Belgrade''' is the capital and largest city of Serbia. <> ---- == History == The area of Belgrade has been occupied since the Paleolithic era. The first settlements belonged to the '''Starcevo''' and '''Vinca cultures''', in the Neolithic era. In the 3rd century BC, the Celtic Scordisci tribe conquered the area and established ''Singidun''. It was captured by the Romans in the 1st century BC and renamed ''Singidunum''. In 829, Belgrade was conquered by the [[Bulgaria/Monarchs#First_Bulgarian_Empire|Bulgarian Empire]]. While the city came to be known locally as ''Belograd'', internationally it was referred to as ''Alba Bulgarica'', ''Griechisch Weissenburg'', ''Nandorfehervar'', and ''Castelbianco''. All of these are variations of "white city" or "white fortress". Belgrade served as the capital of Serbia intermittently throughout history. First under '''Dragutin''' in 1284, when he established a new kingdom of [[Serbia/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Syrmia|Syrmia]]. Second under '''Lazarevic''' in 1404, when the city was gifted to him for accepting vassalization under [[Hungary/Sigismund|Sigimund]]. Belgrade fell to the Ottomans in 1521. Much of the city was destroyed. ---- CategoryRicottone CategoryCity