MBlog: Slovenian History

Slovenian History

Introduction

Slovenia is a very small country situated in Central Europe. It lies in the heart of Europe, where the mighty Alps, the Mediterranean Sea, the magical Karst and Pannonia Plain come together. Because of that we have outstanding natural phenomena such as waterfalls, caves and rivers. After Sweden and Finland, Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe.

Most of the people usually mix Slovenia with another one - Slovakia. Even though Slovenia is half the size of Slovakia and that it is almost more than 20 years since both countries have become independent, still for a lot of people it is quite hard to distinguish them.

Let’s take a look on some simple facts about both of the countries. For a better comparison Germany is added as a reference country.


Name	Republic of Slovenia	Slovak Republic	Federal Republic of Germany
Population	2.055.527 (2012)	5.445.324 (2011)	81.799.600 (2010)
Capital City	Ljubljana (260.000)	Bratislava (452.288)	Berlin (3.520.061)
Currency	Euro	Euro	Euro
Language	Slovene	Slovak	German
Largest Cities	Maribor, Koper, Celje	Košice, Prešov	Berlin, Hamburg, München
Area	20273	49035	357021
Border Length	1370 km	1672 km	3621 km
Forest	58%	40%	32%
Highest peak	Triglav 2864 m	Gerlach Peak 2,654 m	Zugspitze 2962 m
Coast	50 km	0 km	2389 km
Former countries	Yugoslavia	Czechoslovakia
Independence	25.6.1991	1.1.1993
Membership	EU, NATO	EU, NATO	EU, NATO
GDP (nominal)per capita($)	22461	16726	41168

One of the most representative symbols of every country is the flag. In the pictures above, we can see why many people mix these two countries. However, this is still not an excuse. The countries are located in different parts of Europe, the population and the area of Slovakia are twice as big as Slovenian's, the languages are also different. Both of the countries were historically part of bigger countries. In the second half of the 20th century Slovenia was member of Yugoslavia along with Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Monte Negro. In the same period Slovakia was member of Czechoslovakia. Both countries gained their independence in the early 1990s.

Yugoslavia (red) and Czechoslovakia (blue) in 1991

In fact, it is not only the common people that do mistake the two countries, even the politicians, who should actually know what they are talking about, have some problems distinguishing the countries. Here are some provoking quotes:

- “The only thing I know about Slovakia is what I learned first-hand from your foreign minister, who came to Texas. I had a great meeting with him. It's an exciting country.” - George W. Bush, US president, to a Slovakian journalist, about a meeting with Slovenian prime minister.

- “I’m very happy to be here today with the Prime Minister of Slovakia.” – Italian (Slovenia is neighbor country) prime minister at that time Silvio Berlusconi, introduced Slovenian prime minister Anton Rop to the journalists.

History

Slovenians are very proud of their country, so they easily become angry if someone mixes these two names. To understand why it is like that, we must look back into history.

The area of modern Slovenia was already partly inhabited around 250000 years ago (Pekel cave). From the times of the Neanderthals there has been found the oldest known musical instrument in the world, dated back to approximately 43000 BC, a flute.

Flute

Except for this remarkable discovery, there are also other numerous archeological remains showing that the area was well inhabited already in prehistoric times. After the raids of the Illyrians and Celts in the 1st century BC, the area was later conquered by the Romans. At that time the first towns emerged (Emona-Ljubljana, Celeia-Celje, Poetiviona-Ptuj). The region was strategically very important due to its 'bridge' function between the inland and the Mediterranean Sea. Prior to that there were many invasions of barbarian armies forcing the Romans to abandon the region at the end of the 4th century.

The Slavs settled in the abandoned areas in the 6th century. They were the ancestors of present days Slovenes. In the year 658 AD the Slavs living in the region established the first independent principality named Carantania. Probably it was the oldest Slavic state. The principality lasted for nearly 300 years. During that time, in the south of Carantania another principality was also established: Carniola. Due to the lack of evidences there are just little facts known about this principality. Both principalities were in the area where present Slovenians live today. In the year 828 AD the Slavic dukes were replaced by Frankish counts which set the end of the independency. However, till the year 1414 AD the special ceremony of the enthronement of the princes of Carinthia which was held in the Slovenian language continued to take place.

The ceremony took place at the Prince's Stone. A free peasant, selected by his peers, in the name of the people of the land, sat on the Prince's Stone and questioned in Slovenian language the new prince about his integrity, this way reminding him of his duties in front of the others. Only after that the duke was allowed to ascend to the Stone.

Prince's Stone

The idea was that the Duke received this way legitimation and power directly from the people which was not very common at that time. We can say that it was a very progressive and democratic procedure, considering the fact that most of the European monarchs were still calling themselves 'being sent from God' by the time or they were simply inheriting the power.

The procedure inspired also Thomas Jefferson. In his personal copy of Jean Bodin book Six livres de la Republique, Jefferson's notes were found next to the description of the ceremony of the enthronement of the princes of Carinthia. Jefferson later became an USA president and used this material for the creation of the US constitution.

The Prince's Stone is nowadays still a very powerful symbol for all Slovenians. It reminded people that Slovenians have had their own country for almost 300 years back in history. Something which Slovenians had to wait for the next 1000 years.

At this point we can start to talk about the Slovenian language. The oldest documents written in Slovenian language are the Freising manuscripts (Brižinski spomenik). These are the first Latin-script texts written in a Slavic language. They date back to the 9th century, between the years 972 and 1039.

Freising manuscripts

Another remarkable symbol in the Slovenian history are the Counts of Celje. They were the only noble family throughout the European history who came from the Slovenian areas. At their peak in the 15th century they were as powerful as the Habsburgs, with whom they have even signed an agreement of mutual inheritance. And when the last male heir of the Counts' family died in 1460 all the land went under the Habsburgs. In honor of the Counts of Celje Slovenia has put their three stars in the modern coat of arms.

Coat of arms of Counts of Celje

Under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy it was very important for Slovenians, to preserve and maintain their language and culture. Therefore in 1550, during the Protestant Reformation, the first books in Slovenian language were printed. The protestant preacher Primož Tubar wrote Abecednik and Katekizem. They were soon followed by many other printed books. In 1584 Jurij Dalmatin translated also the Bible in Slovenian. Primož Trubar as well as his first two books in Slovenian language 'Abecednik' and 'Katekizem' are some very important symbols in our history too. After their publishing nobody could say anymore that Slovenian language is only a spoken language. By putting it into books it became a written language that represented the nation.

Primož Trubar

In the following centuries the Slovenian land suffered many wars and invasions from the Turks and other neighboring countries which were fighting with the Habsburgs. But unlike aristocrats who were safe in their castles, peasants did not have any protection. This, together with the increasing tax burdens as well as the reduction of their rights led to the bursting of the peasants into many revolts. In those revolts against numerical superior and very good equipped armies they fought for their rights and risked their lives. In fact, for the rights that they have already had 500 years ago.

In 1774 during the reign of Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II primary education in Slovenian language was introduced for the first time. However, German remained the main language of administration and education. With the help of the Illyrian Provinces (1805-1813), which were part of the French Empire under Napoleon, and through the implemented reforms, Slovenian national consciousness started to arise. The values of the Slovenian language were increased with the poems of France Prešeren, who proved that Slovenian can also be a poetic language. He was one of the most remarkable persons in the Slovenian history and was one of the greatest Slovenian poets. The current Slovenian anthem Zdravljica was written by him.

France Prešeren

In the year 1848 also known as the Spring of Nations the first Slovenian political program was created. It was called Zedinjena Slovenija (United Slovenia). It demanded that all lands inhabited by Slovenians should unite in one country named Slovenia. In the following years there were many rallies and movements with similar demands – the cultural and political autonomy of Slovenians.

Kozler's map of area populated with Slovenians in comparison with present border (black)

In the pictures we can see that in 1848 Slovenians inhabited quite a big region but compared to the borders of present Slovenia it become obvious that the Slovenian country has lost a lot of these territories, including some big cities like Trst (Trieste), Celovec (Klagenfurt), Beljak (Villach), Gorica (Gorizia). All these cities were important centers of Slovenian culture. In order to understand why such important territories were lost we must get back to the First World War.

During the war, Slovenia was still part of the Austria-Hungary Empire and therefore, at the end of it, it was not on the winner side, which had its consequences.

An important document, especially for the Slovenian western region, was the Treaty of London. This secret pact promised Italy huge territorial gains. In return Italy changed sides in the war and joined the Allies. After the war, despite that Austria-Hungary army had pushed Italian army deep inland, Italy occupied the Slovene ethnic territories (most of which purely ethnic Slovene). These areas, quarter of all Slovene ethnic territories, were subjected to violent Fascist Italianization. This included prohibition of any Slovenian cultural associations, Italianization of surnames, prohibition of Slovenian language, beating, deportation in internment camps and torture of people who were suspected to spread Slovenian language and culture.

Flyer prohibiting any usage of Slovenian language

Fascism has provoked among Slovenians an overall resistance. In order to withstand this violent process of Italianization in Slovenian areas, the militant anti-fascist organization TIGR was founded. Its purpose was to resist more radically against Italian fascism as well as to encourage Slovenians to revolt and give them hope of the possibility to reunite with the homeland. National consciousness played a big role here. After the Second World War Slovenia gained most of that territory back, but lost the two biggest cities in the region – Gorica and Trst. Just to get you a better view over the geopolitical situation I should mention that Trst was the biggest Slovenian city at the beginning of the 20th century and had the most important harbor in the whole Austrian-Hungarian monarchy.

Just after the war the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was founded and declared its independence in 1918. Later it became the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and was after that renamed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929).

In the north, Slovenia lost the whole region of Carinthia (Koroška) with some big cities such Celovec (Klagenfurt) and Beljak (Villach). The area was predominantly settled by Carinthian Slovenes. Regarding to the Austrian population census held in 1910, 70% of the population in the region spoke Slovenian as their first language. Despite this fact, in the year 1920 a plebiscite known as the Carinthian Plebiscite was performed. The majority voted for adhesion to Austria (59%). There were several reasons for that; the Austrian propaganda was much stronger; it emphasized on awareness and solidarity between Slovenian and German Carinthians; also the fact that the Austrian propaganda used Slovenian Language and ensured that it would get equal status with the German language played some imported role. There were also economic reasons: farmers were used to trade with the big cities that were at that time in Austria, so they preferred to stay in the same country. Another reason might have been also the fact that people had to vote not between Slovenia and Austria but between Yugoslavia and Austria - a democratic republic and a monarchy. But as the Austrian government promised they believed that they would retain the Slovenian status and rights. However, this did not happen. After the plebiscite Austria started an aggressive policy of germanisation which is still present.

Bilingual sign

After the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980 Yugoslavia started slowly to fall apart. Serbian nationalism was rising up and Slovenians felt again the desire for freedom and independence. On 25 June 1991 Slovenia declared independency and after a ten-day-war rejected the Yugoslavian army.

Slovenian flag at top of Triglav, 12.6.1991

After 1000 years of subjection now Slovenians have again their own independent country.

Throughout the history several nations tried to rule the Slovenian territory. It is astonishing how this small nation fought against them.

˝Although Slovenia has always been surrounded and sometimes even invaded by larger and more powerful countries, its people have always found a way to communicate in their own language: Slovenian.˝

After such long period under foreign governments, Slovenians finally became masters of their own territory. In the history, there have been many nations which lost their independency, language and culture. However, Slovenians were not one of them. This is even greater if you take into account how small the Slovenian nation in comparison to its neighbors is: Italians, Austrians, Hungarians. Being a big, economically and politically powerful state is not crucial in all occasions. Even though Slovenians were the minority throughout the history they had a very powerful will to be independent and to preserve their culture. They were prepared to die for it as actually many did. The territory could be controlled and occupied but the will could not be taken away. This is the answer to the question, why Slovenians are so proud of their country and why they become so angry when others confuse Slovenia with Slovakia.