Belgrade

   Called Singidunum by the Romans, the city is strategically situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube (q.v.) rivers. Moreover, the Belgrade-Constantinople highway was the most important trans-Balkan route from central Europe to Constantinople (q.v.). Captured by the Avars (q.v.) in the early seventh century, it emerged in the 10th century with a new Slavic name, Beograd ("White Fortress"). It was part of the First Bulgarian Empire until 1018, when it was incorporated into Byzantine territory. It went back into the hands of the Bulgars (q.v.) in 1040, during the revolt of Peter Deljan (q.v.). Subsequently, it was acquired by the Hungarians, and then by the Serbs (q.v.), who made it their capital in the 12th century. In 1427 the Hungarians took it, and in 1456 Hunyadi won a great victory over the Ottomans (q.v.), who had to break off their siege of the city. It finally fell to the Ottomans in 1521.