history
Records of Belgrade
The "Days of Belgrade" event, held from April 16 to 19, has concluded. The first date was chosen because April 16, 878, was the first time the Slavic name of our city – Belgrade – was mentioned in a written document. This is the oldest record of its Slavic name, though it was likely called that much earlier. Pope John VIII, in a message to Bulgarian Prince Boris, who received the name Michael upon converting to Christianity, requested the removal of the bishop of Belgrade, Sergius. Belgrade was evidently already a developed settlement when it was the seat of a bishop, whose name was clearly Slavic. Thus, the name Singidunum, given to it by the Celts in the 4th century BC, disappeared.
TL;DR
- The "Days of Belgrade" festival was held from April 16 to 19.
- April 16, 878, is cited as the first written record of Belgrade's Slavic name.
- The city was formerly known as Singidunum, named by the Celts.
- April 19 marks the transfer of Belgrade, along with other cities, to the administration of Prince Mihailo in 1867.
- A historical error concerning the Julian and Gregorian calendar difference in the 19th century was noted in the commemoration of the 1867 event.
- Prince Mihailo received the keys to Belgrade from the last Turkish commander during a formal ceremony.