..:: History ::..

    The history of the City is rich with events that changed the course of the history, economy and culture of this part of the world and the Balkans. Kragujevac was first mentioned in the Medieval time as related to the public square built in a settlement, while the first written traces originate from TAPU-DEFTER in 1476. Over 200 archeological sites in Sumadija confirm the fact that life in this region began to pulsate in the ancient time of Paleolite 40.000 years ago. The rweason people continue to live here. The history of Kragujevac runs deeper than the history of the capital City of Belgrade.

   Kragujevac is located at a crossroads. Given this location, the city has been devastated many times and has suffered great losses of life in a number of wars throughout history. Kragujevac began to prosper in 1818 when Prince Milos Obrenovic proclaimed it the capital of the new Serbian State, and began to lay the first foundations of Serbia. The first Serbian Constitution was proclaimed here in 1835 and the first idea of the independent electoral democracy. The first Law on the Printing Press was passed in Kragujevac in 1870. Kragujevac, the capital, was developing and cherishing modern, progressive and free ideas and resembled many European capitals of that time.

     Apart from the political influence of the time, Kragujevac became the cultural and educational center of the state. Most important institutions built were: The First Grammar School, the first Pharmacy, and the first printing press. Kragujevac gave rise to many international scholars, professors, academics, scientists, artists and statesmen.

     The turning point in the overall development of Kragujevac was in 1851 when the Canon Foundry began production. The new era in the City’s economic developmentbegan. The main industry of the XIX and XX century was military production. Kragujevac has been one of Serbia’s largest exporters since 1886when the main railroads Belgrade –Nis connected Kragujevac.

    New centuries brought new wars. In the World War I Kragujevac again became the seat of many republic institutions even Supreme army command was roomed within the Court House building. During the war Kragujevac lost 15% of its population.

    In the World War II Kragujevac suffered great losses in human life and was devastated and destroyed. October 21, 1941 was the most tragic day in the history of Kragujevac. On that day fascists committed one of the biggest mass crimes when they shot several thousand Kragujevac citizens.

    In the post war period Kragujevac developed more industry. Industry has been developed by the economic activity of many enterprises, their main products of export has been passenger cars and industrial vehicles, hunting arms, industrial chains, leather and textiles. Since 1976, Kragujevac has grown as a University center.