Bačka (Serbian: Бачка Hungarian: Bácska) is an area of the Pannonian plain lying between the rivers Danube and Tisa.

Today this area forms part of the Vojvodina region of Serbia and Montenegro. Novi Sad, the capital city of Vojvodina, stands on the border between Bačka and Srem.

History

Throughout history Bačka (Bacska) has been a part of the Dacia, Hun Empire, Avar Caganate, the Bulgaria, Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, Austria, Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Yugoslavia and finally Serbia & Montenegro.

Name Backa is Slavic by origin. In Slavic languages, Backa designating land which belong to Bac city (Hungarians have also adopted this Slavic name).

Dukedom of Salan

In the 9th century territory of Backa was part of Bulgaria. In 897, Salan (Bulgarian Duke) was ruler in this territory and his capital city was Titel.

In 1526/1527 Backa was central region of semi-independent Serbian State, which existed in the territory of present day Vojvodina. Ruler of this State was so called "Emperor" Jovan Nenad and his capital city was Subotica.

Between 1848 and 1860 Backa was part of Serbian Vojvodina, which was province of Austria.

Banat, Backa and Srem after 1881

After 1867 Backa was known as Bac-Bodrog (Bács-Bodrog) County of Austria-Hungary.

Territory of Backa (as part of Vojvodina) united with the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918.

By the Treaty of Trianon (4 June 1920), original territory of Backa was divided between Hungary and newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Northern part of region was latter incorporated into Bács-Kiskun County of Hungary. Southern part of region was County of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes between 1918 and 1922, then Province (Oblast) of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes between 1922 and 1929, and in 1929 it was incorporated into Dunavska banovina (Danubian Banat), which was province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

In 1941 Yugoslav Bačka was occupied by the Axis powers. The Trianon frontier was restored in 1945 with the end of the Second World War and Yugoslav Bačka was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Together with Srem and Banat, Backa is part of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina since 1945. After 1992, Bačka is part of Serbia and Montenegro (then still named FR Yugoslavia).

Geography

Districts in Vojvodina

Some of the major cities in Bačka include:

• Novi Sad
• Subotica
• Sombor
• Bačka Palanka

The districts of Serbia in Bačka are:

• West Bačka okrug
• North Bačka okrug
• South Bačka okrug

See also

• Vojvodina