Serbia in the Balkan Wars

rdf:langString Serbia in the Balkan Wars

rdf:langString Serbia was one of the major parties in the Balkan Wars (8 October 1912 – 18 July 1913), victorious in both wars. It gained significant territorial gains of the Central Balkans and almost doubled its territory. During the First Balkan War, most of the Kosovo Vilayet was taken by Serbia, while parts of the region of Metohija was taken by the Kingdom of Montenegro, one of its closest allies. Over the centuries, populations of ethnic Serbs and Albanians tended to shift following territorial handovers. As a result of the multi-ethnic composition of Kosovo, the new administration provoked a mixed response from the local population. Whilst according to Noel Malcolm the Albanians did not welcome Serbian rule, the non-Albanian population in the Kosovo Vilayet (predominantly Serbs) considered this a liberation. Kosovo Vilayet was internationally recognized as a part of Serbia and northern Metohija as a part of Montenegro at the Treaty of London in May 1913. In 1918, Serbia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, named Yugoslavia in 1929. Disagreements regarding the territory of Macedonia among the members of the Balkan League led to the Second Balkan War, in which Serbia, Greece, and allies fought against Bulgaria in 1913. Finalization concerning which country took which parts were ratified at the Treaty of Bucharest the same year. Serbia came to control the land which became known as Vardar Macedonia (Present-day North Macedonia)