Sofia

: This is a page about the capital of Bulgaria. For other uses, see Sophia.

History

On a site inhabited as early as the 8th century B.C., Sofia is the second oldest capital city in Europe. It has been given several names in the course of history, and the remnants of the old cities can still be seen today.

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Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement named Serdica, named after the Thracian tribe of Serdi. It was captured by Rome in AD 29. When Diocletian divided the province of Dacia into Dacia Ripensis on the shores of the Danube and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. It was destroyed by the Huns in 447. The city was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and renamed Triaditsa. Sofia was first captured by the Bulgarians in 809. Afterwards it was known as Sredets, the name given to it by the Slavs. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376. Sofia was taken by the Ottomans in 1382 and became the capital of the Turkish province of Rumelia. Sofia was liberated by the Russians in 1878, and became the capital of the independent Bulgaria in 1879. During World War II the Russians occupied Sofia and Bulgaria after the pro-German government was overthrown.

Related Topics:
Thracian - Serdica - Thracian - Serdi - Rome - 29 - Diocletian - Dacia - Danube - Huns - 447 - Byzantine Emperor - Justinian I - Triaditsa - 809 - Sredets - Slavs - Greek - 1376 - Ottomans - 1382 - Turkish - Rumelia - Russians - 1878 - 1879 - World War II - German

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There are 16 universities in the city, among them Sofia University, founded in 1889. It is the see of an Eastern Orthodox metropolitan and of a Roman Catholic diocese.

Related Topics:
Universities - 1889 - Eastern Orthodox - Metropolitan - Roman Catholic - Diocese

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