Servia is an independent kingdom. The capital is Belgrade. For centuries
Servia was a province of the Turkish Empire, constantly in revolt and
passionately striving to become independent. By the Treaty of Berlin in
1878 Servian independence was secured. With the triumph of the Balkan
Allies--Servia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece--over Turkey in 1913,
much valuable territory was added to all the Balkan nations. The great
ambition of Servia to secure territory on the sea was thwarted, however,
by Austria-Hungary; and the ancient Servian hatred for Austria, roused
to action, brought about the incident immediately leading to the great
European War.
This was the assassination of the Austrian crown prince, in June, by a
Servian conspirator. Austria claimed that the Servian government was a
party to the murder, and sent an ultimatum making peremptory demands
that the murderers be punished. The Servian government, denying any
connection with the assassins, none the less agreed to all the Austrian
demands save one. They refused to permit Austrian officials to try the
conspiracy cases. Austria declared war.