The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF

destiny assigned to the Southern Slavs a part which they have played faithfully until now. Their part was a noble one. The frontiers of the Byzantine Empire were no longer respected. Provinces were devastated and the panic-stricken inhabitants, fearing death and extermination, flocked to the coasts of the Mediterranean. The Balkan peninsula was overrun by Goths and Avars; the Roman settlements were nearly annihilated, and the Byzantine Emperors were anxiously looking for help and assistance from any quarter. Encouraged by previous experiences with the Slavonic tribes, and convinced of their loyal and non-aggressive character, they arrived at an agreement with the Southern Slav tribes and invited them to settle down peacefully in the devastated northern and central provinces of the Balkan peninsula, on condition that they would protect the northern frontier of Byzantium from the further devastation and repeated attacks of the other less civilised tribes. This happened in the seventh century of our era, under the Emperor Herakleios, according to the account given by the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos. To that part assigned to them—namely, to be the guardians and protectors of European civilisation, the Serbo-Croat nation has remained faithful until now.

The Slavonic tribes, all speaking one language, all having one and the same standard of

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