THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SLOVAK-SERBIAN SETTLEMENT OF KULPÍN IN SERBIA

Abstract

This study examines the earliest phases of settlement in the Slovak-Serbian village of Kulpín, located in the Bačka region of present-day Serbia. The origins and development of Kulpín were influenced by a combination of socio-historical events, geographical factors, and the geological, morphological, and hydrological characteristics of the surrounding landscape. These natural conditions shaped the agricultural potential of the area and helped determine its long-term suitability for habitation. For these reasons, Kulpín is considered one of the oldest settlements in southern Bačka.
Some historical interpretations suggest that a settlement existed on this site as early as the beginning of the 13th century, during the reign of King Béla IV of Hungary. Although direct written sources are scarce, archaeological and comparative historical evidence points to continuous human presence and gradual settlement formation in the area throughout the medieval period.

The ethnic diversity characteristic of Kulpín and the wider region of Vojvodina is the result of a long sequence of political changes, wars, and migration movements. A major turning point came with the Great Migration of Serbs in 1690, when large groups of Serbs moved northward into Habsburg territory to escape Ottoman pressures. Their arrival significantly reshaped the demographic structure of the region. Later, during the 18th century, the colonization policies of Empress Maria Theresa brought additional ethnic groups, including Slovaks, Germans, and Ruthenians, to the southern parts of the Habsburg Empire, further contributing to the ethnic mosaic of Bačka. A key event in the local history of Kulpín occurred in 1745, when Maria Theresa granted the land, then largely an uncultivated wasteland, to the distinguished Stratimirović family in recognition of their military service. This transfer encouraged further development of the area, including agricultural organization and estate management. During the same period, significant numbers of Slovaks migrated from Upper Hungary (territory of modern Slovakia) to Lower Land (today’s Vojvodina). Their resettlement in Kulpín, where Serbs already formed an established community, initiated a long-term process of intercultural coexistence. Over time, the Slovak settlers created their own religious, educational, and social institutions while maintaining close interaction with the Serbian population. The coexistence of these groups laid the foundations for enduring Slovak-Serbian cultural and social cooperation, which continues to characterize the identity of Kulpín today. The early history of the settlement thus reflects broader Central European political developments, imperial strategies, and migration movements that collectively shaped the distinct bilingual and bicultural environment of the region.