Where do Bosnians come from?

Bosnians are a South Slavic people who are native to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in Southeastern Europe. They share cultural and historical similarities with other South Slavic groups such as Serbs, Croats, and Montenegrins.

The earliest recorded inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina were the Illyrians, an ancient people who occupied the region during the Iron Age. They were later succeeded by the Romans, who ruled the area for several centuries. During the Middle Ages, Bosnia was part of the Kingdom of Croatia and then the Kingdom of Hungary.

In the 14th century, Bosnia became an independent kingdom and reached the peak of its power under King Tvrtko I. However, the kingdom was short-lived and fell to the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Bosnia remained under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries, and the majority of Bosnians converted to Islam during this time.

In the late 19th century, Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by Austria-Hungary. The region became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918. After the Second World War, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence and a bloody civil war erupted between the three main ethnic groups: Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. The war lasted for more than three years and resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people.

After the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina was divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. The country continues to be divided along ethnic lines, but efforts are being made to foster reconciliation and create a unified Bosnia and Herzegovina.