Bratislava

King Andrew III of Hungary granted Bratislava the status of a free royal town on December 12, 1291. With this status, Bratislava obtained privileges that were crucial for its development as a major urban center, including the right to hold fairs, collect taxes, and administer justice. These privileges marked the beginning of Bratislava's rise as an economic and cultural hub in the region.

The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526, near Mohács in the Kingdom of Hungary, marking a catastrophic defeat for Hungary against the Ottoman Empire led by Suleiman the Magnificent. The defeat led to the partition of Hungary and Bratislava became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1536 to 1783, following the Ottoman conquest of Buda.

In January 1783, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II moved the Hungarian Diet from Bratislava (then Pressburg) to Buda. This decision was part of Joseph II's centralizing reforms throughout his empire. Until then, Bratislava served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary and the main residence of the Hungarian Diet, which debated significant matters such as taxation and war.

On April 1, 1919, Bratislava officially became part of Czechoslovakia following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. The city, which had been known as Pressburg, saw its name officially changed to Bratislava. The city's inclusion in the new state marked a shift from a multi-ethnic urban center under the Habsburgs to becoming a part of the Slovak national resurgence.

The Slovak Republic was proclaimed on March 14, 1939, as a client state of Nazi Germany following the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia. Bratislava became the capital of this new Slovak State led by Jozef Tiso, which lasted until 1945. The subsequent years were marked by alignment with Axis powers and participation in World War II under German influence.

On April 4, 1945, Bratislava was liberated by Soviet troops from Nazi Germany's occupation in the final months of World War II. This liberation was part of the Bratislava-Brno offensive conducted by the Red Army which paved the future return of Czechoslovak government control over its territories before the communist takeover in 1948.

The Bratislava Agreement of August 26, 1968, was a public declaration of loyalty to the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union by the leaders of the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. This took place against the backdrop of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, which sought to quash the Prague Spring reforms led by Alexander Dubček.

On January 1, 1993, Slovakia became independent following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Bratislava, the largest city, and its capital became the capital of the new Slovak Republic. The separation of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, often called the Velvet Divorce, followed a series of negotiations and politicking that concluded in 1992.

On May 1, 2004, Slovakia joined the European Union along with nine other countries. This marked a significant step for the nation, paving the way for increased economic integration and political influence within Europe. Slovakia's accession to the EU was a milestone that solidified its orientation toward the West after decades of Communist rule within the Eastern bloc.

On January 1, 2009, Slovakia adopted the euro currency, replacing the Slovak koruna. The adoption of the euro marked Slovakia's full integration into the core economic framework of the European Union, which begins with the eurozone. This transition required rigorous economic reforms and compliance with the Maastricht criteria, keeping inflation and deficits within strict limits.