From August 1990 to November 1991, during the
breakup of Yugoslavia
The breakup of Yugoslavia occurred as a result of a series of political upheavals and conflicts during the early 1990s. After a period of political and economic crisis in the 1980s, constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yu ...
, several Serb Autonomous Regions,
or Districts
( sr, Српска аутономна област (САО) / ) were proclaimed in the Yugoslav republics of
SR Croatia
The Socialist Republic of Croatia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Hrvatska, Социјалистичка Република Хрватска), or SR Croatia, was a constituent republic and federated state of the Sociali ...
and
SR Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Bosna i Hercegovina, Социјалистичка Pепублика Босна и Херцеговина), commonly referred to as Socia ...
in light of the possible secession of the republics from the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Y ...
. These were autonomous
Serb
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of ...
-inhabited entities that subsequently united in their respective republic to form the
Republic of Serbian Krajina
The Republic of Serbian Krajina or Serb Republic of Krajina ( sh, Република Српска Крајина, italics=no / or РСК / ''RSK'', ), known as the Serbian Krajina ( / ) or simply Krajina, was a self-proclaimed Serb proto-state, ...
in Croatia and the
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska ( sr-Cyrl, Република Српска, lit=Serb Republic, also known as Republic of Srpska, ) is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Feder ...
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
SAOs in
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...

*
SAO Kninska Krajina (later
SAO Krajina
The Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Srpska autonomna oblast Krajina, Српска аутономна област Крајина) or SAO Krajina () was a self-proclaimed Serbian autonomous region ( oblast) w ...
)
*
SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (later
Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia)
*
SAO Western Slavonia
The Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Western Slavonia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Srpska autonomna oblast Zapadna Slavonija, Српска аутономна област Западна Славонија) was a Serbian self-proclaimed autonomous region (oblast) ...
SAOs in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
The
Serb Democratic Party established SAOs in Serb-inhabited territories. Between September–November 1991, six entities had been proclaimed.
The Serbs set up their own parliament, having left the Bosnian parliament in October 1991. The Serb parliament proclaimed the "Serb Republic" (
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska ( sr-Cyrl, Република Српска, lit=Serb Republic, also known as Republic of Srpska, ) is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Feder ...
) on 27 March 1992.
*
SAO Bosnian Krajina, first formed as the
Autonomous Region of Krajina) in April 1991. It was the largest region, but after failure to merge with SAO Krajina in Croatia, it was renamed
SAO Bosanska Krajina in September 1991.
*
SAO North-Eastern Bosnia formed in September 1991; renamed
SAO Semberija in November 1991, and
SAO Semberija i Majevica in December 1991.
*
SAO Northern Bosnia, formed in November 1991, never fully controlled its proclaimed territory.
*
SAO Ozren-Posavina, planned from predominantly Bosniak and Croat municipalities in northern Bosnia, but not fully established.
*
SAO Romanija, formed in September 1991, and
SAO Birač, formed November 1991; combined in November 1991 as
SAO Romanija-Birač.
*
SAO Herzegovina (also known as SAO Eastern Herzegovina), formed in September 1991.
Srpske autonomne oblasti u Bosni i Hercegovini.png, SAOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Autumn 1991)
SAO BIH 1991 1992.png, SAOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina (September 1991)
Srpske autonomne oblasti u Bosni i Hercegovini u studenome 1991.png, SAOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina (November 1991)
References
Further reading
*
*
{{Yugoslav Wars
Autonomous regions
History of the Serbs of Croatia
History of the Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yugoslav Wars
Serb organizations
1990 in Yugoslavia
1991 in Yugoslavia
Political history of Republika Srpska
Ethnic organizations based in Yugoslavia
Serbian nationalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbian nationalism in Croatia
Serb Democratic Party (Bosnia and Herzegovina)