SKOPJE, or as originally was called at the beginning of its existence- SKUPI- was a military camp (castrum) formed in the Era of Roman Emperor Octavian August (11-13 Year before Christ). It was a basic camp for two Macedonian legions ( 5-th Macedonian and 4-th Skiits) who served Rome. Skupi was part of MEZIA province of the DARDANIA region. Name SKUPI ( shelter, shack) was used for the first time by tribe called Peons (Peonci). In their language Skupi was a "community of wild people", and Dardanians were known as " cruel enemies of Macedonians and other civilized ancient World"

694/95 after Christ - Slavic tribe called BRSJAKS (Brsjaci) takes over Skupi and gives it a Slavs name: SKOPJE.

Skopje becomes part of a First Slavo-Macedonian State of Tzar Samoil from Year of 976 to 1014.

1346 - Serbian Tzar Dushan was crowned in Skopje. Skopje becomes a capital city of his Empire.

1392 - Skopje was conquered by Ottomans and becomes USKUP.

1555 - Big earthquake in Skopje

25-th of October,1689 - Skopje was conquered by Austro-Hungarian general Piccolomini who set on fire the whole town. Reason: plague. Piccolomini died from plague few days after his pyromaniac activities.

1869 - Legendary Duke KARPOSH called "Peasants King" was executed and threw from Old Stone Bridge into Vardar river. With his death, peasants uprising ended.

1836-37 - Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov- Dzinot opened First Public Slavic School in Skopje.

12-we of October 1912 - After 5 centuries of Ottoman rule, Skopje falls under Serbian occupation.

First World War - Skopje falls under Bulgarian-Austro-Hungarian occupation.

After the end of First World War in 1918, Skopje becomes part of of the First Yugoslavia, governed by dictatorship of Serbian King.

Second World War - Skopje was occupied by Bulgarian fascists.

13-th of November, 1944 - Skopje was liberated by Macedonian Peoples Liberation Army and since then, a 53 years long governing of Yugoslavian communist administration begins.

1962 - Big flood of Vardar river in Skopje.

26-th of July,1963 - Big Earthquake in Skopje. Thousands deceased and wounded. City of Skopje was totally destroyed. Years later Skopje was rebuilded by the help of International community.

8-th of September,1991 - Skopje becomes a capital city of New Independent State: Republic of Macedonia..

** Big thanks to Dr.Natali Dimovska for sharing this historical facts with me **