Szerém

Szerém is the Hungarian exonym for Syrmia, a historical and geographical region in the Pannonian Basin that today spans parts of eastern Croatia and western Serbia. In Hungarian usage, the terms Szerém and Szerémség are found in historical and scholarly contexts to refer to the Syrmia region and its traditional extent. The core area lies between the Danube to the north and the Sava to the south, with the Fruška Gora massif marking the eastern portion; notable settlements include Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia and Ilok in Croatia.

Geographically, Syrmia is characterized by flat alluvial plains carved by major rivers, with agricultural land forming a dominant feature. The Danube and Sava create natural boundaries, while Fruška Gora provides a raised landscape in the east. The region has historically integrated a number of communities and languages, contributing to a rich cultural mosaic.

Historically, Sirmium near modern Sremska Mitrovica was one of the leading cities of the Roman Empire and a major political center in Late Antiquity. The area later passed through the control of different states, including the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Habsburg Monarchy. In the 20th century, Syrmia was divided by shifting borders within Yugoslavia, and after the breakup of Yugoslavia it became part of both Croatia and Serbia, as a cross-border region rather than a single political entity.

Demographically, Syrmia has been multiethnic, with Serbs and Croats forming the majority on respective sides of the border, and Hungarians and other groups present in minority communities. Economically, the region is known for agriculture and wine production, including notable wine production centers around Ilok and surrounding areas. Today, the term Szerém remains primarily a historical and linguistic reference within Hungarian sources.