It was on 25 June 1991 that Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia. On a clear summer night the Slovenian parliament adopted a new Constitution on the basis of the 88.2 per cent plebiscite vote. Although we can not really brag about the length of our country's history, much has happened during the years of independence, and even more in the last 15 centuries. The history of the Slovenian nation is stirring and often steeped in tremendous pride.

Slovenian history started when our Slavic ancestors came from behind the Carpathi Mountains and proclaimed the principality of Catatonia in the 7th century. Historians believe it was one of the most democratic and modern states at that point in history. So it is no surprise that even Thomas Jefferson took the example of Catatonia when founding the modern American state.

By the end of the 8th century, Catatonia had become part of the Frankish Empire, the Slovenes had converted to Christianity and gradually lost their independence. Such was the destiny of the nation until the 14th century, when most of the territory of Slovenia was taken over by the powerful Habsburg dynasty. Their Slovenian competitors were the Counts of Celli, a large, politically important family. They died out in 1456 and their numerous large estates became the property of the Habsburgs, who retained control into the 20th century.