The name Zemun is derived from the Slav word zemlin – earthen, and is mentioned for the first time in 9th century. This space was inhabited by Kelts in 4th century B.C., and it was then called Taurunum. During the Roman age it was the center of the Panonia Province and the river fleet. Many conquerors have replaced each other in this area : the Huns, Ostrogoths, Gepids, Heruls and Avars which named it Malevila. It was inhabited by the Slavs in the 9th century, and the city continues to be attacked by the Francs and Bulgarians to be finally included into the Ugarian territory the part of which it continued to be until the arrival of the Turks. The Turkish Empire ruled the city for nearly two centuries. The final borders between Austria nad Tourkey on the Sava and Danube rivers were established by the Belgrade Peace, and the city gained the free military community satus within the military border, in 1746.
At the beginning of 19th century Zemun was the most beautiful and developed city within the Military Border. The intensive trade between Austria and Turkey certainly contrinuted to it. Zemun played an important role during the First Serbian Uprising and during the events in 1848. Zemun became a free city within the Autsro-Hungarian Empire in 1871. It was connected to Vienna and Budapest by the railway in 1883, and later also with Serbia. During the First Wold War Zemun was occupied by Austria. It was included into the Kongdom of the Serbs,Croats and Slovenes, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, on November 5th. 1918. It was officially attached to Belgrade in 1934.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Zemun was loosing its oriental appearance and was gaining the european one. Many buildings built in the baroque style witness to this. Many different churches and temples show that people of different religions lived together in the city.
The highest level of Zemun is Gardoš, a gothic type medieval fortress, mentioned in 9th century sources. The name originates from the Slav word denoting city. Within the castle of a medieval structure in Zemun, a belvedere tower, the Millenium monument, was constructed in 1986, being one of the five at the rear points of Hungary, built in the name of the Hungarian state millenium. The Millenium Tower is now one the most popular Zemun symbols.