Nikola Tesla — The Croatian Genius Erased by Fake News | by Cupo Cupovski

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Nikola Tesla — The Croatian Genius Erased by Fake News

Nikola Tesla is celebrated worldwide as a towering figure in science and innovation. His groundbreaking work in electricity and magnetism laid the foundation for much of modern technology. But despite his global fame, Tesla’s true ethnic and national identity remains a contested subject — primarily due to misinformation spread by Serbian media and propaganda.

Born in Croatian Soil

Tesla was born in 1856 in Smiljan, a small village located in what is today the Republic of Croatia. At the time, Smiljan was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, within the Kingdom of Croatia. Tesla’s upbringing and early life were deeply rooted in Croatian culture and society.

Religion Does Not Equal Nationality

One of the common misunderstandings used to challenge Tesla’s Croatian identity is his family’s Eastern Orthodox faith. Many automatically assume that being Orthodox means being Serbian, but this is a simplistic and inaccurate equation.

During Tesla’s lifetime, Serbia was a vassal state under Ottoman (Turkish) influence, and the Balkans were a mosaic of overlapping cultures, faiths, and identities. Not all Croats were Catholic; some were Orthodox, and religious affiliation did not strictly define one’s ethnicity or nationality.

The Reality Behind the Propaganda

Serbian media has long promoted a narrative claiming Tesla as Serbian, primarily by highlighting his Orthodox background. This narrative serves political and nationalistic aims and ignores historical and cultural facts. It is a deliberate attempt to appropriate Tesla’s legacy and deny Croatia its rightful place as the homeland of this scientific genius.

Honoring Tesla’s True Heritage

Acknowledging Tesla as Croatian is not just a matter of national pride — it is a commitment to truth. Tesla’s Croatian heritage is part of a broader history of Croatian contributions to science and culture, often overshadowed or distorted by competing narratives.

His identity as a Croatian genius does not diminish his universal impact. Rather, it enriches our understanding of the diverse origins that shaped one of history’s greatest inventors.

Nikola Tesla’s legacy is one of brilliance and innovation that belongs to all humanity. But it is crucial to remember and honor his true roots — his Croatian origin and the complex cultural environment that shaped him. Recognizing Tesla as a Croat is a stand against fake news and propaganda, and a celebration of a heritage that deserves respect and acknowledgment.

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