== Semi-protected edit request on 7 June 2014 == 

  

  
 Change from: 
 Nikola Tesla was born on 10 July (O.S. 28 June) 1856 to Serbian parents in the village of Smiljan, Austrian Empire (modern-day Croatia). 

 To: 
 Nikola Tesla was born on 10 July (O.S. 28 June) 1856 to Serbian parents in the village of Smiljan, Croatia , Austrian Empire. 

 Reason: 

 First, we have a direct quote from Tesla: "I was born in Croatia". 
 Source: 
 Tribute to King Alexander 
 Nikola Tesla 
 Published in New York Times, Oct. 19, 1934 

 Furthermore, the above construct suggests a different thesis. That Tesla was not born in Croatia, but that he was born on the land that would later become Croatia.  

 Tesla's birth place was at that time in the Military zone, made from Croatian land that was under administration of the Empire. However Military zone was not a political subject. It's an militarized area made for protection from Ottomans. Not to go deeper into classification of the Military zone, i will only mention that in 1881. Military zone was returned to Croatia. That is somehow a confirmation of my claim, that Military zone was Croatian land.  

 I think that i made my point. Tesla was born in Croatia, just as he himself stated.