European Kingdoms

Croatia

The documented history of Croatia began with Greek settlements along the Dalmatian coast beginning in the fourth century BC. The interior was then dominated by tribal peoples, with the Celts and native Elyrs (modern Kosovars and Albanians) most significant just before the Roman conquest. The Celtic Norican Kingdom, which covered modern Austria, Slovenia and part of northern Croatia, briefly survived the conquest as a Roman tributary. Slavic migrations reached Croatia beginning in the sixth century.

According to some modern theories, the Croatian name can be traced back to Persia. The earliest mention of the Croatian name as Horovathos (modern Hrvatske / Hrvat / Horvat) can apparently be traced on two stone inscriptions in Greek language and script, dating from around AD 200, found at Tanais seaport on the Azov sea, Krim. One of the confluents to the River Don near the region of Azov is called Horvatos. The Croatian name can also apparently be traced to different sites in Ukraine, and around Krakow in Poland, to Bohemia, and Austria, showing the migratory path which the Croatian tribes are said to have taken (these were the White Croats). In around 800-819, Croatian rulers established separate states along the Adriatic coast and inland in Slavonia (former Roman Pannonia). The ruler was entitled "Ban / Banovi" (the equivalent of "king"), a word found only in Croatia which is presumed to have Indo-European roots.

By the ninth century the Carolingian Frankish Empire controlled almost all of Europe, but when Charlemagne's death divided it, Croatia's ruling duke revolted and formed an independent state - the earliest such state of any duration in the Balkans region. This previous contact with the West and Croatia's ideal location on the coast of the Adriatic enabled the state to develop more rapidly than some of its inland neighbours. The title of "Ban" was relegated to the equivalent of viceroy, but often the serving Ban would later be elevated to king.

(Additional information by Željko Buzov.)

c.626 – c.641

Klukas, Lobel, Kosjenc, Muhlo, Hrvat & Tuga, Buga

Five brothers and two sisters.

c.626 - c.641

The seven siblings lead the Croats from the area around Krakow in Poland into the Balkans. They are invited by Byzantine Emperor Heraclius to help him fight the Avars. The Croats receive their present-day lands to settle as a reward. This is a typical Roman foedus relationship, illustrated by tenth century Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenet: "De Administrando Imperio" (On Ruling The Empire), Chapter 31).

c.641 – c.689

Radoslav

c.641 - c.689

Radoslav is a strong ruler. His name is preserved after his long reign in people's memory and folk balads up to the twentieth century as "Old-Man Radoslav". The introduction of Christianity is made under his rule (according to other sources the Croats were already Christianised when they arrived in the Balkans).

c.689 - c.800

Undocumented Period

Dukes of Croatia
c.AD 810 - 925

The Croatian ruler rejected Frankish authority after the death of Charlemagne, declaring an independent duchy.

c.800 - c.810

Visheslav

First independent duke.

c.810 - 821

Borna

In Dalmatia. Carolingian vassal.

c.810

The later Croatian Court is modelled very closely on these contemporary Carolingian Court practices, churches are constructed in the Carolingian style, as are arms and armour.

817 - 823

Ljudevit Posavski

Nephew of Borna. Ruler of Pannonia.

819 - 823

Posavski means "of river Sava". Ljudevit successfully resists seven Carolingian army raids during this period. Finally defeated, he escapes via Serbia to his uncle Borna who puts him in a dungeon to please the Carolingians. Ljudevit dies in captivity.

821 - c.835

Vladislav

c.835 - c.845

Mislav

c.845 - 864

Trpimir I

Founder of the Trpimirpvich dynasty.

864

Zdeslav

864 - 876

Domagoj

876

Iljko

876 - 879

Zdeslav

Restored.

879 - 892

Branimir

892 - 910

Mutimir / Muncimir / Mucimir

910 - 925

Tomislav

Elevated to king.

Kingdom of Croatia
AD 925 - 1918

In 924, Duke Tomislav was elevated to king of Dalmatian Croatia by the Pope and united it with Slavonia to create the first permanent kingdom in Eastern Europe. He stopped the Hungarian advance on the river Drava (which even today forms the boundary between Hungary and Croatia, and was possibly the first stable boundary in Europe). Also, Tomislav aided the Serbian ruling nobility, offering them shelter and stopping the Bulgarian advance at the river Drina (today's boundary between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina). He founded the castle of Vishegrad on the left bank of river Drina as his summer residence to emphasise Croatia's borders to the Bulgarians. "Croatia" was used to define the inland parts including western Bosnia, while Dalmatia defined the ex-Greek coastal regions (and modern Herzegovina).

After his death civil wars weakened the state and some territory, including that of Bosnia, was lost. Lack of a suitable heir in 1089 resulted in the crown eventually being passed into Hungarian ownership, leaving its day-to-day running in the hands of local rulers.

925 - 928

Tomislav I

Crowned by Pope John X (925).

928 - c.935

Trpimir II

c.935 - c.945

Kresimir I

c.945 - c.949

Miroslav

c.945 - c.969

Michail Kresimir II

c.969 - 997

Stjepan Drzislav

997 - 1000

Svetoslav Mucimir

997 - 1030

Kresimir III

997 - 1020

Goislav

1030 - 1058

Stephen I

Ban (pre-1030?) - not all sources agree on this.

1058 - 1074

Petar Kresimir IV

Restored kingdom to Tomislav's level.

1074 - 1075

Slavich

1075

Slavich is captured by Venetians during a walk by the seaside and is taken in slavery.

1075 - 1091

Dimitar Zvonimir

Ban (1070-1073). Only heir died in childhood.

1089

Dimitar marries Princess Helena Illona Lijepa, daughter of King Bela I of Hungary. Helena's brother is St Ladislas I of Hungary.

1088 - 1091

Helena / Ilona Lijepa ("Beautiful")

Joint ruler.

1089 - 1090

Stephen II

Dalmatian opponent to Helena.

1091 - 1093

Almos

1090 - 1093

Slavac

Dalmatian opponent to Helena and then Almos.

1093 - 1097

Peter Svachich

Ban (1074). Considered to be the last king of Croatian blood.

1097

Ladislas of Hungary's successor, Koloman (supported by Pannonian Croats), defeats his Croatian-Dalmatian opposition at Gvozd Mountain (modern Petrova Gora). Croatia maintains its autonomy but confirms Koloman as its king, and crowns him King of Croatia & Dalmatia in Biograd. Croatia is now governed on behalf of the Hungarian king by the continuation of the office of Ban (viceroy) and the Sabor (parliament, literally, "a gathering of people"). Anything the Hungarian king wishes to enact in Croatia has to be passed through the Sabor first.

1102

The Pacta Conventa ("the conditions agreed upon") is signed by a group of Croatian nobles (who form a "House of Lords"). This concedes the throne to the person of the Hungarian king, Ladislas, in exchange for guaranteed autonomy. This respects the principle "Regnum regi non prescribit leges" (literally, "the kingdom doesn't prescribe laws to another kingdom."). This is opposed by some Croatian elements, but essentially ensures the two kingdoms are separate while sharing the same ruler.

1397

King Sigismund of Hungary & Croatia calls for the Sabor in city of Krizhevci. On 20 February he organises the killing of the Croatian Ban Stjepan Lackovich and his followers for supporting the opponent king candidate Ladislaus of Naples. Croatian law is that no one should enter the Sabor with arms, so Ban Lackovich and his supporters leave their arms in front of the church. The Hungarians are already in the church, fully armed. The event is known as "Bloody Sabor of Krizhevci".

1527

The Cetingrad Convention of Croatian Nobility is drawn up on the 1 January. This allows a financially poor Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand to replace the destroyed Hungarian nobility as king of Croatia. The invitation is conditional on him providing defence against the advancing Turks. He is as good as his word.

1847

Croatian is proclaimed as the official language, replacing Latin (for use in the Sabor and with diplomacy especially).

1848

The Croatian Ban, Josip Jelachich, ends all relations with Hungary and appoints the Sabor as Croatia's independent government.

1868

The Sabor accepts the Croatian-Hungarian settlement according to which Croatia is part of the Hungarian crown lands, but with it's own legal system and autonomous government for certain state affairs. The Croats lose their Crown sovereignty for some time (viewed by modern Croatians as one of the state's worst mistakes).

1918

With the defeated Austro-Hungarian Empire being dismantled, Croatia (with Bosnia, Slovenia and Voyvodina) establishes the State of Serbs, Croats & Slovenes. This union is offered to the Serbian king in the same way that the crown was earlier offered to the Hungarians and Austrians. The Serbs fail to honour the agreement, pulling Croatia into the new Yugoslavian kingdom.

1918 - 1928

Croatia is part of the Yugoslavian Kingdom of Serbs, Croats & Slovenes, until Alexander II changes the name to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

1941 - 1943

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia is ended by Italian and Nazi German occupation.

1941 - 1943

Aimone of Spoleto

Puppet King of Croatia.

1941

Aimone of Spoleto is Mussolini's "Paglliacio" (literally nobody), elevated to king. The office is a Fascist mockery of the millennium of the Croatian Kingdom only sixteen years earlier to show the Croats who rules the Dalmatian territories (ie. Fascist Italy).

1941 - 1945

The NDH (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska - Independent State of Croatia) is formed which includes Bosnia. It is a pro-Nazi regime led by Doctor Ante Pavelich. Ministers Vokich and Lorkovich travel to London in 1943 to negotiate the transition of the NDH to the Allies but they are eliminated after returning to Zagreb. The basis of the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia is eventually established.

1945 - 1946

The Federal State of Croatia is established.

1946 - 1963

The People's Republic of Croatia is established as part of communist-governed Yugoslavia.

1963 - 1990

The Socialist Republic of Croatia is established as part of communist-governed Yugoslavia.

1990

A democratically-elected Sabor is re-established on 22 December.

1991

On 25 June, Croatia and Slovenia leave Yugoslavia and declares themselves independent republics. The Serbs begin a war which lasts until 4 August 1995. Croatian and Slovenian independence is secured and recognised by Europe.