Croatia

Lore & Background

Croatian history began with the 6th century arrival of the Croats to Roman Illyria. Settled as two duchies a century later, Croatia was granted independence in 878 under Duke Branimir and elevated into a kingdom under King Tomislav in 925. The Trpimirović dynastic succession crisis placed Croatia into a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, amid Ottoman conflict, Croatia aligned with the Habsburg monarchy. It reorganized into the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs before merging into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918. During World War II, most of Croatia was invaded by the Axis powers who installed a puppet state known as the Independent State of Croatia. A resistance movement restored sovereignty, emerging as the Socialist Republic of Croatia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1943. Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, successfully fighting the War of Independence until 1995.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell softly on the pitch in Moscow, but inside the stadium, the air was thick with electric tension. Luka Modrić wiped his brow, looking at the checkered flag waving furiously in the stands. It had been twenty years since they last stood this close to glory, and the weight of a nation rested on their shoulders. As the referee blew the whistle for the final match, there was no fear in the eyes of the Croatians, only the quiet confidence of those who knew that while they might not win it all today, they had already proven they belonged among the very best.

Reader's Guide

Modern Croatia is a representative democracy with a prime minister, president, and unicameral parliament. Its constitution ensures separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Croatian politics reflect a multi-party system. Croatia is part of many international organizations and forums including the European Union, United Nations, WTO, and NATO, among others. It exerts regional influence as a small power in Europe, particularly within neighboring Southeast Europe. Since 1999, the Croatian Armed Forces have deployed internationally for a variety of peacekeeping missions and military interventions. Croatia was elected to serve on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council from 2008 to 2009. A developed country, Croatia has an advanced economy considered high-income and dominated by its service, industrial, and agricultural sectors. Its tourism sector is prominent, generating significant economic activity across the country. Croatia has heavily invested in infrastructure, especially in transport routes and facilities along European corridors. An emerging energy power in Europe, it has strategic investments in liquefied natural gas, geothermal networks, and electric transport. It has extensive biodiversity, wildlife, and natural resources across its geography. Croatia provides social security, universal health care, and subsidized primary and secondary education while supporting culture through media and publishing.

Did You Know?

• The Croatian archipelago contains over 1,000 islands and islets, the largest overseas territory on the Adriatic Sea.
• The oldest preserved record of the Croatian ethnonym's native variation is attested in the Baška tablet.
• Emperor Diocletian, native to the region, had a large palace built in Split to which he retired after abdicating in AD 305.
• Croatia was elected to serve on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council from 2008 to 2009.