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* "... region ruled by the dukes Mislav, Domagoj, Zdeslav, and Branimir, to whom is referred in the sources to as principes or duces Sclavorum."</ref> tribes settled in the Dalmatian Hinterland (Roman Dalmatia).  Ducatus Croatiae was created in the late 9th century which evolved from Dalmatian Ducatus which at the time was part of the Carolingian Empire - Franks. Later it became a kingdom which was called the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102 AD).  

* "... region ruled by the dukes Mislav, Domagoj, Zdeslav, and Branimir, to whom is referred in the sources to as principes or duces Sclavorum."</ref> tribes settled in the Dalmatian Hinterland (Roman Dalmatia).  Ducatus Croatiae was created in the late 9th century which evolved from Dalmatian Ducatus which at the time was part of the Carolingian Empire - Franks. Later it became a kingdom which was called the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102 AD).  

The new Kingdom of Croatia was ruled by Slavic nobility from the Dalmatian hinterland. The Kingdom of Croatia was named after her ruling class, which in turn ruled a medieval multi-ethnic state. The term Croat became fully established as a constructed Identity by the 19th century.

The new ''Kingdom of Croatia'' was ruled by Slavic nobility from the Dalmatian hinterland. The kingdom was named after her ruling class, which in turn ruled a medieval multi-ethnic state. The term ''Slav'' was first used by the Byzantines-Eastern Roman Empire (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in [[Latin]] it was written Sclaveni.  

Hrvat or ''Horoúathos'' are names of Sarmatian origins. In 1853 a Russian archaeologist Pavel Mikhailovich Leontjev discovered the Tanais Tablets. The Tanais Tablets mention three men: Horoúathos, Horoáthos, and Horóathos (Χορούαθ[ος], Χοροάθος, Χορόαθος). They are written in [[Greece|Greek]] and are from the 3rd century AD from the city of Tanais, today's Azov, Russia. At that time the region had a mixed Greek - Sarmatian population.<ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being  Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>

Hrvat or ''Horoúathos'' are names of Sarmatian origins. In 1853 a Russian archaeologist Pavel Mikhailovich Leontjev discovered the Tanais Tablets. The Tanais Tablets mention three men: Horoúathos, Horoáthos, and Horóathos (Χορούαθ[ος], Χοροάθος, Χορόαθος). They are written in [[Greece|Greek]] and are from the 3rd century AD from the city of Tanais, today's Azov, Russia. At that time the region had a mixed Greek - Sarmatian population.<ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being  Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>

[[File:422px-Horovathos.jpg|thumb|right|125px|'''Tanais Tablet''' B containing the word Χοροάθος (Horoáthos).]]

[[File:422px-Horovathos.jpg|thumb|right|125px|'''Tanais Tablet''' B containing the word Χοροάθος (Horoáthos).]]

From the information above ''one'' can conclude that we are dealing with a union ''or'' contact between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes in the very early middle ages. From a modern day perspective the Sarmatian historical footprint is non existent. All traces of these people have disappeared other than Slavic terms surrounding the word or name Hrvat which translates to English as Croat.

From the information above ''one'' can conclude that we are dealing with contact between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes in the very early middle ages. From a modern day perspective the Sarmatian historical footprint is non existent. All traces of these people have disappeared other than Slavic terms surrounding the word or name Hrvat which translates to English as Croat. The term Croat became fully established as a constructed Identity by the 19th century.  

'''Recent DNA Studies'''

'''Recent DNA Studies'''

It is also very interesting to note that recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago.<ref>[http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/prezivjeli-ledeno-doba-hrvati-su-prastanovnici-europe-clanak-300151  Vecernji.hr: Preživjeli ledeno doba: Hrvati su prastanovnici Europe] ''(Vecernji.hr: Surviving an Ice Age: the Croats are descendants of prehistoric Europeans)''

It is also very interesting to note that recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago.<ref>[http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/prezivjeli-ledeno-doba-hrvati-su-prastanovnici-europe-clanak-300151  Vecernji.hr: Preživjeli ledeno doba: Hrvati su prastanovnici Europe] ''(Vecernji.hr: Surviving an Ice Age: the Croats are descendants of prehistoric Europeans)''

* The article reports on the research work (12 years) of: prof. dr. Dragan Primorac, prof. dr. Pavle Rudan, prof. dr. Damir Marjanović, prof. dr. Peter Underhil and prof. dr. Richard Williams</ref>  From a DNA studies perspective, the peoples who were living in Roman Dalmatia (''prior'' to the arrival of Slavic tribes) were genetically dominant and remain so to this day.  The peoples who were living in Roman Dalmatia in that period predominately were of an Illyrian-Roman Latin population. <ref>Note: Other peoples in the region were Liburnians, Greeks, Celts, Guduscani, Ostrogoths (the last two mentioned are ''Germanic tribes'' related to the Goths).</ref>

* The article reports on the research work (12 years) of: prof. dr. Dragan Primorac, prof. dr. Pavle Rudan, prof. dr. Damir Marjanović, prof. dr. Peter Underhil and prof. dr. Richard Williams.  Article released '''14.06.2011'''</ref>  From a DNA studies perspective, the peoples who were living in Roman Dalmatia (''prior'' to the arrival of Slavic tribes) were genetically dominant and remain so to this day.  The peoples who were living in Roman Dalmatia in that period predominately were of an Illyrian-Roman Latin population. <ref>Note: Other peoples in the region were Liburnians, Greeks, Celts, Guduscani, Ostrogoths (the last two mentioned are ''Germanic tribes'' related to the Goths).</ref>

== Roman Dalmatia ==

== Roman Dalmatia ==

Contemporary historian Danijel Dzino states that the 19 century theories of mass movements of people into the old Roman Province of Dalmatia are questionable. Modern Archaeological and Scholarly research seems to be saying that we are looking at much smaller groups of Slavs invading the region. According to historians ''Florin Curta'' and Danijel Dzino the term Slavs was first used by outside observers of the day (Greco-Roman) to describe the newcomers. The Slavs used the term to describe themselves at a later stage. Thus began the '''construct''' identity of the new arrivals. Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated (or were separated by others) into different groups. There was also a good deal of interaction between the groups as shown by DNA studies.

Contemporary historian Danijel Dzino states that the 19 century theories of mass movements of people into the old Roman Province of Dalmatia are questionable. Modern Archaeological and Scholarly research seems to be saying that we are looking at much smaller groups of Slavs invading the region. According to historians ''Florin Curta'' and Danijel Dzino the term Slavs was first used by outside observers of the day (Greco-Roman) to describe the newcomers. The Slavs used the term to describe themselves at a later stage. Thus began the '''construct''' identity of the new arrivals. Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated (or were separated by others) into different groups. There was also a good deal of interaction between the groups as shown by DNA studies.

The issue of dates is an interesting one. Historians from the 18th and 19th century place the ''settlement'' of the Slavs into the Western Balkans in the 7th century but the more modern research undertaken by scholars and archaeologists<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&pg=PA52&dq=croatian+graves+medieval+dalmatian+dating&hl=en&ei=LA6HTan-IsGHcYbf3Y4D&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino (p52).</ref> cannot confirm this. The arrival and ''settlement'' of the Slavs by some has now been thought to be more in the region of the late 8th century or early 9th century.<ref>Note: The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia.</ref> According to the Baska tablet from 1100 AD they spoke old Slavic Chakavian. [http://www.croatianhistory.net/glagoljica/baska.mp3 Baska tablet-mp3] <ref>Note ''Baska tablet'' was translated in 1875, it's language is Old Slavic Croatian Chakavian with elements of liturgical Church Slavonic.</ref>

The issue of dates is an interesting one. Historians from the 18th and 19th century place the ''settlement'' of the Slavs into the Western Balkans in the 7th century but the more modern research undertaken by scholars and archaeologists<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&pg=PA52&dq=croatian+graves+medieval+dalmatian+dating&hl=en&ei=LA6HTan-IsGHcYbf3Y4D&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino (p52).</ref> cannot confirm this. The arrival and ''settlement'' of the Slavs by some has now been thought to be more in the region of the late 8th century or early 9th century.<ref>Historians of this school of thought are D. Dzino, L.Margetic, Ancic, Rapanic and Sokol.</ref><ref>Note: The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia.</ref> According to the Baska tablet from 1100 AD they spoke old Slavic Chakavian. [http://www.croatianhistory.net/glagoljica/baska.mp3 Baska tablet-mp3] <ref>Note ''Baska tablet'' was translated in 1875, it's language is Old Slavic Croatian Chakavian with elements of liturgical Church Slavonic.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==