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==Editors Note==
==Editors Note==
'''Duke Branimir''' 880s, spoke old Slavic Chakavian and was from the Dalmatian hinterland. Mr Branimir is, I believe is the first Croatian ''or'' the first Southern Slav to express himself as such (based on the current records that we have). His tribe, the old Slavic Chakavian speakers, are the first Croatians (Hrvati or more accurately ''Hrovati'').
'''Duke Branimir''' 880s, spoke old Slavic Chakavian and was from the Dalmatian hinterland. Mr Branimir is, I believe the first Croatian ''or'' the first Southern Slav to describe himself as a Croatian (based on the current records that we have). In my opinion his tribe, who were the old Slavic Chakavian speakers, are the first Croatians (Hrvati or more accurately ''Hrovati'').
The early medieval Western Balkans must had have multiple Slavic ethnic tribes. It appears that their history has not been recorded. From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. The Slavs found themselves living in a medieval multi-ethnic region and it was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. The old language groups could which have become diluted (now refereed to as dialects and are becoming slowly extinct) may still reflect the many Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.
The early medieval Western Balkans must have consisted of multiple Slavic ethnic tribes. It appears that their history has not been recorded. From a Greco-Roman perspective they were all identified as Slavs. The Slavs found themselves living in a medieval multi-ethnic region and it was the most powerful chieftains (the main political players) who left a '''mark''' on history. The old language groups which have become diluted over time (are now referred to as dialects and are slowly becoming extinct) may still reflect the many Slavic tribes who invaded Roman Dalmatia.
* Old medieval Chakavian
Current dialect groups within modern Croatia include:
* Old medieval Kajkavian dialect
* Chakavian dialect
* Old medieval Shtokavian dialect
* Kajkavian dialect
* Shtokavian dialect
it is important to stress that these dialects are seen from an old medieval perspective as language changes with time.
After a period of time in the middle ages we had new identities of Southern Slavs emerging. Among these were; Croatians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Narantani and others.
When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large group of peoples stated to migrate westward. The Ottomans themselves got to Vienna itself, twice. The Western Balkans from that period started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. Because of this during the 15th and 16 centuries the old Slavic tribal borders changed forever.
It is true that some of the origins of some of these words denoting southern slavic groups (i.e. Horvat, Sorb) can be traced further back in history. Some have wrongly associated the etymology of these words to proclaim ethnicities or national identities back deep into the past. To my understanding there is no proof that these ethnic identities existed.
When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the ''Battle of Kosovo'' by the [[Directory:Turkey|Ottoman Empire]] in '''1389''' very large groups of peoples started to migrate westward. The Ottomans caused huge instability in the area and actually managed to twice besiege Vienna. The Western Balkans from that period forward began to acquire new groups of people in its region (i.e., Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks & others), thus creating new ethnic mixes. I believe that due to these events the old Slavic tribal borders changed forever during the 15th and 16th centuries.
=====Politics of Language Standardisation, Nationalistic and Communist Ideologies =====
=====Politics of Language Standardisation, Nationalistic and Communist Ideologies =====
In the 19th century language standardisation entered in the mix <ref>Lets not forget [[Latin]], Romance Dalmatian, Old Venetian, [[Hungary|Hungarians (Magyars)]] & Turkish.</ref>. The ''politics of language standardisation'' is the issue at heart here. The question should be ask did the 19th century scholars do their job properly or was it all about the politics of the future super 19 century Southern Slavic State.
In the 19th century language standardisation entered into the mix. <ref>Languages commonly used in the region included [[Latin]], Romance Dalmatian, Old Venetian, [[Hungary|Hungarians (Magyars)]] & Turkish.</ref> The ''politics of language standardisation'' is the issue at heart here. The question should be asked. Did the 19th century scholars do their research scientifically or were they seriously influenced by the politics of the future 19 century super Southern Slavic State. There appears to be a common misconception that if you are taught and you learn to speak the standardised Serbo-Croatian language that you have historical connections to an ethnic group. This is not necessarily factual as many other ethnic groups, with various ethnic backgrounds, were caught up in this system of standardisation through being forced to speak a common language (Serbo-Croatian ''or'' modern Croatian. This does not necessarily directly related to the actual ancestry and ethnic history of the speaker.
Another important question to ask is '''how far''' back does one go in proclaiming Croatian nationhood? In the past the Yugoslav Communist party, Pan-Slavists and the Croatian Nationalistic movements have taken this to extremes. These Pan-Slaviic, Nationalistic and Communist ideologies have created so much pain, destruction and falsehoods by clinging to these false beliefs.
For example does a seventh generation [[Australia|Australian]] with English background start saying in modern Australia that he is a '''Saxon''' and starts a nationalistic movement to assert his beliefs upon others.
For example does a seventh generation [[Australia|Australian]] with English background start saying in modern Australia that he is a '''Saxon''' and start a nationalistic movement to assert his beliefs upon others.
==See also==
==See also==