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[[File:Balkans850.png|thumb|right|375px|'' Medieval Croatia (Map by Hxseek)'']]

[[File:Balkans850.png|thumb|right|375px|'' Medieval Croatia (Map by Hxseek)'']]

'''Medieval Croatia''' evolved from province of the old Roman Empire named '''Dalmatia'''. From 480 to 535 AD the former province of Roman Dalmatia was ruled by the Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe related to the Goths). After the collapse of the Ostrogoth Kingdom it was divided between the '''Byzantine Empire''' (Eastern Roman Empire,

'''Medieval Croatia''' evolved from province of the old Roman Empire named '''Dalmatia'''. From 480 to 535 AD the former province of Roman Dalmatia was ruled by the Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe related to the Goths). After the collapse of the Ostrogoth Kingdom it was divided between the '''Byzantine Empire''' and the Carolingian Empire - Franks (the old Roman neighbouring province of Pannonia was at one stage under the Avar, the ''Avar Khanate'' <ref>"Avar, one of a people of undetermined Euro-Asian origin and language, who played an important role in eastern Europe (6th–9th century)" '''referenced''' from: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/45428/Avar The Slavs and Avar at one stage had a shared history.</ref>, later it became Lower Pannonia ruled by Slavs). Both the Byzantine Empire and the Carolingian Empire created their own Dalmatian Ducatus. The Dalmatian province had a Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani<ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref> , Ostrogoths and the '''late arrivals''', Slavs.

please note they referred to themselves as 'Empire of the Romans' Latin: Imperium Romanum) and the Carolingian Empire - Franks (the old Roman neighbouring province of Pannonia was at one stage under the Avar, the ''Avar Khanate'' <ref>"Avar, one of a people of undetermined Euro-Asian origin and language, who played an important role in eastern Europe (6th–9th century)" '''referenced''' from: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/45428/Avar The Slavs and Avar at one stage had a shared history.</ref>, later it became Lower Pannonia ruled by Slavs). Both the Byzantine Empire and the Carolingian Empire created their own Dalmatian Ducatus. The Dalmatian province had a Roman Latin-Illyrian population as well as Liburnians, Greeks, Guduscani<ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/guduscani self.gutenberg.org:] ''"It has been assumed, that they were part of the Vandals, Goths or Lombards."'' </ref> , Ostrogoths and the '''late arrivals''', Slavs.

With time one of the Slavic tribes <ref>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 [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in '''Latin''' it was written Sclaveni.</ref> within Dalmatian Ducatus of the Carolingian Empire became the '''political elite''' and the leaders (dux) of the province.

With time one of the Slavic tribes <ref>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 [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in '''Latin''' it was written Sclaveni.</ref> within Dalmatian Ducatus of the Carolingian Empire became the '''political elite''' and the leaders (dux) of the province.

The new Kingdom of Croatia was ruled by Slavic nobility from the Dalmatian hinterland. The kingdom was named after the ruling class, which in turn ruled a medieval multi-ethnic state.  

The new Kingdom of Croatia was ruled by Slavic nobility from the Dalmatian hinterland. The kingdom was named after the ruling class, which in turn ruled a medieval multi-ethnic state.  

The Kingdom of Croatia with time became a powerful military state and expanded its borders. It had conflicts with the Hungarians-Magyars, Bulgarians and the Byzantine Empire. As well as being a Christian state it then later became Catholic (the Slavs were pagans upon arrival in Roman Dalmatia). It’s written language was Latin and Croatian Glagolitic. The Slavic rulers spoke old Slavic Chakavian.  

The Kingdom of Croatia with time became a powerful military state and expanded its borders. It had conflicts with the Hungarians-Magyars, Bulgarians and the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire, please note they referred to themselves as 'Empire of the Romans' Latin: Imperium Romanum). As well as being a Christian state it then later became Catholic (the Slavs were pagans upon arrival in Roman Dalmatia). King Demetrius Zvonimir (1075-1089) took an oath of allegiance to Pope Gregory VII. It’s written language was Latin and Croatian Glagolitic. The Slavic rulers spoke old Slavic Chakavian.  

The medieval state borders have been a matter of huge debate and will remain so until new historical evidence is found. However there is some factual information. The river Cetina was a major border in the south. The [[Dalmatian Italians#Early History|Roman cities]] of '''Jadera''' (Zara/Zadar), '''Spalatum''' (Spalato/Split), '''Ragusa''' (Dubrovnik) and '''Trau''' (Trogir) with their surrounding areas never became part of the state other than for a short period under Peter Kresimir IV. Other parts of the Dalmatian coast did. In the north the river Sava was a major border (Lower Pannonia). The region south of the river Cetina has been sometimes historically referred to as Red Croatia,<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA62&dq=V.+Klaić+Red+Croatia+John+Fine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8RbkUN3YJ4iZkAW4lIGIAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=V.%20Klaić%20Red%20Croatia%20John%20Fine&f=false  When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:]  by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p62-p63)

The medieval state borders have been a matter of huge debate and will remain so until new historical evidence is found. However there is some factual information. The river Cetina was a major border in the south. The [[Dalmatian Italians#Early History|Roman cities]] of '''Jadera''' (Zara/Zadar), '''Spalatum''' (Spalato/Split), '''Ragusa''' (Dubrovnik) and '''Trau''' (Trogir) with their surrounding areas never became part of the state other than for a short period under Peter Kresimir IV. Other parts of the Dalmatian coast did. In the north the river Sava was a major border (Lower Pannonia). The region south of the river Cetina has been sometimes historically referred to as Red Croatia,<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA62&dq=V.+Klaić+Red+Croatia+John+Fine&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8RbkUN3YJ4iZkAW4lIGIAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=V.%20Klaić%20Red%20Croatia%20John%20Fine&f=false  When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans:]  by John Van Antwerp Fine. (p62-p63)