Changes

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 (aka 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 Croatian (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 (aka 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 Croatian (Slavic) Chakavian. According to the theologian Godescalc a form of Latin was also spoken in the Croatian court of Duke Trpmir (Trepimerus)  <ref>Godescalc, DePraedestinatione</ref>

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. Medieval Croatia incorporated Lower Pannonia (also ruled by Slavs). 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. At times 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. Medieval Croatia incorporated Lower Pannonia (also ruled by Slavs). 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. At times 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)