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''The first evidence of the Croat name, dux/rex Croatorum, does not appear until the ninth century. The Charter of Duke Trpimir is indeed the oldest text that mentions the Croat name, dux Chroatorum but its authenticity is disputed for good reason. The earliest certain evidence is the title dux Cruatorum from duke Branimir's inscription (c. 880), so that before this date we cannot assume with certainty that the Croat identity existed at all.'' <ref>[http://mq.academia.edu/DanijelDzino/Papers/163667/Becoming_Slav_Becoming_Croat_New_approaches_in_research_of_identities_in_post-Roman_Illyricum Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat: New approaches in research of identities in post-Roman Illyricum] by Danijel Dzino</ref>}}

''The first evidence of the Croat name, dux/rex Croatorum, does not appear until the ninth century. The Charter of Duke Trpimir is indeed the oldest text that mentions the Croat name, dux Chroatorum but its authenticity is disputed for good reason. The earliest certain evidence is the title dux Cruatorum from duke Branimir's inscription (c. 880), so that before this date we cannot assume with certainty that the Croat identity existed at all.'' <ref>[http://mq.academia.edu/DanijelDzino/Papers/163667/Becoming_Slav_Becoming_Croat_New_approaches_in_research_of_identities_in_post-Roman_Illyricum Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat: New approaches in research of identities in post-Roman Illyricum] by Danijel Dzino</ref>}}

==The Terms Slav and Croatian==

==The Terms Slav and Croatian==

The term '''Slav''' was first used by the Byzantine's-Eastern Roman Empire (i.e. Procopius, Byzantine scholar, 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 518 <ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=zlYSBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false Europe's Barbarians AD 200-600] By Edward James p95</ref>) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi or sklaboi). Later in Latin, Sklabenoi was written Sclaveni. Ancient Greek-Roman communities also referred to the early Slavic peoples as Veneti and Antes. Raid activity by various Slavic tribes within old Roman Dalmatia started in the 6th century.

'''Slav''' as a term  was first used by the Byzantine's-Eastern Roman Empire (i.e. Procopius, Byzantine scholar, 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 518 <ref>[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=zlYSBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false Europe's Barbarians AD 200-600] By Edward James p95</ref>) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi or sklaboi). Later in Latin, Sklabenoi was written Sclaveni. Ancient Greek-Roman communities also referred to the early Slavic peoples as Veneti and Antes. Raid activity by various Slavic tribes within old Roman Dalmatia started in the 6th century.

'''Hrvat''' is a word of Sarmatian (Persian) origins. <ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>  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 mainly a mix of Greek - Sarmatian population.

'''Hrvat''' is a word of Sarmatian (Persian) origins. <ref>Note: The Sarmatian tribes have been referred to as being Persian in origin (modern: ''Iranian people'').</ref>  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 mainly a mix of Greek - Sarmatian population.

[[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 '''contact''' between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes from late antiquity. 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. Radoslav Katicich (Katičić) a Croatian linguist (and a classical philologist, Indo-Europeanist, Slavist and Indologist) said that the names from the Tanais Tablet are personal and not national ones.<ref> Two Public Inscriptions from the Greek Colony of Tanais at the Mouth of the Don River on the Sea of Azov ''by'' Ante Skegro (p.17)</ref> Furthermore it also could be said that these names are not related to any ethnic identity. Historically the term Croat became fully established as a ''constructed identity'' in the 19th century.  

From the information above ''one'' can conclude that we are dealing with '''contact''' between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes from late antiquity. 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. Radoslav Katicich (Katičić) a Croatian linguist (and a classical philologist, Indo-Europeanist, Slavist and Indologist) said that the names from the Tanais Tablet are personal and not national ones.<ref> Two Public Inscriptions from the Greek Colony of Tanais at the Mouth of the Don River on the Sea of Azov ''by'' Ante Skegro (p.17)</ref> Furthermore it also could be said that these names are not related to any ethnic identity. Historically the term Croat became fully established as a ''constructed identity'' in the 19th century.