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[[File:290px-Croatia topo.jpg|thumb|right|400px| Croatia (Hrvatska)]]

[[File:290px-Croatia topo.jpg|thumb|right|400px| Croatia (Hrvatska)]]

The first primary source (factual) to mention the [[Croatia|Croatian]] (Hrvat) identity in the Balkans was '''Prince Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD).<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

The first primary source, factual to mention the [[Croatia|Croatian]] (Hrvat) identity in the Balkans was '''Prince Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD).<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

*"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><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=EqNiAAAAMAAJ&q=BRANIMIRO+COMITE+DUX+CRUATORUM+cogitavit&dq=BRANIMIRO+COMITE+DUX+CRUATORUM+cogitavit&hl=en&ei=MljwTfHIIoyKuAOO3_WhBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA  A History of the Croatian Language:] by Milan Mogus (p.13)</ref> Prince Branimir was a '''Slav''' from Dalmatia.  

*"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><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=EqNiAAAAMAAJ&q=BRANIMIRO+COMITE+DUX+CRUATORUM+cogitavit&dq=BRANIMIRO+COMITE+DUX+CRUATORUM+cogitavit&hl=en&ei=MljwTfHIIoyKuAOO3_WhBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA  A History of the Croatian Language:] by Milan Mogus (p.13)</ref> Prince Branimir was a '''Slav''' from Dalmatia.  

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>

Slavic tribes invaded the region of [[Dalmatian Italians#Roman Dalmatia |Roman Dalmatia]] in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Sections of the old Roman Dalmatian province became part of the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102 AD).  

Slavic tribes invaded the region of [[Dalmatian Italians#Roman Dalmatia |Roman Dalmatia]] in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Sections of the old Roman Dalmatian province became part of the Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102 AD).  

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 8th century or even early 9th century.<ref>Note: The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia.</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>Note: The early sources must have reflected the '''raid''' activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==