With time one of the Slavic tribes within Dalmatian Ducatus became the political elite and the leaders (dux) of the province. The fore-mention Slavic political elite from the late 9th century onwards were referred to as Cruatorum. This was the first time that the [[Croatian Identity|Croatian identity]] (Hrvat) was used 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 | With time one of the Slavic tribes within Dalmatian Ducatus became the political elite and the leaders (dux) of the province. The fore-mention Slavic political elite from the late 9th century onwards were referred to as Cruatorum. This was the first time that the [[Croatian Identity|Croatian identity]] (Hrvat) was used 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 |