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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 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) and the Carolingian Empire - Franks (the old Roman neighbouring province of Pannonia was at one stage under the Avar<ref>"Avar, one of a people of undetermined origin and language, who, playing 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>). 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.

'''Medieval Croatia''' evolved from province of the old Roman Empire named '''Dalmatia'''. From 480 to 535 AD 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) and the Carolingian Empire - Franks (the old Roman neighbouring province of Pannonia was at one stage under the Avar<ref>"Avar, one of a people of undetermined origin and language, who, playing 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>). 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. The fore-mentioned 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 <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 fore-mentioned 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

*''"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> Cruatorum is a '''Latin''' translation of Hrvat. <ref>It is believed that Hrvat in medieval times was pronounced "'''Harvat or Hrovat'''". Hrovat was translated to Latin: Chroatorum and then simplified to Croatorum.</ref><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 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 [[Greece|Greek]]-Sarmatian population (Persian in origins).

*''"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> Cruatorum is a '''Latin''' translation of Hrvat. <ref>It is believed that Hrvat in medieval times was pronounced "'''Harvat or Hrovat'''". Hrovat was translated to Latin: Chroatorum and then simplified to Croatorum.</ref><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 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 [[Greece|Greek]]-Sarmatian population (Persian in origins).

'''Editors note''': From the information above one can conclude that we are dealing with contact between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes from the 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.</ref>   

'''Editors note''': From the information above one can conclude that we are dealing with contact between Slavic and Sarmatian tribes from the 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.</ref>  In 879 the Croatian Duke Branimir received recognition from Pope John VIII as an independent state. The Dalmatian Ducatus was renamed Ducatus Croatiae.

During this period the Dalmatian Ducatus became independent and was renamed Ducatus Croatiae. Later it became a kingdom that was called the Regnum Chroatorum (Kingdom of Croatia 925–1102 AD). It had no permanent seat. The Kingdom existed as a sovereign state for nearly two centuries. Nin, Klis, Bijaci and Knin where some of the towns that have been mentioned.  

Later it became a kingdom that was called the Regnum Chroatorum (Kingdom of Croatia 925–1102 AD). It had no permanent seat, Nin, Klis, Bijaci and Knin where some of the towns that have been mentioned. The Kingdom existed as a sovereign state for nearly two centuries.

== Kingdom of Croatia ==

== Kingdom of Croatia ==