Earliest history

The details of the arrival of the Croats

Croats

Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...

 are scarcely documented.
c. 626 Croats migrate from White Croatia

White Croatia

White Croatia is a vaguely defined area, said to lie somewhere in Central Europe, near Bavaria, beyond Hungary on south of Poland and west of Ukraine, and adjacent to the Frankish Empire from which the part of White Croats crossed the Carpathians and migrated in the 7th century into Dalmatia...

 (around what is now Galicia) at the invitation of Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius

Heraclius

Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...

.
c. 641 – c. 689 Radoslav converts Croatia

Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...

 to Christianity.

EWLINE Dukes of Croatia During 8th century two principalities were formed - the Pannonian Croatia Pannonian Croatia Pannonian Croatia was a medieval duchy from the 7th to the 10th century located in the Pannonian Plain approximately between the rivers Drava and Sava in today's Croatia, but at times also considerably to the south of the Sava. Its capital was Sisak...  and of the Littoral Croatia (Dalmatian Croatia), with two parallel dukes on rule. Dukes of the Pannonian Croatia Pannonian Croatia Pannonian Croatia was a medieval duchy from the 7th to the 10th century located in the Pannonian Plain approximately between the rivers Drava and Sava in today's Croatia, but at times also considerably to the south of the Sava. Its capital was Sisak... Dukes of the Littoral Croatia (Dalmatian Croatia) Name Reign Notes Vojnomir Vojnomir Vojnomir or Voynomir, was a Croatian duke of Pannonian Croatia, who ruled over Slavonia from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810.Vojnomir is also known as Wonomyrus Sclavus , because of his Slavic origin.Vojnomir is known for fighting the Avars during their occupation of Croatia... c. 790 - c. 800 / 791 - c. 810 Ljudevit Posavski Ljudevit Posavski Ljudevit Posavski was a Croatian Duke of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Slavs, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan tribes and with the Serbian tribe... 810 - 823 Ratimir 829 - 838 Braslav 880 - c. 887 Name Reign Notes Radoslav ... - ... Kuber ... - ... Porga or Borko 660 - 680 Budimir 740 - 785 Višeslav Višeslav of Croatia Višeslav was one of the first princes or dukes of Littoral Croatia.He ruled with the support of the Pope and Byzantium. The Croats warred against the Franks during his rule and avoided defeat until 803 - a year after his death... 785 - 802 Borna Borna of Croatia Borna was the Knez of Littoral Croatia in 803–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav.- Ruler of Dalmatia :... 810 – 821 Vassal of Frankish Emperor Frankish Empire Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire , Frankish Kingdom , Frankish Realm or occasionally Frankland, was the territory inhabited and ruled by the Franks from the 3rd to the 10th century...  Charlemagne Charlemagne Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800... ; son of Višeslav Vladislav Vladislav of Croatia Vladislav was a nephew and successor of Duke Borna of Littoral Croatia. He reigned, as Duke of Littoral Croatia, from February 821 to ca. 835.Most information about Vladislav is carried by the Royal Frankish Annals when it speaks about Borna's death... January 821 - 835 son of Klonimir Mislav Mislav of Croatia Mislav was the Duke of Littoral Croatia in 835–845.Mislav succeeded Vladislav as the Duke of Littoral Croatia. He ruled from Klis in central Dalmatia, when he made Klis Fortress seat to his throne. Mislav was pious ruler. He built the Church of Saint George in Putalj . Today's Kaštel Sućurac... 835 - 845 Trpimir I Trpimir I of Croatia Trpimir I was a duke of Croatia in 845–864, and the founder of the Croatian House of Trpimirović. Although he was formally vassal of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I, Trpimir used Frankish-Byzantine conflicts to rule on his own.-Reign:... 845 - 864 Founder of the Trpimirović dynasty Trpimirovic dynasty Trpimirović dynasty was a native Croat dynasty that ruled, with interruptions, from 845 until 1091 in Croatia and was named after Trpimir I, the first member and the founder... Zdeslav Zdeslav of Croatia Zdeslav was a Knez of Dalmatian Croatia in 864 and again in 878–879. He was from the House of Trpimirović.-Biography:Zdeslav was a son of Trpimir I. After his father death in 864, an uprising was raised by a powerful Croatian nobleman from Knin - Domagoj, and Zdeslav was exiled with his... 864 son of Trpimir I Domagoj Domagoj of Croatia Domagoj was a duke of Dalmatian Croatia in 864–876. He is the founder of the House of Domagojević.Domagoj was a powerful Croatian nobelman, with lands around Knin. Following the death of Trpimir I in 864, he usurped the throne of Zdeslav in a civil war... 864 - 876 overthrows his cousin Zdeslav Iljko Iljko of Croatia Iljko was a duke of Dalmatian Croatia in 876–878. He was the member of the House of Domagojević, probably the son of Domagoj.-References:...  ? 876 – 878 Iljko's name is disputed, it is only known that he was a son of Domagoj, killed during a civil war Zdeslav Zdeslav of Croatia Zdeslav was a Knez of Dalmatian Croatia in 864 and again in 878–879. He was from the House of Trpimirović.-Biography:Zdeslav was a son of Trpimir I. After his father death in 864, an uprising was raised by a powerful Croatian nobleman from Knin - Domagoj, and Zdeslav was exiled with his... 878 - May 879 restored Branimir Branimir of Croatia Branimir was a ruler of Dalmatian Croatia who reigned as Knez from 879 to 892. He was recognized by Pope John VIII as the Duke of the Croats... 879 - 892 son of Domagoj Muncimir Muncimir of Croatia Muncimir was a knez of Dalmatian Croatia who reigned from 892 to 910. He was a member of the House of Trpimirović.... 892 - 900 son of Trpimir Tomislav 910 - 928

Kings of Croatia of native line

In his letter from 925, Pope John X

Pope John X

Pope John X, Pope from March 914 to May 928, was deacon at Bologna when he attracted the attention of Theodora, the wife of Theophylact, Count of Tusculum, the most powerful noble in Rome, through whose influence he was elevated first to the see of Bologna and then to the archbishopric of...

 refers to Tomislav

Tomislav

King Tomislav was a ruler of Croatia in the Middle Ages. He reigned from 910 until 928, first as Duke of Dalmatian Croatia in 910–925, and then became first King of the Croatian Kingdom in 925–928....

 as Rex Chroatorum - King of Croatia. All Croatian rulers after Tomislav held the title of king.

House of Trpimirović 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Tomislav	?	928	Probably son of Muncimir Muncimir of Croatia Muncimir was a knez of Dalmatian Croatia who reigned from 892 to 910. He was a member of the House of Trpimirović.... . After his death civil wars weakened the state and some territory, including Bosnia, was lost. His rank of "king" (rex) is based on two contemporary documents; a correspondance dated 925 where the Pope John X Pope John X Pope John X, Pope from March 914 to May 928, was deacon at Bologna when he attracted the attention of Theodora, the wife of Theophylact, Count of Tusculum, the most powerful noble in Rome, through whose influence he was elevated first to the see of Bologna and then to the archbishopric of...  addresses him with that title and the transcript from the Synod conlusions in Split where he is also referred to as "rex". He was also addressed as "Princeps" ("Prince") and Duke (Dux) on other occasions. Nevertheless, in Croatia he is traditionally considered the first Croatian king.
	Trpimir II Trpimir II of Croatia Trpimir II was a King of Croatia from 928 to 935. He was from the House of Trpimirović. Trpimir was probably the son of Duke Muncimir and younger brother of Tomislav....	928	935	Younger brother or son of Tomislav
	Krešimir I Krešimir I of Croatia Krešimir I was a King of Croatian Kingdom from 935 until his death in 945. He was a member of the House of Trpimirović.He succeeded his father Trpimir II as King. He managed during his reign, like his father, to hold Croatia as great military power...   (Krešimir Stariji)	935	945	Son of Trpimir II
	Miroslav Miroslav of Croatia Miroslav was the King of Croatia from 945 until his death in 949 and a member of the House of Trpimirović.He was the oldest son of Krešimir I and succeeded him as king in 945. During his reign Croatia suffered a civil war started by the followers of his brother, Mihajlo...	945	949	Son of Krešimir I
	Michael Krešimir II (Mihovil Krešimir II) and Helen I (Jelena Zadarska) (co-rulers)	949	969	Younger brother of Miroslav. Michael Krešimir II ruled jointly with his wife Queen Helen I. Upon the King's death in 969 their son Stephen Držislav immediately took the throne alone, while the Queen Helen I died seven years later on 8 October 976. During their reign, the Croatian Kingdom regained previously lost territories, including Bosnia.
	Stephen Držislav (Stjepan Držislav)	969	997	Son of Michael Krešimir II. Queen Jelena of Zadar Jelena of Zadar Helen I , also known as Helen of Zadar or Helen the Glorious, was the queen consort of the Kingdom of Croatia, the wife of King Michael Krešimir II. They jointly ruled from 946 to 969, a period which was allegedly marked by "peace, order and expeditious growth"...  ruled as a regent for Stephen Držislav 969 - 8 November 975. He received royal insigia as an act of recognition from the Byzantine Emperor and was crowned by the Archbishop of Split in Biograd in 988. Thomas the Archdeacon Thomas the Archdeacon Thomas the Archdeacon was a medieval Dalmatian historian and Archdeacon of Split most remembered for Historia Salonitana, a chronicle of the Bishops and Archbishops of Split until 1266.... 's Historia Salonitana Historia Salonitana Historia Salonitana by Thomas the Archdeacon is a historic chronicle from the 13th century which contains significant information about the early history of the Croats.It was first published by Ivan Lučić Lucius...  names him as the first King of Croatia (rex), regardless, he is considered the first crowned Coronation A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...  Croatian King.
	Svetoslav Suronja Svetoslav Suronja Svetoslav Suronja was King of Croatia from 997 to 1000. He was a member of House of Trpimirović. He reigned with the help of his Ban, Varda. His name was Svetoslav, but because of his physiology and, probably, his temper, he was nicknamed Suronja which could be translated as dark man or cold man....	997	1000	Son of Stephen Držislav. Detroned by his brothers Krešimir III and Gojslav
	Krešimir III Krešimir III of Croatia Krešimir III was a King of Croatia in 1000–1030 from the House of Trpimirović and founder of its cadet line House of Krešimirović. He was the middle son of former King Stjepan Držislav. Until 1020, he co-ruled with his brother Gojslav.-Reign:... and Gojslav Gojslav of Croatia Gojslav was a monarch who co-ruled the Kingdom of Croatia with his brother Krešimir III from 1000 to his death in 1020. He was the youngest son of the former Croatian King Stjepan Držislav and a member of royal House of Trpimirović.- Revolt and reign :... (co-rulers)	1000	1020	Younger brothers of Svetoslav Suronja
	Krešimir III Krešimir III of Croatia Krešimir III was a King of Croatia in 1000–1030 from the House of Trpimirović and founder of its cadet line House of Krešimirović. He was the middle son of former King Stjepan Držislav. Until 1020, he co-ruled with his brother Gojslav.-Reign:... (alone)	1020	1030	Younger brother of Svetoslav Suronja
	Stephen I (Stjepan I)	1030	1058	Son of Krešimir III
	Peter Krešimir IV the Great  (Petar Krešimir IV Veliki)	1058	1074	Son of Stephen I. During his reign the Croatian Kingdom reached its peak.
	Demetrius Zvonimir (Dmitar Zvonimir)	1075	1089	Cousin of Peter Krešimir IV. C. 1063 marries Princess Helen, daughter of King Bela I of Hungary.
	Stephen II (Stjepan II)	1089	December 1090	Son of Častimir, who was younger brother of King Peter Krešimir IV.
	Helen II  (Jelena Lijepa)	1090	1091	Widow of King Demetrius Zvonimir and daughter of King Bela I of Hungary

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Slavac?	1090	1093	Dalmatian rival. Disputed by many historians.

House of Árpád 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Ladislaus I of Hungary  (Ladislav I. Arpadović)	1091	1092	Son of Hungarian king Béla I and brother of Croatian Queen Jelena Lijepa
	Duke Álmos Prince Álmos Álmos was a Hungarian prince, the son of King Géza I of Hungary, brother of King Kálmán. He held several governmental posts in the Kingdom of Hungary....   (herceg Almoš)	1091	1093	Nephew of Ladislaus, rules as his proxy.

House of Svačić

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Petar Svačić Petar Svacic Petar Svačić was the last king of Croatia. It is assumed that he began as a ban serving under king Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia and was then elected king by the Croatian feudal lords in 1093. Petar's seat of power was based in Knin. His rule was marked by a struggle for control of the country...	1093	1097	Elected by Croatian nobles. Struggles with Hungary for control of Croatia. From 1097 onwards, the Kings of Hungary were also Kings of Croatia, because of the political union of the two crowns.

After 1102

From 1102, the reigning King of Hungary is ruler of Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia and Dalmatia in agreement with the Croatian nobles. Croatia is governed on his behalf by a Ban (viceroy)

Ban (title)

Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...

 and a Sabor.

House of Árpád 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Coloman  (Koloman)	1102	3 February 1116	Battle of Gvozd Mountain (modern Petrova Gora). Coloman, supported by Pannonian Croats, defeats an army of Croatian and Dalmatian nobles allied to Petar. Recognized as King of Croatia by a council (Sabor) of Croatian nobles.
	Stephen III Stephen II of Hungary Stephen II , King of Hungary and Croatia, ruled from 1116 until 1131. He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime who wanted to ensure Stephen's succession against his brother, Duke Álmos. Stephen's reign was characterized by frequent struggles with neighbouring countries...   (Stjepan II.)	3 February 1116	3 April 1131	Son of Coloman
	Béla I the Blind Béla II of Hungary Béla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...   (Bela II. Slijepi)	3 April 1131	13 February 1141	grandson of Géza I, son of Álmos, Coloman's younger brother
	Géza Géza II of Hungary Géza II , , King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Dalmatia and Rama . He ascended the throne as a child and during his minority the kingdom was governed by his mother and uncle...   (Gejza II.)	13 February 1141	31 May 1162	son of Béla II
	Stephen IV Stephen III of Hungary Stephen III , King of Hungary King of Croatia and Dalmatia . He ascended the throne as a child and he had to stand up against his uncles who usurped the crown supported by the Byzantine Empire...   (Stjepan III.)	31 May 1162	4 March 1172	son of Géza II
	Ladislaus II Ladislaus II of Hungary Ladislaus II , King of Hungary. As a younger son, he was able to ascend to the throne only with the assistance of the Byzantine Empire against his nephew, King Stephen III after his brother's death...   (Ladislav II.)	31 May 1162	14 January 1163	rebel anti-king, younger brother of Géza II.
	Stephen V Stephen IV of Hungary Stephen IV , King of Hungary . In his youth, he rebelled against his brother, King Géza II of Hungary and had to flee to the Court of the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos...   (Stjepan IV.)	14 January 1163	June 1163	rebel anti-king, younger brother of Géza II.
	Béla II Béla III of Hungary Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...	4 March 1172	13 April 1196	younger brother of Stephen III.
	Emeric Emeric of Hungary Emeric I , , King of Hungary and Croatia . He was crowned during his father's lifetime, but after his father's death he had to fight against his brother, Andrew, who forced Emeric to assign the government of Croatia and Dalmatia to him...   (Emerik)	13 April 1196	30 November 1204	son of Béla III.
	Ladislaus III Ladislaus III of Hungary Ladislaus III was King of Hungary. and Croatia .He was the only son of King Emeric, King of Hungary and his queen, Infanta Constance of Aragon....   (Ladislav III.)	30 November 1204	7 May 1205	son of Emerik, crowned and died as a child
	Andrew I Andrew II of Hungary Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...   (Andrija II.)	7 May 1205	21 September 1235	brother of Emerik, in 1222 issued Golden Bull Golden Bull of 1222 The Golden Bull of 1222 was a golden bull, or edict, issued by King Andrew II of Hungary. The law established the rights of the Hungarian nobility, including the right to disobey the King when he acted contrary to law . The nobles and the church were freed from all taxes and could not be forced to...  which established the rights of noblemen, including the right to disobey the King when he acted contrary to law (jus resistendi).
	Béla III Béla IV of Hungary Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...	21 September 1235	3 May 1270	son of Andrew II, ruled during First Mongol invasion (1241–42), in 1242 issued Golden Bull Golden Bull of 1242 The Golden Bull of 1242 was a golden bull or edict, issued by King Béla IV of Hungary to inhabitants of Gradec during Mongol invasion of Europe. By this golden bull King Bela IV proclaimed a royal free city....  and proclaimed Zagreb Zagreb Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...  and Samobor Samobor Samobor is a town in the Zagreb County, Croatia. It is part of the Zagreb metropolitan area.-Geography:Samobor is located west of Zagreb, between the eastern slopes of the Samoborsko gorje , in the Sava River valley.-Population:...  a Free Royal Borough (free and royal city)
	Stephen VI Stephen V of Hungary Stephen V , was King of Hungary from 1270 to 1272.-Early years:...   (Stjepan V.)	3 May 1270	6 August 1272	son of Béla IV.
	Ladislaus IV the Cuman  (Ladislav IV. Kumanac)	6 August 1272	10 July 1290	son of Steven V.; unsuccessful Mongol invasion; lived with the nomad Cuman tribes
	Andrew II  (Andrija III. Mlečanin)	4 August 1290	14 January 1301	grandson of Andrew II, born in Venice; last of the Árpád dynasty Árpád dynasty The Árpáds or Arpads was the ruling dynasty of the federation of the Hungarian tribes and of the Kingdom of Hungary . The dynasty was named after Grand Prince Árpád who was the head of the tribal federation when the Magyars occupied the Carpathian Basin, circa 895...

House of Anjou

Capetian House of Anjou

The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...

 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Charles Martel of Anjou Charles Martel of Anjou Charles Martel of the Angevin dynasty, also known as Charles I Martel, was the eldest son of king Charles II of Naples and Maria of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary....   (Karlo Martel)	1290	1295	set up by Pope Nicholas IV and the ecclesiastical party as successor of his maternal uncle, the childless Ladislaus IV. Crowned as the King of Croatia but not as King of Hungary
	Charles I Charles I of Hungary Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...   (Karlo I. Robert)	14 January 1301	16 July 1342	son of Charles Martel, established the royal Angevin dynasty Capetian House of Anjou The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century... .
	Louis I the Great  (Ludovik I. Veliki)	16 July 1342	11 September 1382	also became King of Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...  (1370)
	Mary I Mary of Hungary Mary of Anjou was queen regnant of Hungary from 1382 until her death in 1395.-Childhood:...   (Marija Anžuvinska)	11 September 1382	17 May 1395	married Sigismund of Luxemburg
	Charles II  (Karlo II. Drački)	31 December 1385	24 February 1386	also King of Naples, in opposition to Mary. Assassinated on 7 February 1386 an died on 24 February

House of Luxembourg

House of Luxembourg

The House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...

 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Sigismund I Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...   (Žigmund Luksemburški)	31 March 1387	9 December 1437	later also Roman-German King (since 1410), King of Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...  (since 1419), Holy Roman Emperor Holy Roman Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...  (since 1433)

House of Anjou

Capetian House of Anjou

The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...

 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Ladislaus of Naples  (Ladislav Napuljski)	5 August 1403	1409	Son of Charles II. Claimed the Crown of Hungary and Croatia and opposed by King Sigismund of Luxemburg Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411... . Ladislas eventually sold his rights to the kingdom of Dalmatia Dalmatia Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....  to the Venetian Republic for 100,000 ducats in 1409.

House of Habsburg 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Albert I	1 January 1438	27 October 1439	son-in-law of Sigismund, also Roman-German King, King of Bohemia, Duke of Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

Jagiellon dynasty

Jagiellon dynasty

The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...

 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Vladislaus I  (Vladislav I. Jagelović)	15 May 1440	10 November 1444	also King of Poland

House of Habsburg 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Ladislaus V the Posthumus  (Ladislav V. Posmrtni)	15 May 1440	23 November 1457	born in 1440 after his father's death, spent most of his life in captivity.

House of Hunyadi 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Matthias I Corvinus Matthias Corvinus of Hungary Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...   (Matija Korvin)	24 January 1458	6 April 1490	son of John Hunyadi, also King of Bohemia

Jagiellon dynasty

Jagiellon dynasty

The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...

 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Vladislaus II  (Vladislav II. Jagelović)	15 July 1490	13 May 1516	also King of Bohemia
	Louis II  (Ludovik II.)	13 May 1516	29 August 1526	also King of Bohemia; killed in the Battle of Mohács Battle of Mohács The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....

House of Zapolya

John Zápolya

John Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1526 to 1540. His rule was disputed by Archduke Ferdinand I, who also claimed the title King of Hungary between 1526 and 1540. He was the voivode of Transylvania before his coronation.- Biography :...

 

Kingship disputed between Ferdinand of Austria and John Zápolya during the Ottoman invasion

Suleiman the Magnificent

Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system...

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	John I John Zápolya John Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1526 to 1540. His rule was disputed by Archduke Ferdinand I, who also claimed the title King of Hungary between 1526 and 1540. He was the voivode of Transylvania before his coronation.- Biography :...   (Ivan Zapolja)	10 November 1526	22 July 1540	Also claimed the throne, with support of Hungarian nobles and later Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman the Magnificent Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system... .

House of Habsburg 

On January 1, 1527 Croatian Parliament, on its session in Cetin

Parliament on Cetin

The Parliament on Cetin was a gathering of the Croatian nobility in the town of Cetin caused by a monarchical crisis after the death of their king Louis II and a major defeat of the Kingdom of Hungary at the Battle of Mohács...

 elected Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria

Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...

 as the new king of Croatia.

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...   (Ferdinand Habsburški)	16 December 1526	25 July 1564	claimed the throne according the agreement between the House of Jagiellon and the House of Habsburg
	Maximilian Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...   (Maksimilijan I.)	8 September 1563	12 October 1576	ruled during Battle of Szigetvár and Croatian peasant revolt
	Rudolf I Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...	25 September 1572	26 June 1608	ruled during Battle of Sisak Battle of Sisak The Battle of Sisak was fought on June 22, 1593, between Ottoman forces of the Bosnian governor-general, or Beylerbeyi, Hasan-paša Predojević, and forces of the Holy Roman Empire under the supreme command of the Styrian general Ruprecht von Eggenberg... , abdicated in favor of his younger brother Matthias
	Matthias II Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...   (Matija II.)	26 June 1608	20 March 1619	brother of Rudolf II
	Ferdinand II Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...	1 July 1618	15 February 1637	In 1630 issued Statuta Valachorum Statuta Valachorum Statuta Valachorum was the name for a number of laws enacted in the 17th century both by the king of the Habsburg Monarchy as well as the Parliament of Croatia , whose purpose was to...  in opposition to Croatian Parliament
	Ferdinand III Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...	8 December 1625	2 April 1657
	Leopold I Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor | style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...	27 June 1657	5 May 1705	Crushed Zrinski–Frankopan Conspiracy Magnate conspiracy The Magnate conspiracy, also known as the Zrinski–Frankopan Conspiracy in Croatia, and Wesselényi conspiracy in Hungary, was a 17th century attempt to throw off Habsburg and other foreign influences over Hungary and Croatia. The attempted coup was caused by the unpopular Peace of Vasvár, struck...  and abolished the right of Croatian Parliament to elect king. In 1669 founded University of Zagreb University of Zagreb The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
	Joseph I Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....   (Josip I.)	9 December 1687	17 April 1711
	Charles III Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...   (Karlo III.)	11 April 1711	20 October 1740	On 9 March 1712 Croatian Parliament voted its Pragmatic Sanction Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 The Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 was an edict issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI to ensure that the throne of the Archduchy of Austria could be inherited by a daughter....  in which the Kingdom of Croatia accepted female inheritance of its crown after extinction of the male line and supporting her to become Queen of Croatia

House of Habsburg-Lorraine 

Portrait	Ruler	Began	Ended	Remarks
	Maria II Theresa Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...   (Marija Terezija)	20 October 1740	29 November 1780	Division of Croatia on županije (counties) and in 1767 forms Croatian Royal Council (Consilium Regium) until 1779 when she abolishes it. Queen conducts military and economy reforms and especially serfdom.
	Joseph II Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I... (Josip II.)	29 November 1780	20 February 1790	Abolished serfdom. Germanization of Croatian lands.
	Leopold II Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa...	20 February 1790	1 March 1792
	Francis Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz... (Franjo I.)	1 March 1792	2 March 1835
	Ferdinand V	28 September 1830	2 December 1848	Being epileptic and mentally ill, abdicated in favour of his nephew, Franz Joseph (son of his younger brother Franz Karl). Died in 1875.
	Francis Joseph (Franjo Josip I.)	2 December 1848	21 November 1916
	Charles IV  (Karlo IV.)	21 November 1916	16 November 1918	Reigned until 1918, when he "renounced participation" in state affairs, but did not abdicate. He spent the remaining years of his life attempting to restore the monarchy until his death in 1922.

Modern times

• After the World War I
  World War I
  World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
  
   and the break off of Austria-Hungary, Croatia joins a newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
  State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
  The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was a short-lived state formed from the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy after its dissolution at the end of the World War I by the resident population of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs...
  
  . Following a brief period of self-rule, becomes part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes under the Karađorđević dynasty
• 1939 - 1943: Croatia is an autonomous Banovina
  Banovina of Croatia
  The Banovina of Croatia or Banate of Croatia was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1939 and 1943 . Its capital was at Zagreb and it included most of present-day Croatia along with portions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia...
  
   within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, ruled by King Peter II
  Peter II of Yugoslavia
  Peter II, also known as Peter II Karađorđević , was the third and last King of Yugoslavia...
  
  , and administered in the King's name by Ban (viceroy) Ivan Šubašić
  Ivan Šubašic
  Ivan Šubašić was a Croatian and Yugoslav politician, best known as the last Ban of Banovina of Croatia.He was born in Vukova Gorica, then in Austria-Hungary. He finished grammar and high school in Zagreb, and enrolled onto the Faculty of Theology at the University of Zagreb...
  
  . During this period, in 1941 Croatia was occupied by the Axis powers along with the rest of Yugoslavia.
• 1943 - 1945: Croatia becomes a federal state of the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia, the Federal State of Croatia. King Peter II is not acknowledged as the monarch but is also not yet formally deposed, the resolution of the issue is postponed until after the war. Croatia is headed by Vladimir Nazor
  Vladimir Nazor
  Vladimir Nazor was the first head of state of modern Croatia. A member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia , he led the Croatian World War II wartime assembly, the ZAVNOH, and later served as the President of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of PR Croatia - the head of state of the People's...
  
  , head of the wartime provisional parliament, the ZAVNOH.
• 1945 - 1991: Monarchical rule in Croatia is formally abolished in November 1945. Croatia is a socialist republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
  
  , the Socialist Republic of Croatia
  Socialist Republic of Croatia
  Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
  
  . The state is headed by the President of the Presidency of Croatia.
• June 25, 1991: present Republic of Croatia becomes independent. See:
  • Presidents of Croatia
  • Prime ministers of Croatia

Independent State of Croatia

1941 - 1945: the Nazi-puppet Independent State of Croatia

Independent State of Croatia

The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...

 was formed by the Axis powers on occupied Yugoslav territory, and was ruled by the Ustaše

Ustaše

The Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...

 party led by Ante Pavelić

Ante Pavelic

Ante Pavelić was a Croatian fascist leader, revolutionary, and politician. He ruled as Poglavnik or head, of the Independent State of Croatia , a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia...

. In May 1941 this state was made a formal kingdom (by agreement between Ante Pavelić and Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....

). Italian Prince Aimone, Duke of Aosta was formally named as the king-designate under the name "Tomislav II", but refused to assume the kingship, was never crowned, never ruled, and formally abdicated in 1943.

See also

• List of rulers of Hungary for a list of monarchs between 1526 and 1918—mostly accurate for the Croatian lands
• Croatian Parliament
• Ban of Croatia
  Ban of Croatia
  Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
  
  
• History of Croatia
  History of Croatia
  Croatia first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century and then as a kingdom in the 10th century. From the 12th century it remained a distinct state with its ruler and parliament, but it obeyed the kings and emperors of various neighboring powers, primarily Hungary and Austria. The period from the...
  
  
• Timeline of Croatian history
  Timeline of Croatian history
  This is a timeline of Croatian history. To read about the background to these events, see History of Croatia. See also the list of rulers of Croatia and years in Croatia.This timeline is incomplete; some important events may be missing...
  
  

External links

• Monarchs of Croatia from Everything2
• The History Files: Kingdoms of Eastern Europe: Croatia
• WHKMLA History of Croatia, ToC
• Rulers of Croatia and Slavonia
• List of Croatian rulers PDF, University of Michigan
• http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Croatia.html