Episodes
The Croatian Military Frontier: A Soldier's Village Legacy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the unique world of the Croatian Military Frontier (Vojna Krajina), a Habsburg military district that shaped the region for centuries. They follow a Grenzer family through daily life in the 18th century, from the zadruga communal households to the militia musters. They discuss the frontier's own legal code, the Statuta Valachorum, which granted land in exchange for military service, and how this created a distinct identity. The conversation also covers…
The Fortress That Refused to Fall: Klis and Croatia's Frontier
In this episode, Lucas and Luna journey to the dramatic cliff-top fortress of Klis, the gatekeeper of central Croatia and the Dalmatian coast. We trace its story from a medieval stronghold of the Croatian kings to a Habsburg outpost, but the heart of the episode is the legendary siege of 1537, when a small garrison under Captain Petar Kružić held off a massive Ottoman army led by Suleiman the Magnificent's commander. We meet Kružić, a captain who became a folk hero, and the Uskoci, the refugee…
The Last Siege of Siget: Croatia's Forgotten Hero
In 1566, the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the tiny fortress of Siget (Szigetvár) in southern Hungary, defended by a small Croatian-Hungarian garrison under Ban Nikola Šubić Zrinski. This episode follows the last days of the siege, the desperate sortie, and Zrinski's death, which became a symbol of defiance across Europe. We explore the geopolitical stakes — Suleiman the Magnificent's final campaign, the Habsburg-Ottoman rivalry, and the significance of the fortress for the Croatian Military…
The Croatian Language Question: From Illyrian to Modern Standard
In this episode of The History of Croatia, Lucas and Luna explore the long and contested history of the Croatian language. From the medieval Glagolitic and Cyrillic scripts to the Illyrian movement's quest for a unified South Slavic language, and the 19th-century debates over Croatian vs. Serbian, they trace the linguistic threads that shaped national identity. They discuss the Novi Sad Agreement of 1954, which declared Serbo-Croatian a single language with two pronunciations, and the Croatian…
The Zrinski-Frankopan Conspiracy: Croatia's Doomed Plot
In 1671, two of Croatia's most powerful noble families—the Zrinskis and the Frankopans—were executed for plotting against the Habsburg emperor. This episode unpacks the so-called Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy, a desperate bid to throw off Habsburg rule after the disastrous Treaty of Vasvár, which ended the Austro-Turkish War in 1664. We explore the roles of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan, their secret negotiations with France and the Ottomans, the betrayal that doomed them, and the…
The Adriatic's Own Republic: Poljica's Peasant Democracy
Before the Venetian Republic and the Habsburgs carved up the eastern Adriatic, a small community in the Dalmatian hinterland governed itself for centuries. This episode follows the Republic of Poljica, a peasant-led polity that survived between the Ottoman Empire, Venice, and the Habsburgs from the 12th century until 1807. We explore its unique constitution, the Grand Duke elected by free men, the role of the assembly known as the Zbor, and how this tiny republic maintained its identity through…
Krka Monastery and the Serbian Orthodox Heritage in Croatia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Krka Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox spiritual and cultural center nestled in the Krka River canyon of Dalmatia. They trace its legendary founding by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, its rise as a refuge for Orthodox monks during Ottoman expansion, and its role as a beacon of literacy and Serbian identity under Venetian and Habsburg rule. The conversation covers the monastery's treasured library, the 17th-century iconostasis, and the contentious…
Diocletian's Palace: The Roman Emperor Who Built His Retirement Home in Split
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the extraordinary story of Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. Built by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century, this massive retirement complex was more than a home—it was a fortified military camp, a sumptuous imperial residence, and the seed of a modern city. We explore Diocletian's rise from humble Dalmatian roots to the purple, his brutal persecution of Christians, his voluntary abdication—the first in Roman history—and the…
The Peasant Who Defied an Empire: Matija Ivanić's 1573 Revolt
In 1573, Croatian peasants rose against their feudal lords in one of the largest uprisings in early modern Europe. While Matija Gubec has become the symbol of the revolt, this episode tells the story of Matija Ivanić, the peasant captain who led the northern wing of the rebellion. We trace his path from the village of Stubičke Toplice to the battlefield at Stubica, where thousands of peasants faced the imperial army. We explore the grievances of the Croatian peasantry under the hated Baron…
The Siege of Klis: Croatia's Ottoman Frontier
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1537 Siege of Klis, a pivotal moment in the Ottoman–Habsburg struggle for the Adriatic. They bring to life the fortress high above Split, the Croatian and Uskok defenders led by Petar Kružić, and the fall that opened the door to Ottoman advances. Along the way, they untangle the web of local resistance, Venetian neutrality, and Habsburg neglect that shaped the frontier. Discover the story of the Klis Uskoks, the legendary defenders who fought for a…
Croatia's 1883 Rakovica Revolt: The Last Stand of the Kvaternik Brothers
In 1883, a small band of Croatian rebels led by Eugen Kvaternik and his brother Ante marched into the mountain village of Rakovica, hoping to spark a pan-South Slavic uprising against Habsburg rule. Their dream of a free Croatia, rooted in the centuries-old memory of the Military Frontier, ended within days in a bloody skirmish with imperial troops. This episode explores the doomed revolt's origins, its brief moment of hope, and its violent conclusion — a story that reveals the deep…
The Siege of Zadar 1813: A City's Last Stand for Freedom
In 1813, while Napoleon's empire crumbled, the ancient Adriatic city of Zadar found itself cut off, besieged by Austrian forces and local insurgents. This episode tells the dramatic story of the siege that ended French rule in Dalmatia — a little-known chapter that shaped the region's future. Lucas and Luna explore the city's strategic importance, the French commander's stubborn defense, the role of Croatian troops fighting on both sides, and the final surrender that redefined Zadar's place in…
The Death of Alojzije Stepinac: A Cardinal's Trial and Legacy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the twilight years of Alojzije Stepinac, the Croatian archbishop whose life became a battleground for the country's 20th-century traumas. From his wartime role as head of the Catholic Church in the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia to his post-war trial by Tito's communist regime, Stepinac's story forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about collaboration, resistance, and moral ambiguity. Using recently opened Vatican archives and the…
The 1664 Siege of Novi Zrin: Croatia's Lost Fortress
In 1664, a massive Ottoman army besieged Novi Zrin, a fortress built by the Croatian Ban Nikola Zrinski on the banks of the Mura River. The siege became a flashpoint in the Austro-Turkish War, revealing deep divisions between the Habsburg court and Croatian nobility. Lucas and Luna explore the fortress's rise, the brutal fighting, and its controversial fall—destroyed by the Habsburgs after the peace of Vasvár. They discuss Nikola Zrinski's desperate pleas for reinforcements, the role of the…
The Croatian Military Frontier: Habsburg Shield and Ethnic Crucible
Episode 188 of The History of Croatia explores the Vojna Krajina, the Habsburg military borderland that shaped Croatian and Balkan history for over three centuries. Lucas and Luna discuss how this buffer zone against the Ottoman Empire was established in the 16th century, populated by Croatian and Serb refugees with special land-for-military-service rights, and evolved into a distinct society with its own autonomy and culture. They delve into daily life under the Imperial General Command, the…
King Tomislav and the Birth of Croatia's Medieval Kingdom
This episode turns to the early 10th century, when a powerful duke named Tomislav united Croatian lands and, in 925, was crowned the first king. We explore the political and military moves that made this possible: his alliance with the Byzantine Empire, the crushing defeat of Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I at the Battle of the Bosnian Highlands, and the crucial church councils in Split that legitimized his kingship while debating the use of the Glagolitic script. We also look at how far his kingdom…
The Croatian-Hungarian Settlement of 1868: Autonomy Under the Crown
In 1868, Croatia entered a political bargain that would shape its fate for half a century: the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement, or Nagodba. This episode unpacks the negotiations between the Croatian Sabor and the Hungarian Diet, led by Ban Levin Rauch and Ferenc Deák. We explore what the agreement actually granted – internal autonomy over education, justice, and religion – versus what it surrendered: financial independence, military control, and the right to a separate territory. We also meet the…
Dubrovnik 1667 Earthquake: How Ragusa Rose from the Ruins
In 1667, a catastrophic earthquake leveled much of Dubrovnik, killing thousands and shattering the Republic of Ragusa. But the city didn't crumble — its nobles, merchants, and builders pulled off a remarkable reconstruction that reshaped the city's iconic Baroque face. This episode follows the quake's aftermath, from the collapse of the Sponza Palace to the rebuilding of Stradun, and explores how this tiny republic defied the odds to stay independent for another 140 years. We discuss the…
The Croatian Spring of 1971: A National Awakening
In 1971, a wave of cultural and political reform swept through Croatia, demanding greater autonomy within communist Yugoslavia. The Croatian Spring—or Hrvatsko proljeće—grew from a language declaration into a mass movement led by figures like Mika Tripalo and Savka Dabčević-Kučar. This episode explores the movement's origins in the Matica hrvatska, its clash with Tito's regime at Karađorđevo, and the crackdown that silenced it. We discuss the Deklaracija, the student protests, and how the dream…
Croatia's Darkest Hour: The Ustasa Regime and Jasenovac
In April 1941, after the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) was proclaimed, a puppet state led by Ante Pavelić and his Ustaša movement. This episode delves into the ideology, racial laws, and systematic persecution that followed, targeting Serbs, Jews, and Roma. We explore the notorious Jasenovac concentration camp, the role of the Catholic Church, and the legacy of one of Europe's most brutal collaborationist regimes. Drawing on survivor accounts and historical…
Matija Gubec and Croatia's Great Peasant Revolt of 1573
In 1573, Croatia saw its largest peasant uprising, led by Matija Gubec, a folk hero who dared to challenge the Habsburg-backed feudal lords. While the nobility focused on Ottoman threats, common people faced crushing taxes and forced labor under landlords like the notorious Franjo Tahy. The revolt spread from the Zagorje region into Slovenia, culminating in the Battle of Stubičke Toplice. Gubec was captured, tortured, and executed with a red-hot iron crown, but his memory endured. This episode…
The Cvetković-Maček Agreement and the Banovina of Croatia 1939
In August 1939, on the eve of World War II, the Yugoslav government and the Croatian Peasant Party signed the Sporazum, a historic agreement creating the autonomous Banovina of Croatia. This episode unpacks the political maneuvering between Prime Minister Dragiša Cvetković and Vladko Maček, the boundaries and powers of the new entity, and the reactions from Serbs, Croats, and radical groups like the Ustaše. We explore how this short-lived province — abolished after the Axis invasion in 1941…
Ljudevit Gaj and the Illyrian Dream
In the 1830s, a young Slovene-born linguist named Ljudevit Gaj launched a movement that would reshape Croatian identity. The Illyrian movement sought to unite South Slavs under a common cultural and linguistic banner, reviving the ancient name 'Illyrian' to bypass Habsburg and Hungarian pressures. Gaj founded the newspaper Novine horvatzke, standardized the Croatian literary language around the što dialect, and established the Matica ilirska cultural society. This episode explores the…
Ban Jelačić and Croatia's 1848 Revolution
In 1848, as revolutions swept Europe, the Croatian Sabor appointed Ban Josip Jelačić to lead the nation's bid for autonomy within the Habsburg Empire. This episode explores Jelačić's military campaign against Hungarian revolutionary forces, the abolition of serfdom, and the subsequent Ausgleich of 1867 that reshaped Croatia's political status. We examine the March Laws, the Battle of Pákozd, and the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement of 1868, along with the enduring legacy of Jelačić's statue in…
The Siege of Dubrovnik 1991-92 Croatia's Pearl Under Fire
In this episode of The History of Croatia, Lucas and Luna examine the 1991-1992 siege of Dubrovnik, a brutal seven-month bombardment by the Yugoslav People's Army and Montenegrin forces that targeted the UNESCO-protected Old Town. They discuss the chronology of the attack, the heroic defense by outnumbered Croatian soldiers and volunteers, the international outcry that led to UNESCO intervention, and the lasting scar on the city's cultural heritage. Along the way, they touch on the role of…
Croatia's 1991 Battle of the Barracks: The War Within a War
While the world watched the siege of Vukovar, a quieter but decisive battle was unfolding across Croatia in the autumn of 1991. The Battle of the Barracks — Bitka za vojarne — was the Croatian National Guard's campaign to seize Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) bases scattered across the republic. In cities like Split, Karlovac, and Rijeka, lightly armed Croatian forces surrounded heavily fortified barracks, cutting off water, electricity, and supplies. The standoffs lasted weeks, sometimes months…
Croatia's 1991 War of Independence: The Battle of Vukovar
How did a small city on the Danube become the symbol of Croatia's struggle for independence? This episode takes you inside the 87-day siege of Vukovar in 1991, where Croatian defenders held out against the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serbian paramilitaries. We follow the final assault on November 18, the fall of the city, and the aftermath—including the mass executions at Ovčara and the long road to healing. Along the way, we explore the role of the Croatian National Guard (ZNG), the…
The 1102 Pacta Conventa: Croatia's Medieval Contract with Hungary
In 1102, following the death of King Dmitar Zvonimir and a succession crisis, Croatia entered into a unique arrangement with Hungary known as the Pacta Conventa. This episode unpacks the historical context, the disputed authenticity of the document, and its profound implications for Croatian statehood. We explore the events after Zvonimir's death, the invasion by King Coloman of Hungary, the coronation at Biograd, and the enduring debate among historians about whether the pact was a voluntary…
Croatia's 1382 Bosnian Alliance: Tvrtko's Claim to the Throne
In 1382, a new king was crowned in Croatia—but he wasn't Croatian. Stephen Tvrtko I of Bosnia declared himself King of Croatia and Dalmatia, backed by a coalition of nobles and a weakening Hungarian crown. This episode explores how the Bosnian king leveraged the chaos after Louis the Great's death, the role of the powerful Šubić family, and the short-lived but significant alliance that shifted power in the region. We discuss Tvrtko's coronation, the opposition from Sigismund of Luxembourg, and…
The Adriatic Guard: Croatia's Forgotten Naval Force
In this episode of The History of Croatia, Lucas and Luna explore the little-known story of the Adriatic Guard (Jadranska straža), a patriotic organization founded in 1922 that sought to assert Croatian and Yugoslav naval presence on the Adriatic Sea. They discuss the Guard's founding by Admiral Metodije Koch, its fleet of training ships including the iconic 'Vila Velebita', and the annual 'Adriatic Week' celebrations that promoted maritime culture. The conversation covers the Guard's role in…
Croatia's Baška Tablet: The Birth of Croatian Writing
In this episode of The History of Croatia, Lucas and Luna explore the Baška Tablet (Bašćanska ploča), one of the earliest and most significant monuments of Croatian language and culture. Discovered in the 19th century on the island of Krk, this inscribed stone slab from around 1100 AD contains a remarkable text in the Glagolitic script—the oldest known Slavic alphabet. Lucas explains how the tablet records a land grant by King Dmitar Zvonimir to the Benedictine abbey of St. Lucy, and how its…
Queen Jelena the Glorious: Croatia's Forgotten Female Ruler
This episode explores the remarkable life and reign of Queen Jelena the Glorious of Croatia, the wife of King Dmitar Zvonimir and a powerful ruler in her own right. After Zvonimir's death in 1089, Jelena navigated a treacherous political landscape, securing the succession for her brother-in-law Stjepan II and later aligning with King Coloman of Hungary. Her influence was crucial in the lead-up to the Pacta Conventa of 1102, the agreement that united Croatia and Hungary. We also discuss her role…
The Croatian Parliament: A Thousand Years of the Sabor
The Croatian Sabor is one of the oldest parliamentary institutions in Europe, with roots stretching back to the medieval kingdom. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace its evolution from the tribal councils of early Croatian dukes to the modern democratic assembly. They explore how the Sabor elected kings in the 11th century, negotiated the Pacta Conventa with Hungary in 1102, and served as a forum for noble resistance during Habsburg rule. Key figures like the ban and the Sabor's role in the…
Ivan Gundulić and the Baroque Soul of Ragusa
In this episode of The History of Croatia, we step away from the battles and treaties to explore the cultural life of the Republic of Ragusa through its greatest poet, Ivan Gundulić. Born in 1589 into a noble family, Gundulić wrote the epic poem "Osman" — a sprawling work about the clash between the Ottoman and Polish worlds, infused with Ragusa's own anxieties about its powerful neighbor. We discuss how Gundulić's Baroque style, with its vivid imagery and moral allegory, reflected the city's…
Nikola IV Zrinski: The Siege of Szigetvár and Croatia's Hero
In this episode of The History of Croatia, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Nikola IV Zrinski, the Croatian-Hungarian nobleman who led the legendary 1566 Siege of Szigetvár. They delve into the political landscape of 16th-century Croatia, the Ottoman threat under Suleiman the Magnificent, and how Zrinski's last stand against overwhelming odds became a symbol of resistance. Lucas discusses Zrinski's military career, his role as Ban of Croatia, and the dramatic events of the…
The Siege of Zadar 1202 Crusaders Turn on Croatia
In 1202, the Fourth Crusade stopped at the Croatian city of Zadar—not to liberate Jerusalem, but to sack a Christian port on orders from Venice. Lucas and Luna explore the political maneuvering that led Crusaders to attack fellow Catholics, the brutal siege that followed, and how Zadar's resilience became a symbol of defiance. They discuss the role of Doge Enrico Dandolo, the Croatian-Hungarian King Emeric, and the papal reaction that condemned the attack yet failed to stop it. This episode…
Croatia's 1945 Bleiburg Tragedy: War's End and Mass Executions
In May 1945, as World War II ground to a halt across Europe, tens of thousands of Croatian soldiers, civilians, and refugees fled toward Austria, hoping to surrender to the British rather than the Yugoslav Partisans. Instead, at the small Austrian town of Bleiburg, they were turned back by British forces and handed over to Tito's victorious army. What followed was a series of summary executions, death marches, and mass graves that remain a deeply contested chapter in Croatian history. Lucas and…
Stjepan Radić and the Croatian Peasant Party
In the early 20th century, one man gave a voice to Croatia's rural majority. Stjepan Radić founded the Croatian Peasant Party in 1904, advocating for peasants' rights, land reform, and Croatian autonomy within the Habsburg Monarchy. His charismatic yet confrontational style made him a hero to many and a target for Belgrade's centralists. This episode follows Radić's journey from the Sabor to the Yugoslav parliament, his opposition to the 1921 Vidovdan Constitution, his imprisonment, and his…
Dubrovnik's 1814 Congress: When the Republic Wasn't Restored
After Napoleon's fall, the great powers met in Vienna to redraw Europe's map. But for Dubrovnik—once the proud Republic of Ragusa—there would be no restoration. In this episode, Lucas and Luna follow the city's diplomats as they plead their case at the Congress of Vienna, only to see their centuries-old republic absorbed into the Austrian Empire. They explore the Habsburg's motives, the quiet end of Ragusan institutions, and the legacy of a city that lost its independence but kept its soul.…
The Last Croatian King: The Siege of Klis and the Fall of a Kingdom
In 1537, the fortress of Klis in central Dalmatia became the final stronghold of Croatian resistance against the Ottoman Empire. This episode tells the story of its heroic defense led by Captain Petar Kružić and his Uskok garrison, who held out for over a decade against Sultan Suleiman's forces. We explore the strategic importance of Klis as a gateway between the coast and the interior, the role of the Uskoci as Christian pirates and defenders, and the eventual fall that marked the end of the…
Croatia's 1944 Lika Partisan Republic and the Battle for the Coast
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known chapter of World War II in Croatia: the brief existence of the Partisan Republic of Lika in 1944. With Marshal Tito's forces pushing against the Axis and the Ustasha, the region around Gospić, Plitvice, and the Adriatic coast became a contested zone. We discuss the strategic role of the 6th Lika Division, the founding of the People's Liberation Committee, and the cultural and ethnic complexities of the region, including the mixed Serb…
Croatia's 1971 Croatian Spring: A Nation's Cultural Awakening
In 1971, a wave of cultural and political revolutionary fervor swept through Croatia, demanding greater autonomy within socialist Yugoslavia. The Croatian Spring, as it became known, was led by intellectuals, students, and the Communist Party's own reformist wing. This episode explores the movement's roots in the 1967 Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Language, the rise of Matica hrvatska, the pivotal role of student leaders like Dražen Budiša and Ivan Zvonimir Čičak, and the…
Croatia's 1941 Ustasha State and the Jasenovac Tragedy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into one of the darkest chapters of Croatian history: the establishment of the Ustasha-led Independent State of Croatia (NDH) in 1941, its alliance with Nazi Germany, and the brutal Jasenovac concentration camp system. They explore the political chaos following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, the rise of Ante Pavelić and the Ustasha movement, and the ideology that drove the regime's genocidal policies against Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascist Croats. The…
Dubrovnik's 1806 Siege: Napoleon Meets the Pearl of the Adriatic
In 1806, Dubrovnik — the independent Republic of Ragusa — faced a crisis that would end its centuries-long sovereignty. As Napoleon Bonaparte's armies swept across Europe, French forces under General Auguste Marmont laid siege to the city. Lucas and Luna explore the tense negotiations, the bombardment of the Old Town, and the Treaty of Schönbrunn that erased Dubrovnik from the map. They discuss the republic's ancient motto, 'Liberty is not for sale,' and the price of neutrality in a Napoleonic…
Dubrovnik's 1667 Earthquake: The Day the Pearl of the Adriatic Crumbled
In 1667, the Republic of Ragusa—modern-day Dubrovnik—was struck by a catastrophic earthquake that leveled the city and killed thousands. Lucas and Luna explore the immediate devastation, the city's remarkable recovery, and how the disaster reshaped Dubrovnik's politics, architecture, and identity. They discuss the role of the Jesuit order in reconstruction, the political maneuvering with the Ottoman Empire and Venice, and the enduring legacy of St. Blaise as the city's patron. This episode…
The Feast of St. Blaise: Dubrovnik's Enduring Patron
Every February 3rd, Dubrovnik erupts in a centuries-old celebration honoring its patron saint, St. Blaise (Sveti Vlaho). This episode traces the feast from its origins after a 971 AD Venetian attack—when the saint supposedly warned the city's priest of the assault—to its modern incarnation as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage event. Lucas and Luna explore the legend of St. Blaise's intervention, the elaborate procession of relics, the release of white doves, and the tradition of the festa's…
Croatia's 1918 State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs: A Brief Dawn
In the final days of World War I, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire crumbled, the South Slav peoples of the monarchy declared a new state: the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. It lasted barely a month before merging with Serbia into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. But in those frantic weeks, the National Council in Zagreb, led by figures like Anton Korošec, Svetozar Pribičević, and Ante Pavelić (the pre-war politician, not the later fascist), faced impossible choices. Italy's…
Croatia's 1075 Zvonimir Crown: A King, a Papal Banner, and a National Symbol
In this episode of The History of Croatia, Lucas and Luna explore the story of King Zvonimir's coronation in 1075 at Solin. They examine how Zvonimir, a former Ban of Slavonia, rose to power with papal backing, receiving a crown and banner from Pope Gregory VII. The conversation delves into the political maneuvers behind his reign, including his oath of fealty to Rome, the controversial death of his predecessor King Petar Krešimir IV, and the enduring symbolism of the Zvonimir crown in Croatian…
Croatia's 1102 Pacta Conventa: A Kingdom's Fateful Choice
In 1102, the Croatian kingdom made a deal that shaped its future for centuries. Lucas and Luna unpack the Pacta Conventa, the agreement between King Coloman and Croatian nobles that brought Croatia into personal union with Hungary. Was it a voluntary pact or a surrender after conquest? They explore the debate among historians, the role of the Sabor, and the consequences that rippled into modern debates over sovereignty. This episode dives into the text itself, the chronicles of Toma Arhiđakon…
The Trpimirović Dynasty: Croatia's Native Royal House
Before the Habsburgs, before Venice, before the Ottomans—Croatia had its own kings. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the Trpimirović dynasty from its founding by Duke Trpimir I in the 9th century to its dramatic end with Petar Snačić in 1097. They explore the dynasty's golden age under King Tomislav, who united Croatia and Dalmatia and took the title 'king' in 925. They discuss the contentious reign of King Zvonimir, whose oath to the Pope fractured the nobility, and the succession crisis…
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