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Red Croatia was first mentioned in the 12th century by the Latin Catholic Priest of Bar (in Montenegro) in his work the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja. The Chronicle itself is a collection of several chronicles written before the 12th century usually kept in Church archives. The Chronicle that mentions Red Croatia or Croatiam Rubeam is recited from an earlier chronicle known as De Regno Sclavorum, also called Methodus, which was written in the 7th century by the Diet of Dalmae (Duvno). Interestingly enough the De Regno Sclavorum was written by Slavs themselves, those who established a kingdom with Dalmae (Duvno) at the head. Duvno field was the site of the crowning of Croatian king Tomislav. The town of Duvno in western Bosnia is also called Tomislavgrad in honor of his coronation. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Bar or BAR can refer to several things: A pole or stick, often made of wood or metal, sometimes used to mark a height, such as in high jump, or as a handrail, such as in ballet (where the word is usually spelled barre) or Dance Dance Revolution, or as... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian Capital Podgorica Former Royal Capital Cetinje President Filip Vujanović Prime Minister Milo Đukanović Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  13,812 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ Density  616,258  48. ... The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... Tomislav was the first king of Croatia. ... Bosnia and Herzegovina (officially Bosna i Hercegovina, shortened to BiH, also in English variously written Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bosnia-Hercegovina) is a mountainous country in the western Balkans. ... Tomislavgrad is a town in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

Meaning of Red Croatia

Territories that made up Red Croatia

Red Croatia , or Crvena Hrvatska , was a name designated to the old states of Hum , Pagania , Travunia , and Duklja which together formed four southern Dalmatian dutchies in the seventh century. Red Croatia in the seventh century was recorded as covering a territory from just south of the Cetina river in Croatia to the city of Durres in Albania and stretched from the Adriatic sea to inner modern day Herzegovina and Montenegro. The name is first discovered in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja in the 12th century which records Red Croatia name from an earlier chronicle known as the De Regno Sclavorum. The De Regno Sclavorum is believed to be written between the years 750 and 760 by a congress of Slavs in the Bosnian town of Duvno . Image File history File links historic map File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links historic map File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A hum is a sound with a particular timbre (or sound quality), usually a monotone or with slightly varying tones, often produced by machinery in operation or by insects in flight. ... Paganija or Pagania or Narenta or Neretva Pagania in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] Greek map of Serb lands in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] This was a medieval principality located in todays Central Dalmatia. ... Travunia Travunja Travunians Travunia in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] Greek map of Serb lands in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] This was a medieval principality located in todays Hercegovina and Southern Dalmatia. ... Duklja in the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Greek map of the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Duklja (Latin: Doclea or Dioclea, after the town of Dioclea) was a vassal state of Byzantium until it won its independence in 1042, ruled by the Vojislavljevic Dynasty, located... Cetina is a river in central Dalmatia, Croatia. ... Durrës (Photo by Marc Morell) Durrës (Albanian: Durrës or Durrësi) is the most ancient city of Albania and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. ... Herzegovina (natively Hercegovina/Херцеговина) is a historical region in the Dinaric Alps that composes the southern part of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

References: De Administrando Imperio and the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja

The Byzantine book known as the De Administrando Imperio in Chapter 30 notes the Croats in Dalmatia were also referred to as Slavs (Sclavi) because of the Slavic language they spoke. The De Regno Sclavorum portion of the Priest of Dioclea chronicle was translated by Croat-Italian Ioannes Lucius in 1666 and was changed to De Regno Dalmatiae et Croatiae but it was still the same information found in De Regno Sclavorum. The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... De Administrando Imperio is a scholarly work from ca. ... Croats (Croatian: Hrvati) are a south Slavic people mostly living in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (where theyre one of the constitutive nations). ... Dalmatia (Croatian Dalmacija, Italian Dalmazia, Serbian Далмација) is a region of Croatia on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, spreading between the island of Pag in the northwest and the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. ... The Slavic languages (also called Slavonic languages) comprise the languages of the Slavic peoples. ...

A script (in Latin) from De Regno Sclavorum in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja showing Red Croatia: Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ...

"Post haec secundum continentiam priuiligiorum, quae lecta coram populo fuerant, scripsit priuilegia, diisit prouincias et regiones regni sui ac terminos et fines earum hoc modo: secundum cursum aquarum, quae a montanis fluunt et intrant in mare contra meridianam plagam, Maritima uocauit ; aquas uero, quae a montanis fluunt contra septentrionalem plagam et intrant in magnum flumen Donaui, uocauit Sumbra. Deinde Maritima in duas diuisit prouincias: a loco Dalmae, ubi rex tunc manebat et synodus tunc facta est, usque ad Ualdeuino uocauit Croatium Album, quae et inferior Dalmatia dicitur.....Item ab eodem loco Dalmae usque Bambalonam ciuitatem, quae nunc dicitur Dyrachium, Croatiam Rubeam...." [1]

The last part is translated in English (bolded): The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

"And from the field of Dalmae (Duvno) to the city of Drac (Durres) is Red Croatia" Drac can be: The word for dragon in Catalan and other languages, from Latin DRACO. See European dragon (particularly the section on Catalan dragons). ... Durrës (Photo by Marc Morell) Durrës (Albanian: Durrës or Durrësi) is the most ancient city of Albania and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. ...

Croatia during duke Trpimir's reign in 845AD, The orange color represents Red Croatia.

The eye witness account of the priest has significant meaning. He was a son of his homeland and knew what his land was called and which people it belonged to. If he as a native says, this is Red Croatia and here live Red Croats we must believe him. No matter what the historical significance of the chronicle, which is still debated. Pop Dukljanin wrote what he saw and interpreted, with honesty, and because of that he couldn't have not told the truth. One must factor in how much political understanding he had. So there is always room for debate on such an issue. One can, however, take into account that he was on the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Bar, in Montenegro, this is a historical fact. He speaks about his Archdiocese, its logical to conclude that he would at least know something about his own homeland which he calls Red Croatia and the people Red Croats, during the time, he did not refer to a separate Montenegrin ethnicity. Croatia during duke Trpimir Its probably from Stjepan Antoljaks book Croatia: A history (available via amazon). ... Croatia during duke Trpimir Its probably from Stjepan Antoljaks book Croatia: A history (available via amazon). ... Bar or BAR can refer to several things: A pole or stick, often made of wood or metal, sometimes used to mark a height, such as in high jump, or as a handrail, such as in ballet (where the word is usually spelled barre) or Dance Dance Revolution, or as... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian Capital Podgorica Former Royal Capital Cetinje President Filip Vujanović Prime Minister Milo Đukanović Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  13,812 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ Density  616,258  48. ... In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ... This article is about the republic in Serbia-Montenegro, Europe. ...

The Priest was not a Croat either but he was fluent in the Croatian language. He lived with Croats and thus was able to translate into Latin the Slavic chronicle of De Regno Sclavorum. Everytime he refers to Croats he says "Their" "them" not "Ours" "us." The Priest was a multi-lingual Latin from Bar. The Croatian language is a language of the western group of South Slavic languages which is used primarily by the Croats. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Slav, Slavic or Slavonic can refer to: Slavic peoples Slavic languages Slavic mythology Church Slavonic language Old Church Slavonic language Slavonian can also refer to Slavonia, a region in eastern Croatia. ...

This is supported with the testimony from Byzantine Chronicler John Scylitza where he writes " Dukljan King Michael rules over those who call themselves Croats."

The decendents of these Croats are considered today's Bokelji. The Bokelj people (pl. ...

The chronicle also divides Croatia up into two main parts. Primorje (coast) and Zagorje (mountains). Within Primorje are the states of White Croatia (Croatiam Albam) and Red Croatia (Croatium Rubeam). Within Zagorje is the state of Bosnia.

The chronicle continues:

"quae et superior Dalmatia dicitur..... Surbiam autem, quae et Transmontana dicitur, in duas diuisit prouin cias: unam a mango flumine Drina contra occidentalem plagam usque a montem Pini, quam et Bosnam uocauit, alteram uero ab eodem flumine Drina contra occidentalem plagam usque ad Lupiam et Lab quam Rassam uocauit..." [1]

Surbia and Bosnia are used as only geographic locations and not ethnic meanings. The region known as Surbia is divided from Raška and Bosnia, it covers a small area which is on the outskirts of the old Roman providence of Dalmatia. The chronicle does not refer to Serbs or Bosnians in the ethnic sense. In Chapter 32 of the De Administrando Imperio, the description of the Serbs suggests that the Serbs were not regarded as an ethnicity but rather as a social class. The Byzantines regarded the Serbs as social servants and even slaves. An old place name in modern day Bosnia (which part of was geographic Surbia) has the name Servintium (modern day Bosanska Gradiška). This name was already designated before any Croats and other Slavs appeared on Balkan soil. Bosnia and Herzegovina (officially Bosna i Hercegovina, shortened to BiH, also in English variously written Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bosnia-Hercegovina) is a mountainous country in the western Balkans. ... RaÅ¡ka (Raschka, Rascia, Rassa) was the central and most successful medieval Serbian state (or župa, area ruled by a župan) that unified neighboring Serbian tribes into the main medieval Serbian state in Balkans. ... Dalmatia (Croatian Dalmacija, Italian Dalmazia, Serbian Далмација) is a region of Croatia on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, spreading between the island of Pag in the northwest and the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. ... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Social class describes the relationships between people in hierarchical societies or cultures. ... Servant has a number of meaning: A servant is another word for domestic worker, a person who is hired to provide regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. ... The word slaves has several meanings and usages: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ... Bosanska GradiÅ¡ka (in Serbian Cyrillic: Босанска Градишка) is a town in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Croats (Croatian: Hrvati) are a south Slavic people mostly living in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (where theyre one of the constitutive nations). ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ...

The Chronicle furthermore regulates geographic Bosnia, and part of Raška to the Lipa and Lab (together Surbia) to the Croatian Kingdom. Bosnia and part of Raška are known as "Transmontana" which is also known as Zagorje in Croatian language. Original Croatian Zagorje included Bosnia (small land in southeast modern Bosnia) and the frontiers of Raška (part of modern Sandzak). RaÅ¡ka (Raschka, Rascia, Rassa) was the central and most successful medieval Serbian state (or župa, area ruled by a župan) that unified neighboring Serbian tribes into the main medieval Serbian state in Balkans. ... This page is about a region in Serbia and Montenegro; for districts of the Ottoman Empire, see Sanjak. ...

Other chronicles

A Chronicle of Dalmatia by Venetian writer named Andrea Dandolo (1300-1354) gives evidence that where geographic Surbia is a geographic designation of the Croatian-Dalmatian kingdom. Venetian could mean of Venice of the Republic of Venice the Venetian language The Venetian, a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada A venetian blind - a horizontally slatted window blind. ...

(Keep in mind Dalmatian province extends inland to Bosnia)

Dandolo writes:

"Moderni autem maritimam totam vocant Dalmaciam, montana autuem Chroaciam..." [2]

"The whole Mediterranean coast (Adriatic) belongs to Dalmatia, The mountainous part is Croatia " The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea separating the Apennine peninsula (Italy) from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges. ...

Serbs probably have not been significant in this region until Croat king King Tomislav gave them a refuge to flee the Bulgarians. Chapter 32 of the De Administrando Imperio suggest that Bulgarian Czar Simeon I scattered the Serbs into Croatia and Bulgaria after an unsuccessful Bulgarian military advance against Croatia. Tomislav was the first king of Croatia. ... Tsar Simeon the Great (ruled 893-May 27, 927) was 27 when he took the throne of Bulgaria from his brother Vladimir, the son of Prince Boris, who was deposed and blinded by his own father after his attempt to return Bulgaria to paganism. ...

Croatia during king Tomislav's reign. The red and blue arrows to the east show roughly where the Bulgarians and Croats went to war

The Serbs under Stefan Nemanja expanded their state to include Duklja (Montenegro) which Serbs named Zeta, Herzegovina, small parts of southern Dalmatia, and half of modern day Sandzak to the Lipa and Lab. Croatia during the first king Tomislav. ... Croatia during the first king Tomislav. ... Tomislav was the first king of Croatia. ... King Stefan Nemanja Stefan Nemanja (Cyrillic Стефан Немања), Stefan I (ca 1113-February 13, 1199 or 1200) was the Grand Župan of RaÅ¡ka (Rascia), located in the central west region of the Balkans from 1166 to 1199. ... Duklja in the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Greek map of the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Duklja (Latin: Doclea or Dioclea, after the town of Dioclea) was a vassal state of Byzantium until it won its independence in 1042, ruled by the Vojislavljevic Dynasty, located... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian Capital Podgorica Former Royal Capital Cetinje President Filip Vujanović Prime Minister Milo Đukanović Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  13,812 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ Density  616,258  48. ... Zeta can refer to: Zeta (letter), a letter of the Greek alphabet. ... Herzegovina (natively Hercegovina/Херцеговина) is a historical region in the Dinaric Alps that composes the southern part of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

In Nemanja's declaration in 1198 he writes how he forcefully expanded the Serbian state to include Duklja.

Stefan Nemanja writes:

"i priobretoh' od' Mor'ske zemle Zetu i s' gradovi, a od ' Arbanas ' Pilot', a od' Gr'c'ske zemle Lab' s' L'planem..." [3]

With Montenegro in particular, not even the De Administrando Imperio mentions the Serbs there prior to 1198. The De Administrando Imperio gives two accounts of settlements, one of Croats, one of Serbs. In the description of Croats, Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos in Chapter 30 of the De Administrando Imperio notes that Croats settled in Dalmatia, Pannonia, and Illyricum. Geographically this supports Red Croatia. He in Chapter 30 also notes Croats setting up a powerful military presence in these regions and extracting taxes from the local populace in the southern Dalmatian dutchies. In addition in Chapter 30, The De Administrando Imperio suggests that the Croats who possesed Illyricum and Pannonia were subject to the prince of Croatia (in Dalmatia). Constantine and his mother Zoë. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (the Purple-born) (905 – November 9, 959) was the son of Byzantine emperor Leo VI and nephew of Alexander III famous for his two descriptive books, De Administrando Imperio and De Ceremoniis. ... Position of the Roman province of Pannonia Pannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. ... This article is about an ancient civilization in southeastern Europe; see also Illyria (software), Illyria (character in the TV series Angel). ...

Map of Dalmatia, Illyricum, and Pannonia as Roman Providences in the 7th century

In chapter 32 about the Serbs, Porphyrogenitos describes an identical settlement of Serbs but specifically notes that Croats settled in these regions first. Porphyrogenitos mentions Serb settlements in Travunia and Hum but makes no mention of Serb settlements in Duklja. Image File history File links Dalmatia , Pannonia , and Illyricum as Roman providences File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Travunia Travunja Travunians Travunia in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] Greek map of Serb lands in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] This was a medieval principality located in todays Hercegovina and Southern Dalmatia. ... A hum is a sound with a particular timbre (or sound quality), usually a monotone or with slightly varying tones, often produced by machinery in operation or by insects in flight. ...

Information on Duklja is derived from other sources such as John Scylitza (who notes "Michael rules over those who call themselves Croats..."), Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, Regna Sclavorum - Dalmatiae et Croatiae, and other writers such as Andrea Dandolo (1300-1354), and Flavious Blondus (1388-1463). The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ...

Many believe that the De Administrando Imperio is written from an obvious Byzantine bias. The Byzantines which supported the Serbian state during the early medieval Balkans. One can conclude that Constantine only wrote about periods when Byzantine suzerainty was strong in Duklja, Travunia, Pagania, and Hum where the Greeks used the Serbs as despot lords loyal to them and thus described them as Serb territories. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with bias (disambiguation). ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... Duklja in the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Greek map of the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio Duklja (Latin: Doclea or Dioclea, after the town of Dioclea) was a vassal state of Byzantium until it won its independence in 1042, ruled by the Vojislavljevic Dynasty, located... Travunia Travunja Travunians Travunia in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] Greek map of Serb lands in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] This was a medieval principality located in todays Hercegovina and Southern Dalmatia. ... Paganija or Pagania or Narenta or Neretva Pagania in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] Greek map of Serb lands in the 9th century, according to [[De administrando imperio]] This was a medieval principality located in todays Central Dalmatia. ... A hum is a sound with a particular timbre (or sound quality), usually a monotone or with slightly varying tones, often produced by machinery in operation or by insects in flight. ... Despotism is government by a singular authority, either a single person or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute power. ...

Andrea Dandolo, who writes of Croatian lands (Dalmatian Kingdom) and reiterates the boundaries of Red Croatia.

Dandolo writes:

" Svethopolis rex Dalmacie... in plano Dalme coronatus est et regnum suum Dalmacie in IIIIor partes divisit... A plano intaque Dalme usque Ystriam, Chroaciam Albam, vocavit, et a dicto plano usque Duracium, Chroaciam Rubeam, et versus montana, a flumine Drino usque Maceodoniam, Rasiam; et a dicto flumine citra Bosnam nominavit... Moderni autem maritimam totam vocant Dalmaciam, montana autem Chroatiam..." [2]

Translation:

" Svatopluk, king of Dalmatia.... on Duvno field was crowned and his kingdom of Dalmatia is spread out into 4 regions: From the field called Duvno (Tomislavgrad), to Istra is called White Croatia... and from that field to Drac (Durres in Albania) is called Red Croatia; and the mountainous side from the river Drina to Macedonia is called Rascia, and to that river to here is called Bosnia. The whole sea coast is called Dalmatia and its mountains are Croatia..." Svatopluk (Свѧтопълкъ, also Svätopluk, Sventopluk, Suentopolcus, Zventopluk, Suatopluk, Святополкъ, Zwentibald) (?-894) was the prince of the Nitrian principality (850s - 871) and then the king of Great Moravia (871-894). ...

Tomislavgrad (Duvno) field is the traditional area of crowing Croatian kings. Dandolo suggest that the entire Croatian Kingdom was centered at Duvno. Interestingly enough, Dandolo in the end names the entire land, Dalmatia becomes the whole coast (in which zupanije of White and Red Croatia are located) and Croatia itself becomes the mountainous inland were Zagorje (Transmontana Bosnam - Rassam) are located (within Croatia). Tomislavgrad is a town in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

Another writer confirms the diet of Duvno and the distribution of Croatian lands as well as the existence of Red Croatia. Flavius Blondus (1388 -1463) was an Italian humanist. In his well known book Historiarum ab inclinatione Romani imperii decades he word for word confirms what Dandolo writes about the Duvno diet and White and Red Croatia. *[4] Humanism is a system of thought that defines a socio-political doctrine (-ism) whose bounds exceed those of locally developed cultures, to include all of humanity and all issues common to human beings. ...

One may see that Byzantine, Roman, German, and Venetian chronicles all suggests the existence of Red Croatia. Several documents like the De Administrando Imperio suggest that Croats settled in Dalmatia, Pannonia, and Illyricum after defeating the Avars. Other documents like the Methodus(De Regno Sclavorum) which is paired up with the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja give an insight to the distribution of Croatian and other Slavic lands during the early medieval Balkans. Roman or Romans has several meanings, primarily related to the Roman citizens, but also applicable to typography, math, and several geographic locations. ... The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ...

Some may argue against the authenticity of the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja. Alone, it is a very controversial document. But, when paired up with other documentation to support at least some of what the Chronicle is saying makes it more believable and able to stand on more than one leg. Yugoslavists have often tried to use the Chronicle as a "proto-Yugoslavia" type model that was tried in the Middle Ages. Serb historians reject the document completely (except in some cases when discussing Bosnian history). Croat historians and most Bosniak historians put faith in the document especially when it regards distribution of land among the peoples of the early medieval Balkans. The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Presbyter Diocleas: Libellus Gothorum; Ljetopis popa Dukljanina, Barski Rodoslov) is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic priest from Dioclea (modern Bar) around 1172-1196. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages) is a term used for three separate but successive political entities that existed during most of the 20th century on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Bosniaks (natively: Bošnjaci) are South Slavs descended from those who converted to Islam during the Ottoman period (15th-19th century). ...

Controversy over " Red Croatia"

There is much controversy over the historical existence of Red Croatia. The main sceptics are Serbian historians . The whole controversy has its roots in Greater Serbian and Greater Croatian ideologies as well as Montenegrin separatism . Serb historians base their arguement on old historical documents such as the De Administrando Imperio and the Frankish Annals from the 7th century which quote " the Serbs live in the greater part of Dalmatia." Many Serb historians deny the existence of Red Croatia but recently there are some Serbian historians that concede to it's historical existence but argue that the dominate ethnicity between the Cetina river and northern Albania have been Serbs ever since the seventh century . The De Administrando Imperio in chapters 33 and 34 , probably written in the 10th century , records that three hundred years earlier ( e.g. 7th century) that Hum and Travunia have been Serb lands and the inhabitents of Hum and Travunia ( i.e. large part of southern Dalmatia and Herzegovina ) originated from the unbaptized Serbs . Serb historians also believe that the territory south of the Cetina river had nothing to do with Croatia until the 10th century when Croatian kings forcefully conqured the populace and forcefully croatised "Catholic Serbs."

Croat historians argue that the De Administrando Imperio gives direct contradictions. Many other historians also agree that the settlements described in chapter 32 of the Serbs seem like a copy of an earlier written chapter 31 of the Croats . Croat historians also accuse the De Administrando Imperio of having a Byzantine and pro-Serb bias in the later chapters 33 and 34 where it designates Hum and Travunia as Serb lands . They also argue that there are no historical documents prior to the 11th century which designate Duklja ( large part of Montenegro) as a Serb territory . Croatian historians believe that Montenegro was forcefully conquered by the Serbs in the 12th century and Orthodox religion was forced on the populace . Croat nationalists believe most of the Orthodox Montenegrins and Herzegovians to be decendents of Red Croats and therefore "Orthodox Croats"

Serb nationalists declair Montenegrin separatism as a direct product of Greater Croatian ideology . In the later half of the 20th century , a prominate Serb historian Dr. Slavenko Terzic had extreme criticism against his enemies who he considered " Red Croats" particularly against the work of a Montenegrin Croat named Savic Markovic Stedimlija . Stedimlija between 1941 -1944 in the pro fascist Independent State of Croatia published several books and articles promoting pro-Croat Montenegrin nationalism as well as several articles on the promotion of the " Croatian Orthodox Church." Stedimlija is accused of the systematic sabotage of Serbian history in Montenegro by Terzic due to Stedimlija's publishing of Red Croatian history which Terzic alleged was made only for the purpose of negating the Serb roots of Montenegrins . The Independent State of Croatia (Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH) was a Nazi/Fascist puppet state in World War II. It was set up in April 1941 on parts of the territory of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after its occupation. ...

Today, Montenegrin separatism is less based on Croatian nationalism and more due to economic problems facing the union between Serbia and Montenegro . There are still many Montenegrins today who declair themselves Serbs and very few that declair themselves Croats.

Red Croatia , despite it's historical signifigance , has become more of a controversy among Croat and Serb nationalists trying to assert their respective ideologies . Like so many other things in the Balkans , it has become subject to radicalism due to strained relations between the various ethnic groups in the Balkans especially in the last century.

Library references

• [1]PESBYTER DIOCLEAS, De Regno Sclavorum, IOANNES LUCIUS, De Regno Dalmatie et Croatiae (Amsterdam 1666) 287-302 ; SCHWANDTNER, *****ores rerum hungaricarum III (Vienna 174, SL. MIJUSKOVIC, Letopis Popa Dukljanina (Titograd 1967)

• [2]A. DANDOLO, Chronica (MURATORI, *****ores rerum ital. XIII, E. Postorello) 156.

• [3]F.MIKLOSICH, Mon. serbica 4, si 9 ; A. V. SOLOVIEV, odrabrani spomenici 12, no 10.

• [4] BLONDUS. FLAVIUS, Historiarum ab inclinatione Romani imperii, dec II, lib II (Venetiae 1483, f. 115 r ; ed Basilea 1559) 177.

Wiki references

• De Administrando Imperio
• Bokelji
• History of Croatia

De Administrando Imperio is a scholarly work from ca. ... The Bokelj people (pl. ... This is the history of Croatia. ...

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Paul Stephenson: Chronicle of Dioclea
• Serbian site quoting Stefan Nemanja taking over Duklja (Zeta)
• Serbian explaination of Historia Salonitana by Toma Archdeacon
• Croatian explaination of Historia Salonitana by Toma Archdeacon
• South Slav Journal
• Information on John Scylzia
• History of Duklja: Montenegrin site
• History of Nations: Croatia
• Serb Montenegro
• Dr. Slavenko Terzic : The ideological roots of Montenegrin nation and Montenegrin separatism