Discover chronological summary of town history dates from the ancient times to the present day.
Going through Croatia Split ancient dates, some of them have fundamental importance to follow its past as inseparable part of Croatia’s history.
The Croats had been ruled for centuries by other nations, from Romans, Venetians, Ottomans, Hungarians, Austrians, French and Germans and finally united in Yugoslavia after the Second World War, gathering all Slavic nations in one state.
This artificial unification was doomed to have a short duration when 1980s after the death of Tito, started a slow process of disintegration that in 1991 have turned into a brutal war. Croatia declared its independence in 1991.
Ancient history
300 B.C.
The Illyrian tribes (Histri and Liburni) had conquered supremacy in the Balkan peninsula
168 B.C.
After the defeat of Genzio, the last Illyrian king, Romans started their five centuries long domination.
257 A.D.
Salona (Solin) will be proclaimed the administrative headquarters of the Romans.
295 A.D
The Roman emperor Gaius Valerius Aurelius Diocletanus started to build his palace in the Split bay on the Dalmatian coast. He was born in nearby Salona.
305 A.D
After Diocletian’s abdication, the retired emperor settled in the palace measuring 28,900 square feet to spend the rest of his life.
Split history dates through Middle Age
6th and 7th century
Croats arrived in Split and Dalmatian region in the second half of the 6th and the first half of the 7th century.
845 to 864 (ninth century)
King Trpimir was the first founder of Croatian dynasty. Klis fortress (5 km from Split) will be the capital of his kingdom.
910 to 928 (tenth century)
King Tomislav period. In his time Croatia was one of the most powerful states in Europe.
1000 (eleventh century)
For almost 800 years the Venetians controlled the Istria peninsula and 377 years Dalmatian coast and islands.
The early modern period
1537-1540 (sixteenth century)
Ottomans conquered the fortress of Klis, threatening the city of Split.
1797-1815
The fall of the Republic of Venice. After short presence of Napoleon, Dalmatian region had become the part of Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1918
After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was proclaimed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
1941
Italian forces occupy Split and Dalmatian region. The partisan resistance starts, led by Croatian antifascists.
1945-1948
After the second war the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was declared.
1991
While Croatian Parliament (Sabor) has proclaimed the independence of Croatia, Serbs from Croatian region Krajna has declared their independence with the support of Serbian leader Milosevic. The war breaks out between Serbs and Croats.
1995
After the military operation called Oluja (the storm) Croatian liberation forces have liberated Krajna and entire Croatia’s territory.
July 1st. 2013
Croatia became the Europe Union’s 28th state member.
Images used throughout this post are from Old Split Town postcards website!
