Montenegro celebrates 1100 years of Croatian Kingdom

An event including a lecture on the topic "1100 Years of the Croatian Kingdom" was held in the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Kotor, organised by the Croatian National Council (HNV) in Montenegro, as part of commemorations marking this important anniversary in 2025.

In the introductory part, the attendees were addressed by the HNV leader, Zvonimir Deković, and historian Miroslav Akmadža, Director of the Croatian Institute of History in Zagreb, CE Report quotes HINA.

The reign of King Tomislav marked the golden age of Croatian history, and the evidence of his lasting presence among us is not only in historical records but also in the spiritual heritage of this region, as evidenced by our heritage from Kotor to Bar, said Zvonimir Deković, President of the HNV.

Akmadža said that the year in which we mark 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom is a very significant milestone for a small nation like the Croats, but also that 1100 years of the kingdom's history is important for much larger nations as well.

The Croatian Parliament has declared 2025 the "Year of Commemorating the 1100th Anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom" as a reminder of key moments in the history of the Croatian people – the year of the coronation of the first Croatian king, Tomislav, as well as his mention in the letter of Pope John X, which in 925 called for the First Split Church Council – marking the moment when Croatia became an independent and recognised kingdom, a pivotal event in shaping Croatian national identity and sovereignty.

The "Year of Commemorating the 1100th Anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom" is a unique opportunity to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Croatian people, including the Croatian language, art, and architecture.

According to the latest census, about one percent of Montenegro's citizens identify as Croatian, and they mainly live in the coastal area called "Boka Kotorska", that is the Bay of Kotor.