After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the area was subjugated by the Ostrogoths for 50 years, before being incorporated into the Byzantine Empire. Croatia, as a polity, first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century, the Duchy of Croatia. With the nearby Principality of Lower Pannonia , [ 1 ] it was united and elevated into the Kingdom of Croatia which lasted from until From the 12th century, the Kingdom of Croatia entered a personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary.
It remained a distinct state with its ruler Ban and Sabor , but it elected royal dynasties from neighboring powers, primarily Hungary , Naples , and the Habsburg monarchy. The period from the 15th to the 17th centuries was marked by intense struggles between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Habsburg Empire to the north. Following the German invasion of Yugoslavia in April , the puppet state Independent State of Croatia the Axis powers satellite state, was established.
It was defeated in May , after the Bleiburg repatriations. In , Croatia's leadership severed ties with Yugoslavia and proclaimed independence amidst the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The area known today as Croatia was inhabited by hominids throughout the prehistoric period. Fossils of Neanderthals dating to the middle Palaeolithic period have been unearthed in northern Croatia, with the most famous and best-presented site in Krapina. Greek author Hecataeus of Miletus mentions that around BC, the Eastern Adriatic region was inhabited by local tribes such as Histrians , Liburnians , and Illyrians.
As Isseian maritime trade became affected by Illyrian pirating activities , they asked for Roman intervention against the Illyrian kingdom , leading to the First Illyrian War in BC and beginning of Roman expansion on the Eastern Adriatic.
Before the Roman expansion, the eastern Adriatic coast formed the northern part [ 10 ] of the Illyrian kingdom from the 4th century BC to the Illyrian Wars in the s BC. The area north of the Neretva was slowly incorporated into Roman possession until the province of Illyricum was formally established c. These lands then became part of the Roman province of Illyricum. Between 6 and 9 AD, tribes including the Dalmatae , who gave name to these lands, rose up against the Romans in the Great Illyrian revolt , but the uprising was crushed, and in 10 AD Illyricum was split into two provinces— Pannonia and Dalmatia.
