CROATIA
The area known as Croatia was conquered by the Romans it 168 BC. Forebears of Croatia's current Slav population settled there in the 7th century. The Croat dukedoms gained independence in the year 814. The first king of Croatia was crowned in 925.
Hungarian king Coloman was recognized as the common king
for Croatia and Hungary in a treaty of 1102 (often referred to as the Pacta
Conventa), thus making a personal union with Hungary. Though later both countries
became the part of Habsburg Empire, The two crowns would remain connected until
the end of World War I.
In 1867, after the defeat in Austro-Prussian war, the Austro-Hungarian dual
monarchy was created to appease Hungarian nationalists. Croatia remained under
Hungarian jurisdiction so Hungarian stamps were valid in Croatian territory
(example).
Shortly before the end of the First World War, on
October 29, 1918, the Croatian Parliament severed relations with Austria and
Hungary as the Allied armies defeated Austria-Hungary's. Shortly thereafter,
they decided to form the State of the Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs, with the
intent of pursuing a joint state of all south Slavs previously in
Austria-Hungary.
This state was barely organized and rather weak compared to its neighbors. Italy
retained the Istrian peninsula, the city of Zadar and the island of Lastovo
after the war, and had pretensions on the whole Adriatic coast, if not more.
The Kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro which were part of the winning alliance
were also interested in Austria-Hungary's old territory.
On December 1st, 1918 the state merged with kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro into Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed Yugoslavia in 1929). Till 1921, provisional stamps were used in Croatia. That were overprinted Hungarian and purpose-printed stamps (example). In 1921 stamps for whole Yugoslavia were issued (example), replacing provisional issues.
Croatia received some autonomy in 1939 when the provinces were shuffled so that there was one called the Croatian banovina comprised of Croatia, Dalmatia, and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, this didn't last for long because lacking the leadership of a strong king, the militarist regime in Belgrade crumbled in 1941 and the Axis powers quickly occupied Yugoslavia.
In April 1941, Germany and Italy formed a Nazi puppet-state, called Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Nominally a kingdom under an Italian prince, in fact the state was ruled by the Croat fascist party. It included today's Croatian territory (expect northern parts occupied by Hungary and coast which was under Italy) and major parts of Bosnia. Yugoslav stamps were overprinted (example) for postage use until August when first NDH purpose-printed stamps were issued. Click here to see Croatian stamps from wartime period.
After World War Two, Croatia was re-incorporated into Federative Peoples' Republic of Yugoslavia. First (in 1945) two provisional issues of stamps were used (PIC). Afterwards regular Yugoslav stamps replaced them (example).
In 1990, the first free elections were held. Victorious party Croatian Democratic Union declared the independence next year.
Serbs from the mountainous areas where they constitute a majority rebelled and formed an Autonomous Region of the Serb Krajina (later the Republic of Srbska Krajina). Any intervention by the Croatian police was obstructed by the Yugoslav Army. Soon the conflict escalated in war between Croats on one and Serbs on other side. Many Croatian cities came under the attack of the Serbian forces.
In early August 1995, Croatian army started operations Thunder and Storm and quickly took most of Krajina, causing a mass exodus of the Serbian population. A few months later, the war finally ended and in 1998 the remaining part of Serbian Krajina reintegrated into Croatia.
Republic of Croatia started issuing stamps in 1991. Click here to see the first Croatian stamp. Also, check some more Croatian stamps!
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