Croatian Flag

Croatian Flag

Croatian Flag

For approximately 800 years following 1102, Croatia was an autonomous kingdom under the Hungarian crown, although it was often a battleground between Hungary, Byzantium and Venice. In 1524, the country came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, returning to the Hungarian crown in 1699. Alternating between Austrian and Hungarian rulership during the 19th century, in 1919 it was included in the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which was named Yugoslavia in 1929). It declared itself independent in June 1991.

While it was part of Yugoslavia, the Croatian flag flew the Pan-Slavic colors of red, white and blue. Following its invasion by Germany during World War II, a Nazi puppet state called Greater Croatia was formed, arms being added to the center of the national flag. Following Croatia's postwar reintegration into Yugoslavia, the tricolor was retained and a red, gold fimbriated star representing socialism was placed in the center. The flag of Croatia in current uses based on the one that was used during World War II and depicts a red-white chequered shield (the traditional emblem of Croatia), above which are smaller shields representing, from left to right, the ancient arms of Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia.