| around 400BC | the first Greek colonies are founded on Adriatic islands |
| around 100BC | Romans rule over the east coast of Adriatic |
| 305. | Roman emperor Diocletian in present-day Split |
| around 600. | Croats start moving to what is today Croatia |
| 852. | Duke Trpimir issues the Charter in which for the first time is mentioned the name Croatia, in domestic official documents. |
| 925. | Tomislav, the first Croatian king is mentioned, unifier of Pannonian and Dalmatian Croatia |
| 1102. | After the death of Petar Svacic, the last Croatian king, Croatia enters into a union with Hungary |
| 1242. | King Bela IV issues the Golden Bull in which he proclaims Zagreb a Free Royal City |
| 1433. | The beginning of defense against the Turks, who through time occupy the larger part of Croatian territory |
| 1527. | By a decision of the Croatian Assembly, the dynasty of Habsburg comes to the Croatian throne |
| 1699. | Croatia is largely liberated of Turkish rule; continental Croatia remains under the rule of Habsburg, and the largest part of the Adriatic coast and islands are under Venice; only Dubrovnik Republic remains completely independent |
| 1815. | After the short-term rule of the French under Napoleon, who abolished Venice and Dubrovnik Republic, almost the whole of present-day Croatia enters into the Habsburg Monarch |
| 1847. | Croatian becomes the official language of Croatia in Croatian Parliament (Sabor), replacing the Latin language |
| 1848. | Ban (Viceroy) Josip Jelacic defends Croatia against attempts of Hungarian occupation and unites all Croatian provinces |
| 1866. | Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer founds the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the first in southeastern Europe |
| 1918. | After the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in World War I, Croatia becomes part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later proclaimed Yugoslavia |
| 1941. | German and Italian forces occupy Yugoslavia; the organized partisan resistance starts, led by Croatian antifascists under the guidance of Josip Broz Tito |
| 1945. | The Federative Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia is proclaimed and within Yugoslavia, today's Croatia is a federative republic |
| 1990. | The first multiparty elections after World War II are organized in Croatia; the Croatian Assembly elects Dr. Franjo Tudjman as the first president |
| 1991. | Croatia proclaims independence; the Serbian rebellion starts, supported by the Yugoslav National Army from Belgrade and results in the occupation of one third of Croatian territory |
| 5/1992. | The Republic of Croatia becomes a member of the United Nations |
| 1998. | The last occupied part of Croatia, in the east, including Vukovar, is integrated into the country. |
| 12/1999. | The First Croatian President, Franjo Tuđman, died |
| 1/2000. | On the general elections, late president's ruling party (HDZ) lost the election. The coalition of 6 parties is now in power. |
| 12/2003. | On the general elections, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has won the election. Together with other 3 parties and national minority Members of Parliament forms the Government |
| 4.10.2005. | Accession negotiatons between Croatia and European Union have started |
| 1.7.2013. | Republic of Croatia became 28th member state of the European Union |
History Timeline
