Celebration of 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom ended on the anniversary of the last Croatian coronation

HKRV
Dec 31, 2025
16 min read

On December 30, 2025, the celebration of 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom concluded by marking the anniversary of the last Croatian coronation of 1916. We recall all the activities of the Croatian Royal Council during 2025, as well as the rich history of the Croatian Kingdom from King Tomislav to blessed Charles (Karl) IV.

Preparations for the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom in 2025 began exactly five years ago, when the Committee for the Celebration of the Millennium of the Croatian Kingdom was established in 2020 by the Croatian Royal Council (CRC) association with the aim of marking 1100 years since the first mention of Tomislav as the Croatian king, similar to the initiative of the Historical Committee from 1925, only with a clearly Croatian significance and historical continuity that was not achievable a hundred years ago due to state and political issues. The Committee consisted of a Department for culture and art, a Department for science and a Department for celebration ceremonies, and the members of the Committee were prominent Croatian scientists and artists led by Tomislav Sokol PhD. The Croatian Royal Council, as a non-political organization and the largest national organization based on cultural, social and scientific activities on the fundamental values of the Croatian kingdoms, banates, principalities, preserving our common, noble and civic culture, promoting our Central European and Mediterranean identity, and Christian heritage, and built on Catholic social teaching, has decided that our goal in marking 2025 should be reduced to three basic points:

-Celebrating the period of the Croatian Kingdom from 925 to 1918, from Tomislav to the blessed Charles (Karl) IV.

-The importance of the Church and the role of Christian faith, and the unity of Croats in the Homeland and abroad

-Preserving our traditional family, and thus noble, bourgeois and common culture

Start of the celebrations! On January 4, 2025, Ante Brešić pl Mikulić was a guest on the show Izdvojeno, Laudato TV (Catholic media), hosted by editor Domagoj Trojanović, which marked the official public celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom in 2025. In the show, he spoke about the significance of King Tomislav, the history of the Croatian Kingdom from 925 to 1918, and the plans of the Croatian Royal Council for the 2025 celebration, as well as the importance of this monarchical and Christian event.

Kraljevo 2025. (Kingsday celebration)

It has been recorded in history that the first event to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom in 2025 at the national level was organized by the Croatian Royal Council, which was the traditional celebration of Kraljevo (Kingsday) on January 11, 2025. The date chosen for the celebration was the birthday of HRH Karl Habsburg-Lothringen (grandson of the last Croatian king Blessed Karl IV), and the tradition of celebrating kings goes back to the distant Croatian past, all the way to medieval times. On that day, many dignitaries, members of diplomatic delegations, noble families, and even descendants of the last royal line of the Habsburgs, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, arrived in Zagreb. The event is of special importance, and was celebrated in particular with lectures on King Tomislav and his significance, given by prof Tomislav Sokol PhD and doctoral student Ante Brešić pl Mikulić. After the lecture, the Holy Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was held in the Greek Catholic co-cathedral in Zagreb, led by Bishop Milan Stipić, Vladika of Križevci, with a special intention for the Homeland. The co-cathedral is of great artistic significance, built and decorated in the style of historicism and art nouveau, the only cathedral in Zagreb that is not under reconstruction due to the 2020. earthquake and, interestingly, the only one that also preserves the royal throne, which is located opposite the bishop's. That day was marked by the blessing of the new banner of the Croatian Royal Council, whose godmother is Davorka pl Janković, and the gathering of Croatian nobility, as well as many citizens and believers. After the lecture and liturgy, a festive dinner was held as well.

Stepinčevo (Feastday of Blessed Cardinal Stepinac)

On the occasion of the feastday of Blessed Cardinal Stepinac, members of the Zagreb branch of the Croatian Royal Council Youth attended the Holy Mass in front of the Zagreb Cathedral. The Holy Mass was celebrated by His Holiness Dražen Kutleša, Archbishop of Zagreb, and was attended by a large crowd of believers and priests. Blessed Cardinal Stepinac was beatified in 1998 by St. Pope John Paul II. During his lifetime, he became a bulwark of faith against totalitarianism, remaining faithful to church doctrine and Rome.

Anniversary of the death of the last Croatian king, the blessed Karl IV

The Gebetsliga Croatia and the Croatian Royal Council marked the anniversary of the death of the last Croatian king Karl IV., on which occasion a liturgy was celebrated in the Church of St. Blaise led by Father Oleh Hirnyk with the intention of canonization, and prayers for the blessed Karl IV. After the end of the liturgy, "Kraljevka" (Croatian version of Gott erhalte), the oldest Croatian anthem, was played on the organ.

Krakow - 1000 years of the Polish Kingdom

On April 12, 2025 a millennium parade was held in Krakow to mark the millennium of the first Polish king. Many Polish organizations, especially Catholic and historical, attended the parade, celebration, and Holy Mass, and were joined by similar organizations and associations from neighboring countries. The entire event commemorates the first Polish king, Bolesław I. "The Brave," who was crowned king in 1025. On this occasion, the delegate of the Croatian Royal Council and head of the Youth Department of the CRC, Mladen Strukan, attended the celebration of the millennium of the Polish Kingdom. He conveyed warm words of greeting from Croatia, which itself is celebrating the millennium of our Croatian Kingdom this year.

Feastday of St. Cyril and Methodius

May 11, 2025 marks the memorial day of St. Cyril and Methodius, whom we celebrate as the patrons of the Slavs and co-patrons of Europe. They are especially attached to us Croats and Croatia, not only as our national patrons, but also as the donors of the Church Slavonic liturgy and the Glagolitic script that they created for us. In the full Greek Catholic co-cathedral of St. Cyril and Methodius in Zagreb, the hierarchal holy liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was presided over by Bishop Milan Stipić, during which he ordained Ivan pl Reiner as a deacon. The commemoration of the memorial day and the liturgy were also attended by members of the Croatian Royal Council, led by Borna Kuri.

80 years of Bleiburg and the Croatian way of the Cross On May 17, the 80th anniversary of Bleiburg and the Croatian way of the Cross was marked, on which occasion members of the Croatian Royal Council laid flowers and lit candles. This markes the events of the Yugoslav communist genocide against the Croats after the end of the Second World War. The prayer in the central part of Mirogoj was led by His Eminence Zdenko Križić, Archbishop of Split and Makarska, while the prayer in front of the monument to Bleiburg and the Stations of the Cross was led by Rev. Vlado Mikšić.

Zagreb - Duke Branimir's Day and Anthony's Youth March

June 7, 2025 marks the day of Duke Branimir, when he is mentioned in a letter from Pope John VIII in 879, in which he blesses the Croatian ruler and the Croatian people. This is considered the starting point of Croatian statehood, which the Croatian Royal Council officially celebrates as the historical Day of Croatian Statehood. The famous St. Anthony's Youth March was held on the same day, and this day was celebrated with religious events, liturgy, pilgrimages and prayer. The youth of the Croatian Royal Council, joined by members of the leadership, marked the day by participating in the pilgrimage.

Thompson concert (largest concert in the World)

Although this is a concert of popular rock music, we must emphasize on this occasion (which we are very proud of) that hundreds of our members and followers attended the largest concert in Croatian and world history on July 5, 2025, that of Marko Perković - Thompson. On this occasion, a large part of them organized themselves, including members of the CRC Youth. The three basic themes of Thompson's songs are about our faith, family and homeland. It is precisely significant that the Homeland, our Patria, is the basis of our love given by God and based on the millennium of the Croatian Kingdom, which Marko Perković especially honored by saying:

"This year we celebrate the thousandth anniversary of the coronation of King Tomislav, which speaks volumes about our rich past. We are not a small nation, we are a small but great, old European nation with its own rich and glorious history."

Madeira - visit to the grave of the last Croatian king

On the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom on the island of Madeira (Atlantic ocean - Portugal), where blessed King Charles (Karl) IV died in agony and captivity. The delegation of the Croatian Royal Council and the Gebetsliga Croatia led by Rev. Luka Poljak laid a memorial wreath in Croatian colors. Blessed King Charles IV was the last Croatian king who ruled Croatia from 1916 to 1918. During his short reign, he advocated for peace and the end of the Great War 1914. - 1918-, helping the socially vulnerable, the disabled, widows and orphans. He was remembered by the Croatian people for caring for hungry and socially vulnerable children from Dalmatia, Herzegovina and Bosnia, and for his advocacy for the unification of all Croatian lands. The grave of Blessed King Charles IV is located in the Church of Nossa shenora de Monte on Madeira. At the event, a member of the leadership of the Croatian Royal Council and the Gebetsliga Croatia, Rev. Poljak, laid wreaths on behalf of the Croatian Royal Council. This is the second official visit of the CRC to Madeira, currently the only Croatian organization to visit and lay wreaths at the grave of the last Croatian king and Catholic blessed.

Dubranec, Turopolje

On August 5, 2025, a delegation of the Croatian Royal Council and Youth joined in the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom and the marking of Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day and the memorial day of the parish of Our Lady of the Snows in Dubranec. The Holy Mass was celebrated by the parish priest, Rev. Damir Kunić. The Holy Mass and celebration were attended by numerous believers from Turopolje, and many firefigher and hunting organizations, as well as many associations, including our CRC and the Turopolje Banderij (Turobpolje nobility organisation).

Udbina - Croatian Martyrs' Day

On September 13, 2025, in Udbina, Lika, on the occasion of the great anniversaries of 2025, when we celebrate 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom, 840 years of the founding of the Krbava Diocese, we remembered the Battle of Krbava as the first great tragedy in which the flower of the Croatian nobility perished, the date of which was declared the Day of Croatian Martyrs. The liturgy was led by the Bishop of Krk, Ivica Petanjak. The concelebrants were Archbishops Mate Uzinić, Zdenko Križić and Milan Zgrablić. Bishops Marko Medo, Tomislav Rogić, Ivan Štironja, Ranko Vidović, Roko Glasnović, retired archbishops Marin Barišić, Ivan Milovan, Vicar General of the Military Ordinariate Ilija Jakovljević, Secretary General of the Croatian Catholic Bishops' Conference, Rev. Krunoslav Novak, Provincial of the Croatian Capuchins, Fr. Ante Barišić. Among many organizations and associations, the Croatian Royal Council is also present, which gathered with its members and associates to commemorate.

National Exhibition in Zagreb

The opening of the national exhibition in Klovićevi dvori "Once upon a time there was a kingdom", in which our distinguished members participated as co-authors, prof Sokol PhD and his wife prof Matijević - Sokol PhD, was attended by the Croatian state leadership, the church leadership of the archdiocese of Zagreb, representatives of cultural and scientific organizations and many prominent figures from public life. The delegation of the Croatian Royal Council included our companions, HRH Prince and Princess Hohenberg (great-great-grandson of Franz Ferdinand and great-nephew of King Franz Joseph I), members of the House of Nobility, members of our Department for historical and cultural antiquities and guests of the association. In a pleasant and celebratory tone, the director of the Klovićevi dvori gallery Picukarić, the main author of the exhibition Milinović and Prime Minister Plenković delivered speeches, followed by a tour of the exhibition. The opening day on October 16th is extremely significant, as we mark the anniversary of the birth of the famous Ban Josip Count Jelčić Bužimski and the memory of the university protests against Ban Khuen and the Magyarization of 1895.

Symposium and feastday of Blessed Karl

On October 21, 2025, on the feastday of the blessed Charles (Karl) IV, who was the last legitimate and crowned Croatian king, a large symposium titled "From King Tomislav to Blessed Charles IV" was held in Zagreb. The symposium was organized in cooperation with the Croatian Royal Council, the Gebetsliga Croatia and the Greek Catholic Parish of St. Cyril and Methodius. The commemoration of the memorial day was accompanied by lectures by Vladimir Sokol PhD, Mirjana Matijević - Sokol PhD, Krešimir Bušić PhD, doctoral student Ante Brešić pl Mikulić, Prof. Fr. Livio Marijan and, as a special guest, the American Catholic author and theologian Charles A. Coulombe. After the lecture, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom began, served by Bishop Milan Stipić, Bishop of Križevci, in the full co-cathedral church of St. Cyril and Methodius in Zagreb. The sermon was delivered by Fr. Livio Marijan, deacon. The event was attended by ambassadors from neighboring countries Austria, the Czech Republic, as well as distinguished guests of the Gebetsliga from Austria and the USA. Among the guests were many members of knightly Christian orders, distinguished families, cultural and scientific figures, among whom it is worth highlighting Prince Hohenberg (great-great-grandson of Franz Ferdinand). The initiative was launched by the Gebetsliga Croatia, the liturgical preparation was carried out by the Diocese of Križevci, while the Department for Historical and Cultural Antiquities of the CRC organized of the symposium.

Trakošćan Castle - exhibition

In the newly renovated gallery of the Trakošćan Castle, on November 22, 2025, an exhibition entitled “Soldiers of Count Josip Kazimir Drašković” was officially opened, which, in the 1100th jubilee year of the Croatian Kingdom, testifies to the long history of this part of our country. The exhibition depicts Count Josip Kazimir Drašković, the son of the Croatian Ban Ivan V. Drašković, whose enigmatic life was marked by military successes, freemasonry and scandals related to his marriage to a commoner Suzana Malatinsky. For the first time, a fully restored painting treasure was exhibited – portraits of officers of the banderija of Count Josip Kazimir Drašković, who once numbered almost a thousand soldiers and horsemen. The historical unit “Slunjska Krajiška Pješaška Repubonija” staged the military aspect of the exhibition and dignifiedly completed this event. The director of the Trakošćan Castle, Dr. sc. Goranka Horjan, emphasized that this exhibition is an important step in preserving the legacy of the famous Drašković family in the wider Central European cultural heritage. Among those present were representatives of various institutions and museums from Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, who contributed to the realization of the exhibition. At the invitation of the organizers, the delegation of the Croatian Royal Council was led by the Commissioner of the House of Nobility Dominik pl Bulat Vručinić.

Adelaide, Australia - Royal ball

The Croatian community in the Australian city of Adelaide held a ceremonial royal ball to mark the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom. The ball was organized by the Croatian Catholic Center in Adelaide, under the leadership of the priest and member of the CRC Rev. Luka Poljak. On Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025, a rich program was held, complemented by the oldest symphony orchestra from Norwood, as the central performers with a live performance of classical music masterpieces accompanying this celebration; Rev. Nicholas Dillon, priest and organist from the Archdiocese of Melbourne, opened the Croatian Royal Ball with a magnificent performance of four anthems (Croatian, Australian, the royal anthem of the United Kingdom, and Kraljevka - the last Croatian royal anthem) on the Walker organ. During the ball, a replica of the medieval Croatian crown was presented. The Tomich Winery offered the most exquisite range of its wines, and even had a limited edition series of ice wines made and bottled with a dedication to the Croatian Royal Ball, and Blanco Catering took on the task of making delicious canapés inspired by Croatian regions and flavors, which was the idea and creation of Tatjana Turčinov. We hosted two classical dance ensembles and one ballet ensemble at the ball.

Replica of the medieval Croatian crown

On the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom, the project to create a replica of the early medieval Croatian crown of the Trpimirović dynasty was conceptually initiated by Rev. Luka Poljak, a priest of the Croatian mission in the Croatian Catholic community in Adelaide and a member of the leadership of the Croatian Royal Council. This has now become an international project in which people from several continents participate. Rev. Poljak's idea was to use Australian opals, which are of great significance because they are associated with the Croatians of Australia, who throughout history have been associated with opal mining, thereby connecting the Croatian homeland and the diaspora. The instructions and basic sketch were created by art historian and academic artist Ante Brešić pl Mikulić, according to which the crown was designed and made by artist Tomislav Kovačev. The crown was made according to the shape of the medieval Croatian crown visible on the relief from the Split baptistery depicting the Croatian king Zvonimir and was originally located as a pluteus of the altar partition in the Coronation Church of St. Peter and Moses in Solin. The crown consists of a gilded rim with four single-pointed crosses, encrusted with opals in Croatian colors and bordered with braid. Scott and Nikki Levy created and painted the box for storing the crown in medieval floral elements and a depiction of a coronation in the Romanesque-Gothic style. Željka Klindžić created a blue velvet cushion on which the crown rests. The crown was publicly presented in Adelaide at the Royal Ball on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom and sponsored by the Croatian Community of Adelaide. In 2026, during the Year of King Zvonimir, it will be presented to the Croatian public at symposium events and the celebration of the Year of Zvonimir organized by the CRC, after which it will be handed over to the permanent possession of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.

Ushuaia, Argentina

At the Croatian House in Ushuaia, Argentina, on December 3, 2025, a presentation of the members and activities of the Asociación Croatas en Argentina (Association of Croats in Argentina) with branches in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands was held, during which the work of the Croatian Royal Council on the occasion of 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom was presented and cooperation on future projects was announced. The Commissioner of the Croatian Royal Council for Argentina and South America, Mariano Soler pl Ivulić, gave a lecture on the history of the Croatian Kingdom, the activities of the Croatian Royal Council and the history of nobility in Croatia. This is the second event in 2025 marking 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom in Argentina attended by the CRC, the first was related to the day of the Croatia necktie when wreaths were laid and the day was marked. In addition to Croatian organizations, members of the Croatian Royal Council, representatives of local authorities, representatives of the Argentine armed forces and the embassy also attended the events.

End of the 2025 celebration

Today, December 30, 2025, the official celebration and commemoration of 1,100 years of the Croatian Kingdom in the Homeland has ended. Today we mark the anniversary of the last coronation of the Croatian king, which is also the last Catholic coronation in Europe. Then, in 1916 after the death of the long-lived emperor and king Franz Joseph I, Charles (Karl) IV was crowned as the Croatian and Hungarian king in the capital city of Budapest. He will reign for less than two years and in a short period of time will work on ending the First World War, the unification of all Croatian lands into one Kingdom of Croatia, and will take special care of the socially vulnerable, disabled, widows and orphans, which led to the great merit of organizing the feeding of hungry children from Dalmatia and Bosnia - Herzegovina in the area of Croatia - Slavonia. After the collapse of the KuK monarchy and the creation of Yugoslavia, he will try on two occasions to come to the Hungarian throne, working with the Croatian Committee, the Pravaši (Rightists), former KuK and Domobran officers and the emigrant Banus Unkelhauser to liberate Croatia from the shackles of Yugoslavia. He will die in captivity on Medeira, in 2004 Pope St. John Paul II will declare him blessed. It was on this day that the whole of Europe could witness the ancient Croatian and Hungarian coronation customs for the last time, when the Croatian Ban Škrlec Lomnički handed over the golden apple at the coronation, the nobility representatives of Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Rama (Bosnia-Herzegovina) carried the flags of our countries, and Archbishop of Zagreb Bauer blessed him during the anointing and coronation. By marking this anniversary with a ceremonial session of the leadership of the Croatian Royal Council, our celebration of 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom ended, which reminded us of the long history of all our kings from the first Tomislav in 925 to the last, the blessed Charles IV in 1918.

Here we have listed only some of our events, we must note that our members participated in all major scientific, cultural and religious events in Croatia and abroad, among them we should mention the celebrations in Varaždin where our member Miran Bojanić Morandini, director of the Varaždin museum, specially organized events for the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom and the 100th anniversary of the museum itself. A large scientific symposium "The Beginnings of the Kingdom: Split Church Councils, Tomislav and His Era on the 1100th Anniversary" was held in Split, in which several members of the Croatian Royal Council participated, Dr. sc. Vladimir Sokol, Dr. sc. Krešimir Bušić, etc. etc. etc.

King Tomislav for us is the beginning of Croatia as a truly independent and fully self-governing state, the level of the kingdom and the spirit of the Christian coronation of our rulers has remained woven into the memory and identity of our people for centuries. Although we have been a republic since 1945, the reminder of the Croatian kings, the Croatian bans, and the entire glorious history of our Croatian crown remains present among us today.

Although we have achieved a large part of the planned projects, we regret that perhaps not all of them were achievied. We especially hope that we will be able to complete next year the creation of a large collection of scientific and professional works by eminent experts, all lectures organized by the CRC, a special book with biographies of all Croatian kings from 925 to 1918. Also in the cultural field, we hope to hold an exhibition of contemporary art on the theme of the Croatian Kingdom next year. In reviewing our capabilities, on the issue of financing, we can conclude that it is the Croatian people who have truly carried this projects forward, which is evident from the financing of our organization and our projects.

All events and projects of the Croatian Royal Council in commemoration of 1100 years of the Croatian Kingdom during 2025 are financed by: Croatian State budget 0%

EU budget and co-financing 0%

Support from the Ministry of Culture and other ministries 0%

Budgets of counties, cities and municipalities 0%

Donations from members and followers of the CRC 100% Therefore, first of all, we thank the Croatian people, because these are projects created by the people, with the support of the people and for the people. We are proud that in 2025 the Croatian people have shown love for their thousand-year-old history, culture and identity.

In preparation for the 2026 Year of King Zvonimir, when we celebrate 950 years since the coronation of Zvonimir (1076) and 500 years since the famous Cetingrad Sabor and the election of the Habsburgs (December 1526 and January 1527), we invite everyone to support the work of the Croatian Royal Council, and on this occasion we wish you:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2026. (CRC Leadership)