Trg Kralja Tomislava, Zagreb, Croatia

By: Frank Brozovich, Honoary Croatian Consul, Chairman of CroatiaFest

After the reign of Croatian King Tomislav, who ruled from 910 as Duke and from 925 to 928 as King, Croatia would not be a sovereign nation until the advent of President Franjo Tudjman in 1992. During his reign, Kralj Tomislav united the Croats of Dalmatia and the Slavs of Pannonia into a single Kingdom. 
Croatia notably had its own Parliament (Sabor) from 1273. While under subjugation of the centuries-long Hapsburg empire, which collapsed in 1918, Croatia enjoyed a degree of autonomy and had its own official language. During this era, Croatia was placed under Hungarian jurisdiction. For over a millennium, Croatia remained under the sovereignty of foreign powers. But many Croats continued to seek full autonomy.
The equestrian statue of Croatia’s first king, by the modern Croatian pioneer sculptor Robert Franges-Mihanovic, can be found in Zagreb’s Trg Kralja Tomislava or King Tomislav Square. The park in Croatia’s capital, lined by Neo-Baroque and Neo-Classical buildings, is part of “Lenuci’s Green Horseshoe,” a series of seven parks, gardens and squares that make up the heart of Donji grad or Lower Town Zagreb.
Croatia’s people, its art, architecture and culture — and the folklore of its peasantry — kept the spirit of national Croatian identity alive for one thousand years. CroatiaFest presents that folklore and pride in Croatian identity. 

Frank Brozovich
Honorary Croatian Consul
Chairman of CroatiaFest