Washington D.C. – On Friday November 21, the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) hosted a distinguished evening reception at the Croatian Embassy in Washington D.C., commemorating the 1100th Anniversary of the coronation of King Tomislav, Croatia’s first king. The event was co-hosted by the Croatian Academy of America (CAA) and the D.C. Chapter of the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP D.C.).
The program was moderated by President of the CAA John Kraljić, and featured a panel of speakers who are Croatian professors in Croatian Medieval history: Dr. Tomislav Galović, University of Zagreb; Dr. Dragan Damjanović University of Zagreb; Tatjana Tomaić, M.Sc. Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar; and Dr. Zeljko Bartulović, University of Rijeka.
The panel reflected on King Tomislav’s enduring role in establishing the framework of Croatian statehood. According to tradition, Tomislav, son of Duke Muncimir, was crowned in 925 AD on the Field of Duvno (Tomislavgrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina). While the coronation remains shrouded in mystery, its authenticity is supported by two letters from Pope John X. King Tomislav unified the Pannonian, Dalmatian, and Bosnian regions into a cohestive kingdom recognized by the Papacy, the Byzantine Empire, and the Frankish Kingdom. His reign is regarded as the cornerstone of Croatian national identity and sovereignty.
“The history of King Tomislav is the cornerstone of the Croatian identity. King Tomislav solidifies our place in European history,” said Dr. Bartulović.
Professors Tomaić and Bartulović wore ceremonial tri-color sashes of the Brethren of the Croatian Dragon (Braća Hrvatskoga Zmaja), a fraternity dedicated to preserving Croatian heritage and identity. Alongside Matica Hrvatica, the Brethren of the Croatian Dragon initiated the resolution for the Croatian Parliament to designate 2025 as the official commemoration year of the Kingdom of Croatia’s 1100th anniversary.
From the History to Bright Future
The celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of King Tomislav’s reign was marked by a special art competition, which allowed students to creatively express the significance of the founder of the Croatian Kingdom. Croatian Schools USA , under the leadership of Andrea Katić Bruno, the Educational Director of the Croatian School of Boston, organized and presented exhibition of 20 art works depicting King Tomislav from students ages four to 12 from Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
“History is the study of knowing where you come from and where you are going. The children are the future, so we must prepare them,” said Katić Bruno.
Distinguished guests at the Embassy were able to learn more about the important work Croatian Schools are doing by nurturing our future generation and making sure that the Croatian language and heritage are a vibrant part of American multicultural landscape. Guests also discussed their favorite pieces, underscoring the importance of engaging younger generations to learn about their cultural roots and history. To learn and get involved with Croatian Schools USA, contact: [email protected]
Music
The evening also included a piano performance by Maja Brlečić of “U Boj, U Boj” from the opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski, composed by Ivan Zajc (1832-1914), honoring Nikola IV Zrinski, Ban of Croatia, and captain of the Hungarian and Croatian forces’ heroic siege against the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Szigetvár of 1566.
Croatian wines, ranging from Graševina to Plavac Mali, provided by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., an online store shipping over 100 indigenous Croatian wines to most U.S. states, were served by ACAP D.C. volunteers under the coordination of Kendell Niles, President of ACAP D.C., with support from John Plavetić, Forrest Petrich, and Aubrianna Mierow.
The reception drew guests from the local D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas, and from various states across the United States, including Massachusetts, California, and New York. Local organizations represented include ACAP D.C., the Croatian Catholic Mission of St. Blaise, and the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 1976.
NFCACF
The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) is dedicated to advancing the interests of Croatian Americans and promoting Croatian culture, history, and heritage across the United States. For more information and to get involved, contact us at: [email protected]. And follow us at Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Author: Mark Plavetic, National Coordinator and Administrator for NFCACF
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