Croatia - Navy History
It has always been difficult to defend the Adriatic Sea due to its geopolitical importance. The Croats discovered this out very soon after moving to their new homeland. They mastered naval skills and became a Mediterranean nation with maritime tradition that has long continuity. Croats preserved their national identity although they were at a historical meeting point of various pressures. Among other things, the sea was and has stayed a source of energy, creation, inspiration and struggle.
According to Longobard writer Pavlo Đakon from the year 642, Croats have many ships under the city of Seponte (Manfredonia in Southern Italy). There are many records of the problems of the Venetian Republic with Croatian pirates in the Venetian records from the second half of the 7th century. At the time it was a considerable source of revenue for all countries. The same sources speak about Croats as successful ship builders. Already at the time of Duke Vladislav (821-835), the sources mention a strong navy.
Thanks to the maritime power of Croatia, Mislav (835 - 845) prevented Venice to establish control on the Eastern Adriatic. During the rule of Duke Trpimir (845 - 864) Croats broke through to Furlania and in front of the Venice itself. During the rule of Duke Domagoj (864-876) the strong Croatian Navy successfully defended its coast from Venice and in 866 the Venetian Doge Partezipazio was forced to conclude peace treaty. Saracens proved to be annoying disruptors at that time in the Adriatic Sea. Therefore an alliance was made between the Byzantium, Venice and Croatia and later on between the Pope and the Franks. In 871 the Croatian Navy distinguished itself as ally of Frank Emperor Ludovik II in liberation of Bari from the Saracens.
At the time of Duke Branimir (879 - 892) or at the time when Croatia becomes a completely independent state, the Croatian Navy continues its rise. That was the time of the famous battle in the Middle Dalmatian local waters and when the Venetians were completely defeated on 18 September 887. Venetian Doge Petar Candiano was killed. Venetians paid to Croats tribute-money for the next hundred years so as to sail the Adriatic Sea freely.
In the work of Konstantin Porfirogenet "De administrado imperio" it is stated that Croatia had 80 sagenas with 40 sailors and 100 konduras with 10 to 20 sailors, not counting oarsmen. Judging by that, only Byzantium had a bigger navy. Beside this powerful navy, the King Tomislav (910 - 928) also had a strong army with 60 000 horsemen and 100 000 infantrymen. The era of Stjepan Držislav (969 - 996) was marked with successful maritime trade and safekeeping of maritime routes and domination of Croatia on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
The King of Croatia and Dalmatia Petar Krešimir IV (1058 - 1074) expanded its kingdom "on land and on sea". In his deed of donation to the convent of Saint Kreševan in Zadar in 1069, it is stated that he donates the island of Maun situated "in our Dalmatian sea" ( in nostro dalmatico mari ). The Duke of the Croatian Royal Navy Rusin is mentioned at the time and the very title of Duke borne only by governmental dignitaries is proof of the navy importance. In the first year of the rule of King Zvonimir (1074 - 1089) Normans invaded the Adriatic Sea. According to some sources, the very Croatian King was captured; the Pope himself procured the liberation of Zvonimir.
Normans conquered cities on the eastern coast. The only thing that is sure is that the island of Rab never fell. The alliance of Normans and Croats made under the influence of the Pope Grgur VII lasted from 1082 to 1084: They led together a series of naval battles against Byzantium-Venetian navy. The luck was changeable. For example, in November 1084 and in August 1085 the Venetian fleet was terribly defeated. Unfortunately, with King Zvonimir's death the state and naval power of Croatia fell and Venice under rule of Napoleon conquered the coast except for the Republic of Dubrovnik. The strength of the Republic of Dubrovnik was also manifested in maritime power.
Total Fleet of Dubrovnik in 1800, together with fishermen ships was 673 clippers. 255 of them were bigger ships that sailed outside territorial waters of Dubrovnik. The total number of clippers of the transatlantic navigation was 230 ships. The Republic had its consulates in over 80 cities. Back then Dubrovnik had about 7000 seamen, shipbuilders, shipowners and members of other maritime professions.
The period from 1806 to 1813 was the era of the French rule of Marshall Marmont in Dalmatia and development of the maritime trade. Napoleon's rule was followed by Austro-Hungarian and on 2 nd November 1818 the first steam ship "Carolina" sailed the Adriatic Sea. In early 1838 the free steamship navigation in the Adriatic Sea with regular steamship route Triest-Mali Lošinj-Zadar-Šibenik-Split-Hvar-Korcula-Dubrovnik-Kotor was proclaimed. This year was also marked with cessation of the domination of the clippers and entrance of steamship in the war fleet. In June 1866 the Italian King Victor Emanuel II declared war to Austria. Like many times before the Adriatic Sea was a battlefield. Both fleets fought on 20 September opening fierce artillery fire. Tegetthoff, a commander of the Austrian fleet sails into the harbor of Vis with all gunboats. With victory near Vis Austria secured dominance on the Adriatic Sea.
The year 1869 is worth mentioning when the Austrian frigate "Donau" of 2000 tons of gross weight and with 350 crew members who were, beside senior officers, sailors from islands and coast of the Eastern Adriatic, undertakes a trip around the world. The ship left Pula in July and returned in March 1871 having sailed the whole Earth. There is a ship log written by a crewmember, Matija Politeo from Starigrad on the island of Hvar.
The period from 1911 to 1914 is especially important for development of the Navy. Its biggest ships were launched: "Viribus Unitis", "Tegetthoff", "Prinz Eugen" and "Szent Istvan". In 1918 the Austro-Hungarian navy on the admiral ship "Viribus Unitis" in Pula was forced under order of the Emperor Karlo to surrender to delegates of the National Council from Zagreb - dr. Ante Tresic Pavicic, Vilim Bukšeg and dr. Ivan Cop and members of the Local National Council in Pula. The Croatian flag was flown then. Unfortunately, on the very same day one Italian specially constructed boat called mignata and similar to guided torpedo, broke through the harbor of Pula and sank the battle ship "Viribus Unitis" together with 250 sailors and Commander Janko Vukotic. The Navy and merchant navy led by Croatian maritime experts continue to develop at the time of the SHS Kingdom and in both states of Yugoslavia.
The Croatian Navy was in a state of high combat readiness during Storm. It was prepared for active naval defence focused on anti-naval, anti-submarine and countermine warfare. Naval defence in the Northern and Central Adriatic was implemented in line with order Turs-2, and in the Southern Adriatic within the scope of the defensive operation Maestral in the Southern Th eatre. Committed to the mission were primarily rocket-artillery fl eet forces, a mixed naval battalion for antisubmarine warfare, a composite battalion for countermine warfare, assault vessels and commandos. The coastal artillery batteries of Šipan, Gruž and Molunat were mobilized, and the Fleet brought up to its full complement along with the Hvar and Brac composite naval infantry detachments. The Croatian Navy (HRM) was established on 12 September 1991 in accordance with a decision made by the first Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman, when Croatia had not yet been internationally recognised and when its islands and the coast had been blocked by vessels of the enemy Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). From 1991 Croatian sailors have no longer been in service of foreigners and the Navy carries with pride the name for which it has bled for centuries - Croatian Navy.
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