Kingdom of Croatia

The Kingdom of Croatia (Modern Croatian: Kraljevina Hrvatska, Hrvatsko Kraljevstvo; Latin: Regnum Croatiæ), and since 1060 known as Kingdom of Croatia and Dalmatia (Latin: Regnum Croatiae et Dalmatiae), was a medieval kingdom in Southern Europe comprising most of what is today Croatia (without western Istria, some Dalmatian coastal cities, and the part of Dalmatia south of the Neretva River), as well as most of the modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Croatian Kingdom was ruled for part of its existence by ethnic dynasties, and the Kingdom existed as a sovereign state for nearly two centuries. Its existence was characterized by various conflicts and periods of peace or alliance with the Bulgarians, Byzantines, Hungarians, and competition with Venice for control over the eastern Adriatic coast. The goal of promoting the Croatian language in the religious service was initially introduced by the 10th century bishop Gregory of Nin, which resulted in a conflict with the Pope, later to be put down by him.