2025The 1100th Anniversary Of The Kingdom Of Croatia (C) - First Day Cover

Tomislav being the first Croatian king is now a widely accepted fact. Based on research of historians at the end of the 19th century, his name became associated with that of the first Croatian king. A story was also developed about his coronation on Duvno Field in 925, despite the lack of evidence for this in historical records. Pope John X sent two letters around that time period in which he mentions Tomislav. In one letter he is mentioned as “King Tomislav in the province of the Croats and in the regions of Dalmatia,” while in the other he is referred to as “dear son Tomislav, King of the Croats.” He ruled the significant part of the former Lower Pannonia with the center in Sisak and governed the Dalmatian cities. Victories over the Bulgarians and a likely successful resistance to Hungarians showed his strength and power.