This is a list of Croatian soldiers, and it includes military personnel of Croatian origin ranging from early mediaeval times to contemporary Croatian armies.
Medieval Croatian state
Croatian principalities (until 925)
Dalmatian Croatia
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Višeslav Dalmatian Croatia Prince Frankish campaign against Avars and Slavs Siege of Trsat Višeslav waged a war against Franks during his rule and avoided defeat until 803 — a year after his death. Borna Dalmatian Croatia Prince Frankish campaign against Ljudevit Posavski Battle of Kupa Trpimir I Dalmatian Croatia Prince Against Byzantine EmpireCroato-Bulgarian Wars Domagoj Dalmatian Croatia Prince Civil war in CroatiaCroatian-Venetian WarsSiege of Bari (866-871)
Pannonian Croatia
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Vojnomir Principality of Lower Pannonia / Carolingian Empire Prince Vojnomir is known for fighting the Avars during their occupation of Croatia. He launched a joint counterattack with the help of Frankish troops under King Charlemagne in 791. The offensive was successful and the Avars were driven out of Croatia. In return for the help of Charlemagne, Vojnomir was obliged to recognize Frankish sovereignty, convert to Christianity and have his territory named as Principality of Lower Pannonia. Ljudevit Principality of Lower Pannonia Prince Ratimir Principality of Lower Pannonia / First Bulgarian Empire Prince Braslav Principality of Lower Pannonia Prince
Kingdom of Croatia (925–1102)
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Tomislav Dalmatian Croatia / Kingdom of Croatia Prince / King Croatian–Bulgarian wars Battle of the Bosnian Highlands Tomislav united the Croats of Dalmatia and Pannonia into a single Kingdom in 925. Michael Krešimir II Kingdom of Croatia King War against Arabs Michael won a conflict against Arab pirates near the town of Gargano on Italian peninsula in 969. Stephen Držislav Kingdom of Croatia King War against Venice Svetoslav Suronja Kingdom of Croatia King War against Venice Stephen I Kingdom of Croatia King War against Arabs Peter Krešimir IV Kingdom of Croatia King War against NormansIs believed to be taken into captivity during Norman incursion. Zvonimir Kingdom of Croatia King War against Holy Roman Empire He was engaged in a minor conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, specifically one of his vassals in Istria. Petar Snačić Kingdom of Croatia King War against Kingdom of Hungary Battle of Gvozd Mountain
Croatia in personal union with Hungary (1102–1527)
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Paul I Šubić of Bribir(c. 1245 - 1 May 1312) Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia /Lord of all of Bosnia Wars against Venice /Wars against Bosnians Mladen Šubić Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of HungaryBan of Croatia /Lord of all of BosniaŠubić-Damlatian cities Wars / Louis The Great Wars of centralization Battle of Blizna John of Palisna Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Battle of Kosovo Anti-Court Movement Wars John of Palisna led a contingent of Knights Hospitallers from Vrana in Croatia against Ottomans in the Battle of Kosovo. Ivan Frankopan Cetinski Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Battle of Una Battle of Vrpile gulch Battle of Krbava fieldBernardin Frankopan Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of HungarynoblemanCroatian–Ottoman Wars Battle of Una Battle of Vrpile gulch Battle of Krbava fieldPetar BerislavićKingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of HungaryBan of CroatiaCroatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Siege of Jajce Battle of Plješivica Ivan Karlović(1478 - 1531) Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Siege of Vienna (1529)
Croatia within Habsburg Monarchy (1527–1918)
Regular Habsburg army
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes ImageChristoph FrankopanKingdom of Croatia / John ZapolyaBan of CroatiaCroatian–Ottoman Wars / Habsburg-Zapolya Succession War Siege of Varaždin (1527) Petar Keglević Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Siege of Vienna (1529) Katzianer's Campaign Franjo Vlašić Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Siege of Szigetvár Nikola Šubić Zrinski was most known for defending Szigetvar Fortress against Ottomans. Tamas (Toma) ErdodyKingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchyBan of CroatiaCroatian–Ottoman wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Battle of Slunj Battle of Brest Battle of Sisak Petar Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664) Battle at Jurjeve Stijene (1663) Nikola VII Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664) First battle of Novi Zrin Second battle of Novi Zrin Third battle of Novi Zrin Miklos (Nikola) ErdodyKingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchyBan of CroatiaCroatian–Ottoman wars / Great Turkish War Siege of Virovitica (1684)
Officers
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image16-17 Century Nikola Jurišić Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy Captain Little War in Hungary Siege of Güns (Kőszeg) (1532) Nikola Jurišić defended the small border fort of Kőszeg with only 700-800 Croatian soldiers with no cannons and few guns, preventing the advance of the Turkish army of 120,000-140,000 toward Vienna.Turnbull, Stephen. The Ottoman Empire 1326–1699. New York: Osprey, 2003. p. 51 Adam ZrinskiKingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchyofficerGreat Turkish War (1683-1699) Siege of Virovitica (1684) Battle of SlankamenMarko MesićKingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchysoldier-priestGreat Turkish War (1683-1699) Siege of Udbina (1689) Siege of Bihać (1687)Ivan Andrija MakarKingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchygeneralGreat Turkish War (1683-1699) Slavonian campaign Siege of Bihać (1687)Pavao Ritter VitezovićKingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchypoet and scholar, was granted a status of knight on diet of Požun Great Turkish War (1683-1699) Participated in Croatian/Habsburg army attacks on Szigetvar and Lendava18-19 Century Franjo Jelačić Feldmarschall-Leutnant Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791)French Revolutionary WarsNapoleonic Wars Ulm Campaign
Battle of Raab Battle of Wagram Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich Habsburg monarchy Feldmarschall-Leutnant Seven Years' WarWar of the Bavarian SuccessionAustro-Turkish War (1787–1791)French Revolutionary Wars Josef Philipp Vukassovich Feldmarschall-Leutnant Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791)French Revolutionary WarsNapoleonic Wars Siege of Mantua (1796–1797)Battle of Wagram Franjo TomašićLieutenant field marshal French revolutionary wars Napoleonic wars Siege of Zara (Zadar) 1813Josip JelačićTriune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and DalmatiaFeldzugmeister Revolutions of 1848 Hungarian Revolution of 1848 Battle of Pákozd Vienna Uprising Battle of Schwechat Battle of Mór Battle of Kápolna Battle of Isaszeg Battle of Tápióbicske Battle of Káty Grgo Kusić (1892–1918) Soldier Grgo Kusić was a tall Croat soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army. According to some accounts, Kusić was the tallest soldier of the Austro-Hungarian Army. Stjepan Sarkotić General World War I Maximilian Njegovan Admiral World War I Josip Filipović General Bosnian Campaign of 1878 World War I Svetozar BorojevićField marshal Bosnian Campaign of 1878 World War I Eastern Front Battles of the Isonzo Second Battle of the Piave river Battle of Vitorio VenettoHis wartime merits earned him nickname "Lion of Soča". Although originating from Serbian Orthodox family, at the end of his life, he declared himself as Croatian.Anton LipošćakGeneralWorld War ICarpathian FrontSlavko KvaternikState of Croats, Serbs and SlovenesMarshal World War I World War II1918 occupation of Međimurje
Irregular military
Uskoci
Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes ImagePetar Kružić Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Captain Ottoman wars in Europe Petar Kružić was a capitan of Klis and Senj. He gathered together a garrison composed of Croat refugees, who used the base at Klis Fortress both to hold the Turks at bay, and to engage in marauding and piracy against coastal shipping. Although nominally accepting the sovereignty of the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand I, who obtained the Croatian crown in 1527, Kružić and his freebooting Uskoci were a law unto themselves. Ivan Lenković (died 1569. Metlika, Slovenia) Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy General Ottoman wars in Europe Ivan Lenković was ruler of Senj and Military Frontier commander. He is noted for the construction of Fortress Nehaj and as a captain of the Uskoks. Ivo Senjanin Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ottoman wars in Europe Elia Peraizza Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ottoman wars in Europe
Hajduci Andrijica Šimić – legendary hajduk Mijat Tomić – Croatian legendary Hajduk Luka Ibrišimović – Priest, Spy and Hajduk
Pandurs Baron Franjo Trenk – leader of Pandurs; father of military music
Rebel peasants Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes ImageAmbroz "Matija" Gubec Muška punta Peasant army leader Croatian-Slovene peasant revoltBattle of Donja Stubica Ilija "Prebeg" Gregorić Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Muška punta Grenzer Peasant army commander Hundred Years Ottoman-Croatian War Henning-Tahy Wars Croatian-Slovene peasant revolt Battle of Susedgrad (1565) Battle of Krško
World War II (1941–1945)
Ustaše Andrija Artuković Jure Francetić Mile Budak Rafael Boban Miroslav Filipović Dido Kvaternik Slavko Kvaternik Josip Metzger Mladen Lorković Ljubo Miloš Tias Mortigjija Dinko Šakić Cvitan Galić Marko Mesić Vladimir Metikoš
Croatian and Yugoslav Partisans Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Josip Broz Tito Marshal World War I Russian Civil War World War II Ivan Gošnjak General Spanish Civil War World War II Ivan Rukavina General Spanish Civil War World War II Franjo Tuđman Vrhovnik World War II Croatian War of Independence Joža Horvat Officer World War IIIvan ŠiblGeneralWorld War IIVladimir BakarićOfficerWorld War IIRade BulatOfficerWorld War IIStjepan FilipovićWorld War IIFranjo KluzWorld War IIJosip KrašWorld War IIJosip ManolićOfficer World War II Croatian War of IndependenceJosip BoljkovacWorld War IIMartin ŠpegeljOfficerWorld War IIAndrija Hebrang (father)OfficerWorld War II
Republic of Croatia (1991–present)
Croatian War of Independence The following is a list of distinguished Croatian soldiers from Croatian War of Independence listen in alphabetical order. Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image Rahim Ademi Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia generalCroatian War of Independence Battle of Šibenik Operation Medak Pocket Battle of Derale PassAndrija Andabakcolonel (posthumously)Croatian War of IndependenceCredited for destroying 32 enemy AFV's, out of which 30 tanks. Croatian Army awards a medal named after him to those soldiers who destroy three or more AFV's. Branimir Anić - Matan officerCroatian War of Independence Marko Babić officerCroatian War of Independence Battle of Vukovar Zoran Babić officerCroatian War of IndependenceTihomir Blaškić Herzeg-Bosniageneral Croatian War of Independence Bosnian WarJanko Bobetko Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslaviageneral World War II Croatian War of Independence Bosnian War Operation Tiger Operation Maslenica Operation Medak Pocket Operation Winter '94Agim ÇekuofficerCroatian War of IndependenceIvan ČermakgeneralCroatian War of IndependenceZvonimir Červenko Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviageneralCroatian War of Independence Operation Flash Operation Storm