List of Croatian soldiers

Summary

This is a list of Croatian soldiers, and it includes military personnel of Croatian origin ranging from early mediaval times to contemporary Croatian armies.

Croatian pandurs from 1742.

Medieval Croatian state edit

Croatian principalities (until 925) edit

Dalmatian Croatia edit

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 Empire
Croato-Bulgarian Wars
Domagoj Dalmatian Croatia Prince Civil war in Croatia
Croatian-Venetian Wars
Siege of Bari (866-871)

Pannonian Croatia edit

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) edit

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 Normans Is 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) edit

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 Hungary Ban of Croatia /
Lord of all of Bosnia
Šubić-Damlatian cities Wars / Louis The Great Wars of centralization
John of Palisna Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe John of Palisna led a contingent of Knights Hospitallers from Vrana in Croatia against Ottomans in the Battle of Kosovo.[1]  
Ivan Frankopan Cetinski
Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe
Bernardin Frankopan Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary nobleman Croatian–Ottoman Wars
Petar Berislavić Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe  
Ivan Karlović
(1478 - 1531)
Kingdom of Croatia / Kingdom of Hungary Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Ottoman wars in Europe  

Croatia within Habsburg Monarchy (1527–1918) edit

Regular Habsburg army edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
Christoph Frankopan Kingdom of Croatia / John Zapolya Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman Wars / Habsburg-Zapolya Succession War
Petar Keglević Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia
Franjo Vlašić Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia
Nikola Šubić Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Ottoman wars in Europe Nikola Šubić Zrinski was most known for defending Szigetvar Fortress against Ottomans.  
Tamas (Toma) Erdody Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Ottoman wars in Europe  
Petar Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664)  
Nikola VII Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664)  
Miklos (Nikola) Erdody Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Ban of Croatia Croatian–Ottoman wars / Great Turkish War

Officers edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
16-17 Century
Nikola Jurišić Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy Captain Ottoman wars in Europe
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.[2]  
Adam Zrinski Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy officer Great Turkish War (1683-1699)  
Marko Mesić Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy soldier-priest Great Turkish War (1683-1699)  
Ivan Andrija Makar Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy general Great Turkish War (1683-1699)
Pavao Ritter Vitezović Kingdom of Croatia, a part of Habsburg monarchy poet 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 Lendava
 
18-19 Century
Franjo Jelačić Habsburg monarchy Feldmarschall-Leutnant Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791)
French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
 
Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich Habsburg monarchy Feldmarschall-Leutnant Seven Years' War
War of the Bavarian Succession
Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791)
French Revolutionary Wars
 
Josef Philipp Vukassovich[3]   Austrian Empire Feldmarschall-Leutnant Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791)
French Revolutionary Wars
Napoleonic Wars
Siege of Mantua (1796–1797)
Battle of Wagram
 
Franjo Tomašić   Austrian Empire Lieutenant field marshal  
Josip Jelačić   Austrian Empire
 Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia
Feldzugmeister  
Grgo Kusić (1892–1918)   Austria-Hungary Soldier Grgo Kusić was a 2.37 m (7 ft 9+12 in) tall Croat soldier in the Austro-Hungarian Army. According to some accounts, Kusić was the tallest soldier of the Austro-Hungarian Army.[4][5]
Stjepan Sarkotić   Austria-Hungary General World War I  
Maximilian Njegovan   Austria-Hungary Admiral World War I
Josip Filipović   Austria-Hungary General  
Svetozar Borojević   Austria-Hungary Field marshal His 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.[6][7][8]  
Anton Lipošćak   Austria-Hungary General World War I Carpathian Front  
Slavko Kvaternik   Austria-Hungary
 State of Croats, Serbs and Slovenes
  Independent State of Croatia
Marshal 1918 occupation of Međimurje  

Irregular military edit

Uskoci edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
Petar Kružić Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy Captain Ottoman wars in Europe Petar Kružić was a capitan of Klis and Senj.[9] 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.[9] 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.[9]  
Ivan Lenković (died 1569. Metlika, Slovenia)[10] Kingdom of Croatia a part of Habsburg monarchy General Ottoman wars in Europe Ivan Lenković was ruler of Senj and Military Frontier commander.[10] He is noted for the construction of Fortress Nehaj and as a captain of the Uskoks.[10]  
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 edit

Pandurs edit

Rebel peasants edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
Ambroz "Matija" Gubec Muška punta Peasant army leader Croatian-Slovene peasant revolt Battle of Donja Stubica  
Ilija "Prebeg" Gregorić
  • Grenzer
  • Peasant army commander
 

World War II (1941–1945) edit

Ustaše edit

Croatian and Yugoslav Partisans edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
Josip Broz Tito   Austria-Hungary
  Yugoslavia
Marshal  
Ivan Gošnjak   Spanish Republic
  Yugoslavia
General  
Ivan Rukavina   Spanish Republic
  Yugoslavia
General  
Franjo Tuđman   Yugoslavia
  Croatia
Vrhovnik  
Joža Horvat   Yugoslavia Officer World War II
Ivan Šibl   Yugoslavia General World War II
Vladimir Bakarić   Yugoslavia Officer World War II
Rade Bulat   Yugoslavia Officer World War II
Stjepan Filipović   Yugoslavia World War II
Franjo Kluz   Yugoslavia World War II
Josip Kraš   Yugoslavia World War II
Josip Manolić   Yugoslavia
  Croatia
Officer
Josip Boljkovac   Yugoslavia
  Croatia
World War II
Martin Špegelj   Yugoslavia
  Croatia
Officer World War II
Andrija Hebrang (father)   Yugoslavia Officer World War II

Republic of Croatia (1991–present) edit

Croatian War of Independence edit

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

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Andrija Andabak   Croatia colonel (posthumously) Croatian War of Independence Credited 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.[11][12]
Branimir Anić - Matan   Croatia officer Croatian War of Independence
Marko Babić   Croatia officer Croatian War of Independence
Zoran Babić   Croatia officer Croatian War of Independence
Tihomir Blaškić   Croatia
  Herzeg-Bosnia
general
Janko Bobetko   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general
Agim Çeku   Croatia officer Croatian War of Independence
Ivan Čermak   Croatia general Croatian War of Independence
Zvonimir Červenko   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Ljubo Ćesić Rojs   Croatia general
Davor Domazet-Lošo   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

admiral Croatian War of Independence
Željko Glasnović   Canada

  France

  Croatia

  Herzeg-Bosnia

general
Branimir Glavaš   Croatia officer Croatian War of Independence
Ante Gotovina   France

  Croatia

general
Davor Jović   Croatia officer
Ivan Korade   Croatia general
Damir Krstičević   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general
Ante Kotromanović   Croatia general
Sveto Letica   Croatia admiral Croatian War of Independence
Mladen Markač   Croatia general Croatian War of Independence
Slobodan Praljak   Croatia
  Herzeg-Bosnia
general Siege of Mostar
Petar Stipetić   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Anton Tus   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Blago Zadro   Croatia general Croatian War of Independence Battle of Vukovar
Drago Lovrić   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Mirko Šundov   Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

  Croatia

general Croatian War of Independence
Robert Hranj   Croatia admiral Croatian War of Independence

Croatia–NATO relations edit

Foreign Armies edit

Soldier Allegiance Rank Wars Battles Notes Image
Michael J. Novosel   United States of America Lieutenant Colonel (USAF)
Chief Warrant Officer (USA)
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Michael J. Novosel, Sr. (September 3, 1922 – April 2, 2006) was a recipient of the United States' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — and a retired Chief Warrant Officer (CW4).  
Lothar Rendulic   Austria-Hungary
  Austria
  Nazi Germany
Oberst (Austria)
Generaloberst (Germany)
World War II  
Louis Cukela   United States of America Major World War I
World War II
Soissons engagement
Battle of Belleau Wood
 
Peter Tomich   United States of America Chief Watertender (Navy) World War I
World War II
Attack on Pearl Harbor  
Vjekoslav Prebeg   Croatia

  Ukraine

soldier War in Donbass
2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Siege of Mariupol
Matija Zmajević   Tsardom of Russia Admiral  
Rustem Pasha Opuković[13][14]   Ottoman Empire General
Piyale Pasha   Ottoman Empire Grand Admiral and Vizier
Veli Mahmud Pasha[15][16]   Ottoman Empire General
Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha[17]   Ottoman Empire General
İshak Pasha[18]   Ottoman Empire General
Kuyucu Murat Pasha   Ottoman Empire General

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hunyadi and Laszlovszky, Zsolt and József (2001). The Crusades and the military orders: expanding the frontiers of medieval latin christianity. Budapest: Central European University Press. Dept. of Medieval Studies. pp. 285–290. ISBN 963-9241-42-3.
  2. ^ Turnbull, Stephen. The Ottoman Empire 1326–1699. New York: Osprey, 2003. p. 51
  3. ^ Hollins, David (2004). Austrian Commanders of the Napoleonic Wars 1792–1815. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 29. ISBN 1-84176-664-X.
  4. ^ "Visoki Hrvati" (in Croatian). October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  5. ^ "La Croatie: Le saviez-vous?" (in French). Embassy of Croatia in France. Archived from the original on 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  6. ^ "Borojević od Bojne: zaboravljeni hrvatski ratni junak". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  7. ^ "Znate li priču o najvećem hrvatskom vojskovođi u povijesti? Na bojištu je bio genij, a umro je u bijedi". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  8. ^ ""Hrvatski glavonja" Svetozar Borojević - Žuto-crni general". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  9. ^ a b c Singleton, Frederick Bernard (1989). A Short History of the Yugoslav Peoples. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-521-25478-7. ISBN 0-521-27485-0.
  10. ^ a b c Bousfield, Jonathan (2003). The Rough Guide to Croatia. London: Rough Guides. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-84353-084-8. ISBN 1-84353-084-8.
  11. ^ "Osječki „maljutkaši" među najučinkovitijima u Domovinskom ratu". stv.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  12. ^ "Obilježena 30. obljetnica pogibije Andrije Andabaka, "lovca na tenkove"". Glas Istre. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  13. ^ Taylor, Jane (2007). Imperial Istanbul: A Traveller's Guide: Includes Iznik, Bursa and Edirne. London: Tauris Parke Paperbacks. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-1-84511-334-6.
  14. ^ Fine, John Van Antwerp (2006). When ethnicity did not matter in the Balkans. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. pp. 215–216. ISBN 0-472-11414-X.
  15. ^ Miller, Barnette (1941). The Palace school of Muhammad the Conqueror. Harvard University Press. p. 7.
  16. ^ United Center for Research and Training in History (1998). Bulgarian historical review: Revue bulgare d'histoire. Pub. House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. p. 48.
  17. ^ Klemenčić, Mladen (1993). A Concise atlas of the Republic of Croatia & of the Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Michigan: Miroslav Krleža Lexicographical Institute (original from University of Michigan Press). p. 88.
  18. ^ Radushev, Evg (2003). Inventory of Ottoman Turkish documents about Waqf preserved in the Oriental Department at the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library. Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiĭ. p. 228.