Zadar

For other uses, see Zadar (disambiguation).

City of Zadar Grad Zadar
View of the city
Country	Croatia
County	Zadar
Government
• Mayor	Dr. Živko Kolega (HDZ)
Area
• Total	194 km2 (75 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	90,916
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Zadar (Greek: Ίδασσα, Idassa, Iàdeira, Ιαδειρα, Latin: Iader, Dalmatian: Jadra, Jadera, Italian: Zara) is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, with a population of 90,916 (2006). It is the fifth largest Croatian city. 93% of its citizens are ethnic Croats (2001 census).
It is the centre of modern Croatia's Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Zadar is located opposite the islands of Ugljan and Pašman, from which it is separated by the narrow Zadar Strait.
The promontory on which the old city stands used to be separated from the mainland by a deep moat which has since become a landfill. The harbor, to the north-east of the town, is safe and spacious.
Zadar is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop.

Name

In the Antique names of the city Iadera and Iader much older roots were hidden, of a name the most probably related to a hydrographical term. It was coined by an ancient Mediterranean people and their Pre-Indo-European language. They transmitted it to the later settlers, Liburnians. The name of Liburnian city was first mentioned by a Greek inscription from Pharos (Starigrad) on the island of Hvar in 384 BC, where the citizens of Zadar were noted as Ίαδασινοί (Iadasinoi). In Greek source Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax the city was Ίδασσα (Idassa), probably vulgar Greek form of the original Liburnian name.

During Antiquity the name was oftenly recorded in the sources in Latin language in two forms: Iader in the inscriptions and in the writings of the classic writers, Iadera predominantly among the late Antiquity writers, while usual ethnonyms were Iadestines and Iadertines. Accent was on the first syllable in both forms Iader and Iadera, which influenced the early-Medieval Dalmatian language forms Jadra, Jadera and Jadertina, where accent kept its original place.

In Dalamtian language Jadra (Jadera) was pronounced Zadra (Zad(e)ra), due to phonetic transformation Ja- to Za-. That early change was also reflected in Croatian name Zadar, there was compensation with half-vocal and translation to male gender, so Zadъrъ became Zadar. The ethnonym graphy Jaderani from the legend of St. Krševan in 9th century, was identical to initial old-Slavic form Zadъrane, or Renaissance Croatian Zadrani.

Dalmatian names Jadra, Jadera were transferred to other languages, in Venetian language Jatara (hyper urbanism in 9th century) and Zara, Tuscan Giara, Latin Diadora (Constantine VII in DAI, 10th century), Old French Jadres (Geoffroy de Villehardouinin in the chronicles of the Fourth Crusade in 1202), Arabic Jadora (Al-Idrisi, 12th century), Iadora (Guido, 12th century), Spanish Jazara, Jara, Sarra (14th century) and the others.

Venetian Zara became the official name of the city when it fell under authority of the Republic of Venice in 15th century, remained the same in the Austrian Empire in 19th century, it was changed to Zadar provisionally from 1910 to 1920 and finally in 1945.

History

Prehistory

The entire district of present day Zadar was populated since prehistoric times. The earliest evidence of human life comes from the Late Stone Age, while numerous settlements have been dated as early as the Neolithic. Before the Illyrians, the area was inhabited by an ancient Mediterranean people of Pre-Indo-European culture. They were assimilated with the Indo-Europeans, who were settling between 4th and 2nd millenium BC, into a new ethnical unity, that of the Liburnians, who were outlined materially in 9th century BC.

Antiquity

In the 9th century BC Iadera was settled by the Liburnians, a tribe of Illyrians, who were known as great sailors and merchants. By the 7th Century BC it had become an important centre for their trading activities with the Greeks and the Romans. Its population at that time is estimated at 2,000. The people of Iadera, the Iadasinoi were first mentioned in a Greek inscription (384 BC) as the leading enemies of the Greek colonists in the Adriatic in the period of Greek colonization (6th – 4th centuries BC). In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the Romans began to gradually invade the region. After 59 BC, Iadera became a Roman municipium, and in 48 BC a Roman colony. In the early days of the Roman domination, Iadera was a flourishing Roman colony. It lasted for several hundred years, until waves of marauding tribes battered the region. By some estimations, in the 4th century it had probably between 20 and 25 thousand citizens, an admixture of Romans and indigenous Liburnians. In 441 and 447 Dalmatia was ravaged by the Huns.

The Medieval Period

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, in 481 Dalmatia was added to the Ostrogothic kingdom, which already included the more northerly parts of Illyricum, i.e. Pannonia and Noricum. In 536 the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great, started a military campaign to reconquer the territories of the former Western Empire (see Gothic War), Zadar became consequently part of the Byzantine Empire.

In 568 Dalmatia was devastated by the Avars invasion, and throughout the century Slavs (i.e. early Croatian and Serbian tribes), its modern occupants, gradually established themselves in Illyria, where, unlike the earlier barbarian conquerors, they formed permanent settlements. Between 600 and 650 the main body of the immigrants occupied Illyria.

In other parts of the Balkan Peninsula, Serbs and Croats quickly absorbed the native population. However, the coastal cities managed to resist immediate cultural assimilation (mostly thanks to Byzantine influence). This sociologic process was instead to take many centuries to reach completion. Consequently, The rural aereas were settled by Croats and Serbs, while the native population, mostly consisting of romanized Illyrians, was either eventually assimilated or migrated to the cities (such as Spalatum, Iader and Ragusa. This gradual, long process took place in the 7th and 8th centuries. Dalmatia was, thus, a region culturally divided between the Romanic Byzantine cities and the Slavic hinterland (though the Slavs did establish coastal cities of their own, such as Šibenik). These two communities were known to harbor dislike for one another, a grievous circumstance which sometimes resulted in disputes. Other Romanic natives (later called Morlachs) took refuge in the mountainous interior of Dalmatia, where they preserved their culture for several centuries.

Zadar survived the turbulent times, due its strategic position and its strong defensive system and managed to maintain its Roman heritage (such as its dialect of the independent Dalmatian language).
Because of the destruction of Dalmatia's capital Salona and the relocation of its people to nearby Spalatum (Split), Zadar in time became the capital of the Byzantine Theme (administrative unit) of Dalmatia, and was the seat of the imperial Governor. Byzantium, as the protector of Dalmatia enjoyed a strong military and political presence there, due to the persistent threat of invasion by the new Venetian Republic.

However, the geographical position of Zadar, suffices to explain the relatively small influence exercised by Byzantine culture throughout the six centuries (535-1102) of Byzantine rule. It maintained a large degree of autonomy throughout this time. Along with other Dalmatian cities it soon came to resemble a typical medieval commune. In 806 Dalmatia was briefly occupied by the Holy Roman empire under Pepin, but this was quickly reversed and the cities were given back to Byzantium in 812, by the Treaty of Aachen.

Meanwhile, the Croatian state formed inland, and trade and political links with Zadar began to develop. Croatian settlers began to arrive, becoming commonplace by the 10th century. In 925, the Duke of Croatian Dalmatia Tomislav, united Croatian Dalmatia and Pannonia establishing the Croatian Kingdom. He also was granted the position of protector of Dalmatia (the cities) by the Byzantine Emperor. He thus politically united the Dalmatian cities with their hinterland for the first time. In 998 Zadar sought Venetian protection against the Neretvian pirates, who had settled near the mouth of the Neretva river.

The Venetians were quick to fully exploit this opportunity: in 998 a fleet commanded by Doge Pietro Orseolo II, after defeating the pirates, landed in Korčula and Lastovo. Dalmatia was quickly captured by surprise and offered little serious resistance. Trogir was the exception and was subjected to Venetian rule only after a bloody struggle, whereas the Republic of Dubrovnik was forced to pay tribute. Pietro self-proclaimed himself Dux Dalmatianorum (Duke of the Dalmatians), associating it with his son (carefully agreeing to Byzantine suzerainty).

The Croatian kings meanwhile established their own maritime cities, such as Nin and Biograd na Moru (also later Šibenik). The Church, on its part, was involved in general confusion; in 1059 on the church synod in Split it forbade the use of any language but liturgies in Greek or Latin, and so had accentuated the differences between Romanic and Slavic population. In the 10th century the cities came back under Crotian administration and Zadar sought independence from Byzantium. In 1069 the city was joined with Croatia by a treaty for the second time, by the Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV the Great.

Rivalry of Venice and Croatia-Hungary in Dalmatia

In 1099, the Kingdom of Croatia was invaded and forced into a personal union with the Hungarian king Coloman. In 1105 Zadar recognized his rule.

Zadar was repeatedly invaded by Venice between 1111 and 1154 and then once more between 1160 and 1183.

In 1183 it finally rebelled, pleading to the Pope and to the Croato-Hungarian throne for protection, but it the year 1202 the Fourth Crusade began forming in Europe. The crusaders were, however, dependent upon Venice for transportation to Egypt and they were 34,000 marks short of amount required by them. Ever the opportunist, Doge Enrico Dandolo instructed the crusader army, that for late payment (they were to pay the Venetians out the first spoils they gained in the crusade) they should lay siege to the troublesome Dalmatian capitol. Forced by their lack of money the Crusaders agreed and besieged Zadar. The overwhelmed city soon fell back under Venetian rule.

This did not break the spirit of the city, however. Its commerce was suffering due to lack of autonomy under Venice. They enjoyed considerable autonomy under the distant, much more feudal Croatian-Hungarian kings. A number of insurrections followed (1242-1243, 1320s, 1345-1346) which resulted finally in Zadar coming back under the crown of the Croatian-Hungarian king Louis I by the Treaty of Zadar, in 1358. After the death of Louis, Zadar recognized the rule of king Sigismund, and after him, that of Ladislas Anjou. During his reign Croatia-Hungary was enveloped in a bloody civil war. In 1409, Venice, seeing that Ladislas was about to be the loser, and eager to exploit the situation despite its relative military weakness, offered to buy his "rights" on Dalmatia for a mere 100, 000 ducats. Knowing he lost the region in any case, Ladislas accepted. Zadar was, thus, sold back to the Venetians for a poultry sum.

Zadar's "Kopnena Vrata"

Venetian Republic (1409-1797)

The Adriatic in 1560, with Dalmatia and Zadar

In the early 16th century the Ottoman Turks conquered Dalmatia's hinterland, and the city became, in essence, a military stronghold protecting Venetian trade in the Adriatic, as well as the administrative centre for the Venetian conquests in Dalmatia.
From 1726-1733 a part of its territory was settled by Catholic Albanian refugees. That Albanian settlement is called "Arbanasi".

Napoleonic era (1797-1813)

After the fall of Venice (1797) with the Treaty of Campo Formio, Zadar come under the Austrian crown and once again became united with the rest of Croatia. In 1806 it was briefly given to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, until in 1809 it was added to the French Illyrian Provinces. In 1813 all Dalmatia was reconquered and brought back under the control of the Austrian Empire.

During this time, it maintained its position as the capital of Dalmatia.
During the Napoleonic era, the first Dalmatian newspaper, "Kraglski Dalmatin - Il Regio Dalmata" ("The Royal Dalmatian"), was printed in the city.

Austrian Empire (1815-1918): the age of nationalism

After 1815 Dalmatia (including Dubrovnik) came under the Austrian crown. After 1848, Italian and Slavic nationalism became accentuated and the city became divided between the Croats and the Italians, both of whom founded their respective political parties. There are conflicting sources for both sides claiming to have formed the majority in this period; in general the era saw Slavs grow more than Italians throughout Dalmatians, fostering a neatly distinct national spirit.

Italy (1920-1945)

In November 1918 Zadar was occupied by the Italian Army, like most of coastal Dalmatia, under the 1915 Treaty of London. Being the city with most Italians in Dalmatia, it was annexed to Italy in 1920, under the Treaty of Rapallo (1920), with the official name of "Zara".
The Italian enclave included Zadar/Zara and the localities of Arbanasi/Borgo Erizzo, Crno/Cerno, Bokanjac/Boccagnazzo, Puntamika/Puntamica and the island Lastovo/Làgosta.
According to the census of 1921, this area included 18.623 people. After the advent of the fascism many Croats left the city because of the repressive assimilationist policies of the Italian fascist regime. Their place was mainly taken by ethnic Italians.

World War II

Germany (with limited Italian assistance) invaded the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941. On April 17, the Yugoslav government surrendered, faced with the Wehrmacht's undivided attention. Zadar held a force of 9,000 that after limited fighting reached Šibenik and Split on April 15, a mere 2 days from surrender. Occupying Mostar and Dubrovnik, on April 17 they met invading troops that had started out from Italian-occupied Albania. The civilians had previously been evacuated to Ancona and Pula. Within a few weeks, Mussolini forced the newly formed Nazi puppet-state, the so-called Independent State of Croatia (NDH) to hand over almost all of Dalmatia (including Split and even Knin) to fascist Italy. This is known as the Treaty of Rome.
The city became the center of a new Italian province. This treaty was, of course, recognized only by the Axis and was, thus, considered void. For the rest of the world, and, indeed, the local populace, Dalmatia was under Italian occupation.
Under fascist reign the Slavic population was subjected to a policy of forced assimilation (ethnocide). This created immense resentment among the Yugoslav people and the Yugoslav Partisan movement (which was already successfully spreading in the rest of Yugoslavia) particularly took wing here. The Italians employed concentration camps (among others the Rab and Gonars camps), political repression aginst anti-Fascists, torture, reprisals at times against whole villages after partisan actions, forceful italianization and national repression of Slavs.
After Mussolini was removed from power, the government of Pietro Badoglio surrendered to the Allies, and on September 8, 1943, the Italian army collapsed and was quickly disarmed. "Il Duce" was rescued, however, and formed the Nazi-puppet Italian Social Republic in the north of the country. The NDH proclaimed the Treaty of Rome to be void and occupied Dalmatia with German support. The Germans entered Zadar first, and on September 10 the German 114th Jäger Division took over. This avoided a temporary liberation by Partisans, as was the case in Split and Šibenik where several Italian fascist government officials were killed by an angry crowd. The Partisans enjoyed massive support from the locals, and before the reoccupation by German forces, nearly a third of Split's population (including the entire local football team HNK Hajduk) joined the Partisan movement.
The city was prevented from joining the NDH on the grounds that Zadar itself was not subject to the conditions of the Treaty of Rome. Despite this, the NDH's leader Ante Pavelić designated Zadar as the capital of the Sidraga-Ravni Kotari County, although its administrator was prevented from entering the city. Zadar remained under the local administration of the Italian Social Republic.
Zadar was bombed by the Allies, with serious civilian casualties. Italian sources often claim that this was made in order to "ethnically cleanse" the ancient town and avoid subsequent troubles for the victorious Titoist army. Thousands died in the militarily pointless Allied carpet bombings, and many landmarks and centuries old works of art crumbled in dust. Many civilians fled to safety in Italy.
In 1944 the partisans entered the town, soon massacring hundreds of Italians, soldiers and civilians alike, often by drowning them in the Adriatic with a stone attached to their necks (a maritime variant to the foibe system). In the following years most of the Italians, now a minority, left the city, deeming it healthier to live in Italy. The city, resettled by Croatians, successfully recovered and became once more an important regional city in the newly established Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

File:Coat of Arms Zara.jpg

Coat of Arms of Zadar.

SFR Yugoslavia (1945-1991)

During this period Zadar underwent intensive reconstruction and revitalisation, followed by a large increase in both population and economic power. The Federal government sponsored numerous public works to this end, including the Adriatic highway (Jadranska magistrala) which created a modern road connection to the rest of the country. Besides the local infrastructure, the SFRY government initiated the industrialization of the city and nearly all its factories were either built or significantly revitalized and modernized in this period. In the 1970s Zadar particularly enjoyed a high standard of living as international tourism came to Dalmatia.

However, during this period the city lost its status as the capital of the region, with Split overwhelmingly surpassing Zadar in population numbers, which, though increasing throughout the 20th century, boomed in the new, post-WWII, Yugoslavia.

All in all, by the 1990s the city was not only rebuilt from the Second World War, but emerged as a modern and completely industrialized regional center, with as yet unsurpassed tourist numbers, GDP and employment rates, which were, surprisingly, significantly higher than the present day's.

Recent history

After the death of Tito Yugoslavia rapidly began to destabilize. In the early 1990s the tragic Yugoslav wars began to devastate the country. Zadar became a part of the new Republic of Croatia. Its economy suffered greatly in the period, not so much because of the war itself, but due to the shadowy and controversial privatization process, which caused most of its prosperous companies to go under. During the Croatian War of Independence, Krajina rebels with the protection of the serbianized Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) under Slobodan Milošević's control, converged on the city and subjected it to artillery bombardment, in what is now known as the Battle of Dalmatia. Their aim was to cut off Dalmatia from Croatia and give the remnants of the Yugoslav Navy (JRM) a port on the mainland. Along with other Croatian towns in the area, Zadar was sporadically shelled for several years, which damaged buildings and homes as well as UNESCO protected sites. Attacks in nearby cities and villages occurred, the most brutal being the Škabrnja massacre, where 86 people were murdered. Connections with Zagreb were severed for over a year, the only link between the north and south of the country was via the island of Pag. The siege of the city lasted from 1991 until January 1993 when Zadar and the surrounding area came under the control of Croatian forces in Operation Maslenica. Attacks on the city continued until the end of the war in 1995.

Main sights

Architecture

Zadar gained its urban structure in Roman times; during the time of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus, the town was fortified and the city walls with towers and gates were built. On the western side of the town were the forum, the basilica and the temple, while outside the town were the amphitheatre and cemeteries. The aqueduct which was supplying the town with water has been partly preserved. Inside the ancient town, a medieval town had developed, when a series of churches and monasteries had been built.

During the Middle Ages, Zadar had fully gained its urban aspect, which has been maintained until today. In the 16th century, Venice fortified the town with a new system of defensive walls on the side facing land. In the first half of the 16th century, architectural building in the Renaissance style was continued. Defence trenches were built also (Foša), which were completely buried during the Italian occupation. In 1873 under Austrian rule the ramparts of Zadar were converted from fortifications into elevated promenades commanding extensive views to seaward and to landward, wall lines thus being preserved; of its four old gates one, the Porta Marina, incorporates the relics of a Roman arch, and another, the Porta di Terraferma, was designed in the 16th century by the Veronese artist Sanmichele. In the bombardments during the Second World War, entire blocks were destroyed, but some of the structures were preserved.

St. Donatus' Church, a pre-Romanesque church from the 9th century.

St. Mary's Church, located in the old city across St. Donatus' Church.

Most important landmarks:

• Roman Forum - the largest on the eastern side of the Adriatic, founded by the first Roman Emperor Augustus, as shown by two stone inscriptions about its completion dating from the 3rd century.
• Most of the Roman remains were used in the construction of the fortifications, but two squares are embellished with lofty marble columns; a Roman tower stands on the east side of the town; and some remains of a Roman aqueduct may be seen outside the ramparts.

The chief interest of Zadar lies in its churches.

• St. Donatus' Church - the monumental round building in the pre Romanesque style, traditionally but erroneously said to have been erected on the site of a temple of Juno, from the 9th century is the most important structure of its period preserved in Dalmatia; the massive dome of the rotunda is surrounded by a vaulted gallery in two stories which also extends around the three apses to the east. The church treasury contains some of the finest Dalmatian metal-work; notably the silver ark or reliquary of St Simeon (1380), and the pastoral staff of Bishop Valaresso (1460).
• St. Anastasia's Cathedral (Croatian: Sv. Stošija), basilica in Romanesque style built in the 12th to 13th century (high Romanesque style), the largest cathedral in Dalmatia.
• The churches of St. Chrysogonus and St. Simeon are also in the Romanesque style.
• St. Krševan's Church - monumental Romanesque church of very fine proportions and refined Romanesque ornaments.
• St. Elijah's Church (Croatian: Sv. Ilija)
• St. Francis' Church, gothic styled church, site of the signing of the Zadar Peace Treaty 1358
• Five Wells Square
• St. Mary's Church which retains a fine Romanesque campanile of 1105 belongs to a Benedictine Convent founded in 1066 by a noblewoman of Zadar by the name of Cika with The Permanent Ecclesiastical Art Exhibition "The Gold and Silver of Zadar"

Other architectual acivments:

• Citadel - built in 1409, southwest of the Land gate, it has remained the same to this day.
• The Land Gate - built according to a layout of the Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli in 1543
• The unique sea organ[1]
• The Great Arsenal [2]
• Among the other chief buildings are the Loggia del Comune, rebuilt in 1565, and containing a public library; the old palace of the priors, now the governor's residence; and the episcopal palaces.

Culture

The first university of Zadar is mentioned in 1396 and it was a part of the Dominican monastery. It was closed in 1807.

Zadar was, along with Split and Dubrovnik, one of the centres of development of Croatian literature.

The 15th and the 16th centuries were marked by important activities of Croatian writers writing in the national language: Jerolim Vidolić, Petar Zoranić (who wrote first Croatian novel, Mountains), Brne Krnarutić, Juraj Barakovic, Šime Budinić.

During the French rule (1806–1810), the first Dalmatian newspaper Kraglski Dalmatin - Il Regio Dalmata was published in Zadar. It was printed in Italian and Croatian; this last used for the first time in a newspaper.

File:Regio Dalmata.jpg

Il Regio Dalmata-Kraglski Dalmatin. Printed in Italian and Croatian.

In the second half of the 19th century, Zadar was a centre of the movement for the cultural and national revivals in Dalmatia (Italian and Croatian).

Today Zadar's cultural institutions include:

• The Croatian Theatre House
• The National Museum
• The Archaeological Museum (established in 1830)
• The University of Zadar (refounded in 2003)
• The Maritime Museum
• Permanent Exhibition of Sacral Art
• Croatian Singing Musical Society Zoranić (established 1885)
• Musical Evenings in St. Donatus [3] (established 1961)
• International Choirs Competition (established 1997)
• Arsenal Zadar [4]

Government

The administrative area of the City of Zadar includes the nearby villages of Babindub, Crno, Kožino and Petrčane, as well as the islands of Ist, Iž, Molat, Olib, Premuda, Rava and Silba. Total City area, including the islands, covers 194 km2.

Zadar is divided into 21 local committees: Arbanasi, Bili Brig, Bokanjac, Brodarica, Crvene Kuće, Diklo, Dračevac, Gaženica, Jazine I, Jazine II, Maslina, Novi Bokanjac, Poluotok, Ploča, Puntamika, Ričina, Smiljevac, Stanovi, Vidikovac, Višnjik, Voštarnica.

Economy

Major industries include tourism, traffic, seaborne trade, agriculture, fishing and fish farming activities, metal manufacturing and mechanical engineering industry, chemicals and non-metal industry and banking. The headquarters of the following companies are located in Zadar:

• Maraska (food industry)
• Luxardo (the original Maraschino)
• Adria, Mardešić (fish production)
• Tankerska plovidba Zadar (shipping company)
• SAS (machine tools)
• Aluflexpack
• Arsenal Holdings [5] (Tourism)

The farmland just northeast of Zadar, Ravni Kotari, is a well known source of marasca cherries. Distilleries in Zadar have produced Maraschino since the 16th century.

Science

In 1998, Zadar hosted the Central European Olympiad in Informatics (CEOI).

Transportation

In the 20th century, roads became more important than sea routes, but Zadar remained an important traffic point. The main road along the Adriatic passes through the city. In the immediate vicinity, there is the Zagreb-Split highway, finished in 2005. Since 1966, a railroad has linked it with Knin, where it joins the main railroad from Zagreb to Split. It has an international sea line to Ancona in Italy. The Zadar Airport is located in Zemunik, around 14 km to the east. It is planned to build a semi-highway from the port of Gaženica in Zadar to the highway hub of Zemunik. Another plan is the "Adriatic railroad" linking Gospić with Zadar and Split.

Sports

The local basketball club is KK Zadar, and the football club NK Zadar. The bowling club Kuglački klub Zadar is also very successful.

Twinning

Zadar maintains cultural, economic and educational ties with:

• Dundee, Scotland.
• Reggio Emilia, Italy.
• Romans-sur-Isère, France.
• Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany.
• Székesfehérvár, Hungary.
• Padua, Italy.
• Iquique, Chile.
• Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.

Famous people from Zadar

From the foundation to 1850

• Donatus - saint
• Pope John IV - Pope in the 7th century
• Jelena of Zadar - Croatian queen from 10th century
• Petar Zoranić - Writer of the first Croatian novel
• Giorgio Orsini - architect and sculptor
• Luciano Laurana - painter
• Francesco Laurana - sculptor and medallist
• Giovanni Francesco Fortunio - linguist and writer (author of the first Italian grammar)
• Šimun Kožičić Benja - Modruš bishop and founder of glagolitic printing house in Rijeka
• Juraj Baraković - renaissance poet
• Šime Budinić - poet and writer
• Brne Karnarutić- renaissance writer
• Jeronim Vidulić - poet
• Andrea Schiavone - painter

1800 - 1950

• Georg Ritter von Trapp - Austrian Navy officer and head of the Trapp family singers
• Baron Giovanni De Ghetaldi military and diplomat (son of Baron Biagio de Ghetaldi)
• Simeone Duca - (Šime Duka) maecena and priest
• Simone Stratico - Scientist
• Antonio Calebotta - basketball player
• Ottavio Missoni - fashion designer; owner of the Missoni fashion brand
• Girolamo Luxardo - founder of the Original Marischino brand, Luxardo
• Conte Antonio Cippico (1877 - 1935) - Italian politcman and patriot [6]
• Spiridon Brusina - scientist
• Niccolò Gradi - (1823 – 1894), poet
• Roberto Ghiglianovich - (1863 - 1830), Politicman [7]
• Carlo Tivaroni - (1843-1906) - historian, Garibaldist [8]
• Natko Nodilo - Founder of the oldest running Croatian newspaper Narodni list
• Dragutin Blažeković - Austrian governor of Dalmatia, born in Osijek
• Vicko Zmajević - archbishop and politician
• Vladimir Bersa - composer
• Felix von Weingartner - Austrian composer, conductor, pianist and writer
• Giuseppe Sabalich - literary worker
• Giovanni Smirich - conservation wokrer and painter

1950 - present days

• Saša Bjelanović- international football player
• Krešimir Ćosić - member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
• Goranko Fižulić - former Croatian economy minister
• Giuseppe Gjergja - basketball player
• Ante Gotovina - Croatian Army general
• Mladen Grdović - singer
• Božidar Kalmeta - current Croatian Minister of Traffic and Tourism
• Ive Livljanić - diplomat
• Budimir Lončar - diplomat
• Duško Lokin - singer
• Korina Longin - top model
• Gianni Maršan - diplomat and composer
• Ivica Maštruko - diplomat
• Luka Modrić- Football player
• Antun Nalis - actor
• Dado Pršo - football player
• Riva - pop band, 1989 Eurovision Song Contest winners
• Joso Škara - former Croatian Labour and Healthcare Minister
• Josip Skoblar - football player, 1974 Golden boot
• Joso Špralja - artist
• Ana Lovrin- Croatian minister of law, former mayor of Zadar
• Zoran Primorac- Croatian prize winning table tennis player
• Arijan Komazec- Noted Croatian basketball player
• Stojko Vranković- Famous Croatian basketball player
• Vladan Desnica - writer
• Natali Dizdar - Croatian pop-singer
• Pavle Dešpalj - conducter and composer
• Valter Dešpalj - cello player
• Tomislav Ivčić - composer, singer and politician

---

• Krist Novoselic- Nirvana bassist, went to school in Zadar
• Mark Viduka- Australian football international (father from Zadar)
• David Zdrilic- Australian football international (father from Zadar)
• Teddy Lučić- Swedish football international (father from Zadar)
• Zlatan Ibrahimović- Swedish football international (mother from Zadar)
• Jason Čulina- Australian football international (father from Zadar)
• Ivica Jerak - Former U.S. Army Delta Force Operator, killed in Iraq in 2005.
• Agim Çeku- Kosovo prime minister (lived in Zadar for long time period)

See also

• Archdiocese of Zadar
• Bombing of Zara
• History of Croatia
• History of Dalmatia
• History of Italy
• History of Yugoslavia
• Republic of Venice

Sources

• the "Miroslav Krleža" Lexicographic Institute text about Zadar.
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

History about world

External links

• Zadar Tourist Board
• Zadar Airport
• The University of Zadar
• Old postcards of Zara/Zadar (it.)

Gallery

• 
  St. Donat's Church and Roman Forum
• 
  Roman Forum in Zadar
• 
  St. Anastasia Cathedral/sv. Stošija in Zadar
• 
  St. Mary's Church
• 
  St. Simeon's Church
• 
  St. Simeon/sv. Šimun
• 
  Morska vrata/Porta marina
• 
  University of Zadar (1396)