The Romans conquered the area in the 1st century BC and it became a province called Illyricum. Roman rule lasted for several centuries and left a lasting impact on Croatian culture and language.
2. Croatia was ruled by the Kingdom of Hungary for over 800 years.
The Hungarians conquered Croatia in the 11th century and it remained under Hungarian rule until 1918. During this time, Croatia enjoyed a degree of autonomy and developed its own distinct identity.
3. Croatia was a founding member of the United Nations.
After gaining independence from Hungary in 1918, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and was admitted to the United Nations in 1992.