Greater Croatia

[abc123]

Well and there also is the chance that the earlier independent kingdom of Croatia survives.
However in all these medieval cases, except for the Dalmatian coast, expanding south and southeast is the most likely area for direct Croatian expansion; however there they probably will also meet resistance, but it's relatively speaking the weakest neighbouring state/area, since their other neighbouring realms were Hungary and the Holy Roman Empire. However a king of Croatia could end inheriting Hungarian and/or HRE fiefs, but these will be held in personal union.

IMO, no. The opponents were too strong. Even survival of independent Croatian Kingdom is a big thing.

 

[Janprimus]

IMO, no. The opponents were too strong. Even survival of independent Croatian Kingdom is a big thing.

I'm only saying that if Croatia manages to remain independent, then their only available area for expansion (maybe apart from parts of the Dalmatian Coast) is in the direction of Bosnia & Hercegovina, which will lead to conflicts with Serbia (and Venice for parts of Dalmatia); but all their other options are being blocked by the much more powerful Holy Roman Empire and Hungary.

Besides your basically saying that quite some (early) PODs will have the same problem; OTOH maybe Croatian independence will be easier in 1100 then in 1300 or 1400.

 

[GenghisKhanfan]

I'm only saying that if Croatia manages to remain independent, then their only available area for expansion (maybe apart from parts of the Dalmatian Coast) is in the direction of Bosnia & Hercegovina, which will lead to conflicts with Serbia (and Venice for parts of Dalmatia); but all their other options are being blocked by the much more powerful Holy Roman Empire and Hungary.

Besides your basically saying that quite some (early) PODs will have the same problem; OTOH maybe Croatian independence will be easier in 1100 then in 1300 or 1400.

An expansive Croatia in 1100 does sound more doable.

 

[The BigI]

Could a greater Croatia come about by the results of The Battle of Gvozd Mountain been turned around and King Coloman and a large majority of the Hungarian army instead of Petar and his army? With a Croatian born king and sucession in place could the Croatians might be able to hold off the Venetians. Which maybe even lessen Venetian influence on the Mediterranean and Italian coast which could butterfly away the outcome of the fourth crusade on the Balkans?

 

[Marko]

Battle of Gvozd will just prevent Magyars from creating a personal union and Greater Croatia would take decades to happen, quite probably until the Mongolian invasion that brought Hungary low.

The easiest way to have bigger Croatia is that it doesn't lose land to the medieval Bosnian state so that the border would run along Neretva, Vrbas and Ukrina river.

With a POD after 1606 when Croatia was reduced to Reliquiae reliquiarum olim inclyti regni Croatiae it could happen if Habsburgs do not lose the 1739 Battle of Grocka and Ottomans cede Turkish Croatia to the Hubsburgs (as western BiH was known back then). These territories become part of the Military Frontier and are later added to Civil Croatia with the rest of the military frontier.

 

[Hrvatskiwi]

I doubt that Croatia alone could defend it self against the Turks.
Turks were simply too strong in 15th and 16th century.

Yeah, the Turks are the main issue. Even though Bosnia is hilly, the Turks overran it. My family was minor nobility from near the River Drina in BiH before the Turks and the subsequent Islamicization. Their fort was overrun by sheer numbers and better equipment. I agree with those that say that post 1900 is easier. The main issue is the squeeze between AH and the Ottomans.

 

[Petete123123]

I think I have an idea. Have the Serbs go Catholic. That way we could have Croats and Serbs believe to be the same people, or if not, have them believe so in a future.

With the Serbs being catholic, have one Croatian king of the 11th Century conquer them(IIRC, one part was independent and the other Byzantine), and have the Croatian Kingdom be able to survive as a united country or entity at least until the Turks arrive. After that I think its really likely to have them to try to reunify once they get independent again. This country would be like 3 or 4 times bigger than OTL Croatia.