country in SE Europe: at one time part of Austria-Hungary, it was a constituent republic of Yugoslavia (1946-91): 21,829 sq mi (56,538 sq km); pop. 4,784,000; cap. Zagreb
See Croatia in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(krō-āˈshə, -shē-ə)
A country of southern Europe along the northeast Adriatic coast. It was settled by Croats in the 7th century, became a kingdom in the 10th century, and reached the height of its power in the 11th century before being conquered by Hungary in 1091. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Croatia became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later became Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Zagreb is the capital and the largest city. Population: 4,490,000.