Slovaks
The Slovaks ( sk, Slováci, singular: ''Slovák'', feminine: ''Slovenka'', plural: ''Slovenky'') are a West Slavic ethnic group and nation native to Slovakia who share a common ancestry, culture, history and speak Slovak.
In Slovakia, 4.4 mi ...
are one of the recognized autochthonous minorities of Croatia. According to 2011 census, there were 4,753 Slovaks in the country.
History
![Bogoslav Šulek 1861](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Bogoslav_%C5%A0ulek_1861.png)
Slovaks mainly migrated to
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
in the 19th century, and to a much lesser extent in the 20th century. Many were peasants from the poverty-stricken region of
Kysuce
Kysuce is a traditional informal name of a region in north-western Slovakia, situated around the Kysuca river and bordering the Orava region in the east, Poland in the north and the Czech Republic in the west. It consists of two districts: Čadc ...
in northwestern
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...
.
[Vazanova, Jadranka. ''Ceremonial wedding tunes in the context of Slovak traditional culture''. Proquest Information and Learning: Ann Arbor, 2008.]
Several notable Croatians are of Slovak descent, including philologist cardinal
Juraj Haulik
Juraj Haulik de Váralya ( sk, Juraj Haulík Váralyai, hu, Haulík Váralyai György; 20 April 1788 – 11 May 1869) was a Croatian cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church of Slovak ethnicity and the first archbishop of Zagreb. He was also acti ...
,
Bogoslav Šulek and writer
August Šenoa.
Slovaks are officially recognized as an autochthonous national minority, and as such, together with the
Czechs of Croatia
Czechs are one of the recognised minorities of Croatia. According to the census of 2011 there were 9,641 Czechs in Croatia, comprising 0.22% of total population.
Geographic representation
Most Croatian Czechs live in Western Slavonia especially ...
, elect a special representative to the
Croatian Parliament
The Croatian Parliament ( hr, Hrvatski sabor) or the Sabor is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Croatia. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the people and is vested with legislative power. The Sabor ...
.
Geographic representation
Most Croatian Slovaks live in the region of
Slavonia
Slavonia (; hr, Slavonija) is, with Dalmatia, Croatia proper, and Istria, one of the four historical regions of Croatia. Taking up the east of the country, it roughly corresponds with five Croatian counties: Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja ...
, with the majority residing in the
Osijek-Baranja
Osijek-Baranja County (, hr, Osječko-baranjska županija, hu, Eszék-Baranya megye) is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja. Its center is Osijek. Other towns include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, and Beli ...
and the
Vukovar-Syrmia counties.
The following were reported as settlements with a significant Slovak minority, as of the 2001 census.
Towns:
*
Ilok
Ilok () is the easternmost town in Croatia forming a geographic salient surrounded by Vojvodina. Located in the Syrmia region, it lies on a hill overlooking the Danube river, which forms the border with the Bačka region of Serbia. The populati ...
, 1,044 (12.5%)
*
Našice
Našice () is a town in eastern Croatia, located on the northern slopes of the Krndija mountain in eastern Slavonia, 51 km southwest of regional hub Osijek. Administratively it belongs to Osijek-Baranja County.
Geography
Našice is located ...
, 964 (5.57%)
Municipalities:
*
Punitovci
Punitovci ( sk, Punitovci, hu, Panyit) is a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. There are a total of 1,803 inhabitants.
In the 2011 census, 62% were Croats and 37% were Slovaks.
The population is distributed in four settlements:
* ...
658 (35.57%)
*
Lipovljani
Lipovljani () is a municipality in Croatian Slavonia in the Sisak-Moslavina County. It has a population of 4,101 (2001 census), 85.7% which are Croats. Other notable minorities are Ukrainians (4.3%), Slovaks (3%), and Czechs (2.4%). Lipovljani has ...
, 123 (3%)
*
Vrbanja, 72 (1.39%)
*
Koška
Koška is a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. There are 3,980 inhabitants, 89.5% of whom are Croats, Serbs 6.78% and Slovaks 1.38% (2011 census). The rest of population is made up mainly of Slovaks and Serbs
The Serbs ( s ...
, 50 (1.13%)
*
Drenje, 34 (1.1%)
Villages:
*
Jelisavac
Jelisavac is a village in Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map = ...
by Našice
*
Jurjevac Punitovački
Jurjevac Punitovački is a village in Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map ...
by Punitovci
*
Markovac
*
Soljani
Soljani ( sk, Soľany) are a village in Cvelferija in the southernmost part of Vukovar-Syrmia County. From the 2011 census the village had a population of 1241 inhabitants.
Name
The name of the village in Croatian is plural.
History
It was ...
, Slovak language is officially used in one municipality and one other settlement in Croatia, according to the
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) is a European treaty (CETS 148) adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe. However, the ...
.
Culture
The Union of Slovaks was established in 1992 and focused on preserving Slovak culture and language, along with the creation of its magazine, ''Prameň''. In 1998 the Central Library of Slovaks in the Republic of Croatia was founded. In
Ilok
Ilok () is the easternmost town in Croatia forming a geographic salient surrounded by Vojvodina. Located in the Syrmia region, it lies on a hill overlooking the Danube river, which forms the border with the Bačka region of Serbia. The populati ...
, the Cultural Society of
Ljudevit Štur (''KUD Ljudevit Štur'').
Notable people
*
Ljudevit Gaj
Ljudevit Gaj (; born Ludwig Gay; hu, Gáj Lajos; 8 August 1809 – 20 April 1872) was a Croatian Linguistics, linguist, politician, journalist and writer. He was one of the central figures of the pan-Slavist Illyrian movement.
Biography
Origi ...
(1809–1872), linguist
*
Slavoljub Eduard Penkala
Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (; 20 April 1871 – 5 February 1922) was a Croatian engineer and inventor of Dutch- Polish descent.
Biography
Eduard Penkala was born in Liptószentmiklós (now Liptovský Mikuláš), then part of Austria-Hungary, to ...
(1871-1922), engineer and inventor
*
August Šenoa (1838-1881), novelist
*
Domagoj Vida
Domagoj Vida (; born 29 April 1989) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Super League Greece club AEK Athens and the Croatia national team. He is capable of playing in any defensive position but is mostly deployed ...
(born 1989), football player
See also
*
Croatia–Slovakia relations
Croatia–Slovakia relations are foreign relations between Croatia and Slovakia. Croatia has an embassy in Bratislava. Slovakia has an embassy in Zagreb and honorary consulates in Osijek and Split.
Both countries are full members of the Council ...
*
Slovaks in Ilok
*
Slovaks in Soljani
References
External links
Union of Slovaks in the Republic of Croatia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slovaks In Croatia
Ethnic groups in Croatia
*Croatia
Slovak diaspora