Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47960/3029-3103.2026.12.83
The Literary Narrative in Josip Banovac’s Historical Novel Tomislav, The First King of The Croats
Katja Bakija
; University of Dubrovnik, Faculty of Media and Public Relations
Abstract
King Tomislav is an enduring symbol of a strong and independent Croatia and is one of the most significant figures in Croatian literature, appearing across various genres - including historical novels, epic poetry, dramas, and journalistic texts.
Due to the scarcity of historical sources, literary depictions of Croatia’s first king oscillate between historical reconstruction and mythologization. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, during a period of strengthening national identity, the construction of the literary character of King Tomislav was dominated by a national-romantic narrative that portrayed him as a hero defending his homeland from enemies, a powerful, just, and wise ruler who united the Croatian tribes and strengthened the kingdom. Contemporary literature problematizes his historical role and attempts to distinguish myth from reality.
This paper explores the literary portrayal of King Tomislav in Josip Banovac’s (real name Josip Verić) two-volume historical novel Tomislav, the First King of the Croats, originally published in the newspaper Narodni val, founded by Stjepan Radić. The complete work was printed in 1927 in the publishing house of Stjepan Radić, followed by two more editions – one in 1928 by Slavenska knjižara and another in 1990 by the Croatian Literary Society of St. Cyril and Methodius.
The novel presents a fictionalized account of King Tomislav’s life and reign, intertwining political struggles, military successes, and the broader historical context of early medieval Croatian society with elements of a love story. Tomislav himself is mythologized as the ideal king and a symbol of Croatian statehood. The novel Tomislav, the First King of the Croats is a significant contribution to Croatian historical prose in the context of understanding historical narrative in Croatian literature.
Keywords
King Tomislav; historical novel; national identity; Josip Banovac; literary narrative; mythologizing; historical reconstruction.
Hrčak ID:
351274
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2026.
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