Bašćanska ploča: discovery of a key Croatian document
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On September 15, 1851, people in Jurandvor near Baška on the island of Krk in Croatia discovered the Bašćanska ploča, an important document from the Croatian Middle Ages.
The stone plaque records a land grant from King Dmitar Zvonimir to a local Benedictine monastery around the year 1100.
Though land grants were common at the time, the plaque holds historical importance for Croatia because it mentions King Zvonimir and is the earliest known use of the term "Croatian king" in the Croatian language. The inscription itself does not reveal anything revolutionary, but it provides valuable information about Croatian history, writing, and language. The original Bašćanska ploča is now kept at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, with a replica displayed in the Church of St. Lucia.
In 1934, recognizing the church was no longer a suitable location, linguist Stjepan Ivšić and art historian Dragutin Kniewald transported the plaque to Zagreb. Ivšić described it as a “golden plaque” and a “precious stone” that future generations of Croats would cherish. The plaque bears an inscription requesting prayers for those mentioned on it, and includes the names of witnesses to the land grant.
