School of heraldry

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In an effort to revive heraldic practice and theory in local and wider social contexts, after decades of neglect and mostly unfavorable historical circumstances during the 20th century, "School of heraldry" has been occasionally held in Klis since 2016 (co-organized by the Association of History Students "Toma Arhiđakon" – which operates at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of University of Split, and Historical Unit "Kliški uskoci"). In the past period, related heraldic exhibitions and workshops were also organized in neighboring cities and municipalities: Split, Solin, Kaštela and Seget. The most important purpose of these workshops and lectures, is to bring closer to the audience, participants and all interested parties what heraldry (as an auxiliary historical discipline) studies and what its rules are, how coats of arms are created, how heraldic signs were shaped through the histroy, especially with regard to territorial and national coats of arms which are the most present (and at the same time the most recognizable!) examples of heraldic practice today.

The current 4th cycle of the "School of Heraldry" began with a heraldic workshop as part of the manifestation of historical re-enactment "Crown of Croatian Rulers" on October 8, 2023. It took place in the interesting setting of a picnic area located along the Jadro River - in the immediate vicinity of the archaeological site "Hollow Church" (former coronation basilica of St. Peter and Moses). Topics of all previous workshops/exhibitions, starting in 2016, were as follows:

  • KLIS (SCHOOL OF HERALDRY I.) – October 8, 2016: public presentation "Heraldry of the lords of Klis Fortress throughout history and uskok families from Klis, Senj and Žumberak"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Artillery barracks in Klis Fortress (held as part of the manifestation of historical re-enactment "Crown of Croatian Rulers" in 2016)
  • SPLIT - May 9, 2018: public presentation on the origin, use and symbolism of the oldest Croatian coats of arms; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split – Ulica Nikole Tesle 12 (held as part of "Kliofest 2018", co-organized by the association "Toma Arhiđakon" and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split)
  • SPLIT - June 7, 2018: "Origin, use and symbolism of the oldest Croatian national coats of arms"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Poljana kraljice Jelene 1/III. (co-organized by the association "Toma Arhiđakon" and Croatian Nobility Association - Split branch)
  • KLIS (SCHOOL OF HERALDRY II.) – October 8, 2018: "The oldest Croatian coats of arms"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Knez's quarters in Klis Fortress (held as part of the manifestation of historical re-enactment "Crown of Croatian Rulers" in 2018)
  • SPLIT – December 13, 2018: "Coat of arms and military insignia of Croatian units in World War I and Croatian War of Independence (Homeland War)"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. University Library in Split (held as part of the "Unfinished Millennium - from the Second Split Church Council to the end of the Great War" event organized by the Association of History Students "Toma Arhiđakon")
  • SPLIT - March 5, 2019 - introductory presentation "Heraldry of the lords of Klis Fortress throughout history and uskok families from Klis, Senj and Žumberak"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Poljička cesta 35 (co-organized by the association "Toma Arhiđakon" and Croatian Nobility Association - Split branch)
  • KLIS (SCHOOL OF HERALDRY III.) – October 8, 2019: public presentation "Coat of arms and military insignia of Croatian units in World War I and Croatian War of Independence (Homeland War)"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Knez's quarters in Klis Fortress (held as part of the event "Crown of Croatian Rulers" in 2019)
  • SOLIN – May 28, 2021: "Origin of Croatian national coats of arms"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Theater of the Solin City Library (held on the occasion of the upcoming National Day)
  • SPLIT – June 15, 2022: "Croatian checkerboard fields since the Battle of Krbava Field (1494) to St. Mark's Square (1990)"; MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Poljička cesta 35 (organized by the Association of Former Students and Friends of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Alumni FFST on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of removal of totalitarian socialist elements from the Croatian state flag)
  • KAŠTELA - November 3, 2022: "Croatian coats of arms - genesis, symbolism, history", Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Archbishop's Palace in Kaštel-Sućurac (held as part of the cultural event "Croatian Book Month" in 2022, i.e. the "History Week in Croatian Book Month" program of the association "Toma Arhiđakon")
  • SPLIT – January 17, 2023: "Lion, Kuna and Euro"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Poljička cesta 35 (organized by the Association of Former Students and Friends of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split - Alumni FFST)
  • SEGET – March 14, 2023: "What is my coat of arms?" - heraldry workshop; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Elementary School "Kralj Zvonimir" in Seget Donji (held within the educational program "On coats of arms and crowns" of the association "Toma Arhiđakon")
  • KLIS (SCHOOL OF HERALDRY IV.) – October 8, 2023: heraldry workshop; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. (held as part of the manifestation of historical re-enactment "Crown of Croatian Rulers" in 2023)
  • KLIS – March 14, 2024: "My family's coat of arms" – heraldry workshop; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Premises of the Elementary School "Petra Kružića" in Klis (held as part of the school project "Guardians of Heritage / Uskok Heart: Defiance since Ancient Times" – Center for Excellence of the Elementary School "Petra Kružića" Klis)
  • KAŠTELA – April 10, 2025: podcast in the studio „Zamisli“; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. Studio premises of the High School "Braća Radić" in Kaštel Novi (held as part of the school project "Guardians of Heritage / 1100 Years of the Croatian Kingdom: We Are a Living Monument to Them Dead" – Center for Excellence of the High School „Braća Radić“ Kaštel Štafilić – Nehaj)
  • SOLIN – April 11, 2025: presentation of the activities of archaeological tourism project "Regnum Croatorum": revived history, heraldry, activities of the Association of History Students "Toma Arhiđakon" at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of University of Split. The area of the archaeological site "Hollow Church" in Solin (held as part of the school project "Guardians of Heritage / 1100 Years of the Croatian Kingdom: The Paths of Croatian Rulers“ – Center for Excellence of the Elementary School "Kraljice Jelene" Solin)
  • SPLIT – June 24, 2025: public forum "Croatian Historical Coats of Arms"; Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil. (held on occasion of the Declaration of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts on Croatian Historical Coat of Arms on June 5, 2025 with the presentation "When, how and why did the checkered fields of Croatian coat of arms arise?". The forum was held in the hall of Croatian Maritime Museum in Split (Gripe Fortress) and was co-organized by the Croatian Association Benedikt and The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon - Dragon Chapter in Split)

School of Heraldry (2016 - present) literature

Heraldic-historiographic and other published works:
 1. Božić, Mate. „Heraldička istraživanja na području Hrvatske“. Master thesis. University of Split – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2016
 2. Božić, Mate. Ćosić, Stjepan. „Nastanak hrvatskih grbova: Podrijetlo, povijest i simbolika od 13. do 16. stoljeća“. Gordogan 15 (34) (2017): 22-68
 3. Božić, Mate. „Nove spoznaje o nastanku, uporabi i simbolici hrvatskih zemaljskih grbova / New Findings on the Emergence, Use and Symbolism of the Croatian Land Coats of Arms“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 23 (2018): 28-30, 34
 4. Božić, Mate. „Neki naglasci izlaganja 'Heraldika gospodara kliške tvrđave...' / Some Highlights from the Presentation 'The Heraldry of Masters of Klis...'“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 25 (2019): 10-11.
 5. Božić, Mate. Ćosić, Stjepan. „HRVATSKI GRBOVI: geneza - simbolika - povijest“. Zagreb: Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of University of Zagreb: Institut društvenih znanosti “Ivo Pilar”, 2021
 6. „Božić i Ćosić o genezi, simbolici i povijesti hrvatskih grbova / Božić and Ćosić on Genesis, Symbolism, and History of Croatian Coats of Arms“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 29 (2021): 27-28.
 7. Božić, Mate. „Kako je nastao grb Dubrovačke Republike?“. DuList - Dubrovački tjednik, April 14, 2021
 8. Božić, Mate. „O knjizi HRVATSKI GRBOVI: geneza - simbolika – povijest“. Pet zvonika 1 (20) (2021): 26-30.
 9. Božić, Mate. Ćosić, Stjepan. „Sveti Jeronim u heraldičkoj simbolici“. Kroatologija 13 (3) (2022): 11-27.
 10. Božić, Mate. „Najraširenije hrvatsko pokrajinsko znamenje i na pečatu glavara Čvrljeva!“. Pet zvonika 1 (21) (2022): 41-48.
 11. TV interview in the show "Dalmacija moga oka", topic: history of coats of arms of Croatian states (interview hosted by Barbara Žaja). TV Jadran, January 23, 2023
 12. Božić, Mate. „Lav, kuna i euro / Lion, marten and euro“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 33 (2023): 23.
 13. Božić, Mate. „O prvim sjedinjenim grbovima hrvatskih zemalja u domaćim i inozemnim izvorima / On the First Combined Coats of Arms of Croatian Lands in Domestic and Foreign Sources“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 34 (2023): 21-24.
 14. Božić, Mate. „Djelovanje i simbolika tzv. "Isusove divizije" kamišara iz župe Čvrljevo 1945.-1949.“. Pet zvonika 1 (23) (2024): 13-20.
 15. Božić, Mate. „Metković i Hrvatska imaju grb istovjetnog značenja / Metković and Croatia Share Symbolism of their Coats of Arms“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 37 (2025): 6-7.
 16. Radio interview in the show "Vrli novi svijet", topic: School of Heraldry - Klis (interview hosted by Ana Šitum). Radio Sunce, June 24, 2025
 17. Božić, Mate. „O 'šahovnici' iz Jurandvora povodom 1100. obljetnice Hrvatskog Kraljevstva i Deklaracije HAZU o povijesnom hrvatskom grbu“. Pet zvonika 1 (24) (2025): 30-33.
 18. Božić, Mate. „Istraživanja srednjovjekovne/ranonovovjekovne heraldike na području Zagore i župe Čvrljevo“. Pet zvonika 1 (24) (2025): 42-47.
 19. Božić, Mate. „Udruga studenata povijesti 'Toma Arhiđakon', Spalatumque dedit ortum: zbornik povodom desete godišnjice Odsjeka za povijest Filozofskog fakulteta u Splitu / Collected papers on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split“ - I. Basić, M. Rimac (ur.). History Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of University of Zagreb 2014; str. 77–85
 20. Božić, Mate. „Bitka kod Siska 1593. godine“. Pleter 1 (2017) 1; str. 177–192
 21. Božić, Mate. „Predstavljanje knjige dalmatinskog plemstva u Splitu / Dalmatian nobility book promoted in Split“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 12 (2018): 23-24.
 22. Božić, Mate. "'HRVAT' I 'HRVATI' – OD TOPONIMA DO ETNONIMA". Pleter 3 (2019) 3; str. 135–176
 23. Radio interview in the show "Magistra vitae", topic: Queen Helen "the Glorious" and King Demetrius Zvonimir (interview hosted by Andrija Šego). Radio Mir Međugorje, October 10, 2019
 24. Radio interview in the show "Baština", topic: Queen Helen "the Glorious" and Croatian history of the 10th century (interview hosted by Ivona Jakić). Radio Split, 2020
 25. Božić, Mate. „Čvrljevo je također bilo na putu 'Planinskih lisica!'. Pet zvonika 1 (21) (2022): 37-40.
 26. Božić, Mate. „Antonio Perajica - splitski fotograf iz Čvrljeva koji je snimio zajedno Tita i Stepinca!“. Pet zvonika 1 (22) (2023): 38-46.
 27. Božić, Mate. „In memoriam Amer Sulejmanagić (1961. - 2024.)“. Grb i zastava; Glasnik Hrvatskog grboslovnog i zastavoslovnog društva 36 (2024): 31.
 28. Božić, Mate. „Kratki pregled povijesti domobranstva u hrvatskim krajevima“. Thirty years of the "Hrvatski domobran Omiš" and one hundred and fifty-five years of "hrvatsko domobranstvo", edited by Dragica Zeljko Selak, Branch of Matica Hrvatska in Imotski, Hrvatski domobran - Udruga ratnih veterana Omiš, 2025, pp. 51-53.
 29. Božić, Mate. „Fra Bone Božić – jedan nepoznati 'Čvrljevčanin' iz 18. stoljeća?“. Pet zvonika 1 (24) (2025): 38-41.
Web sources (columns):
 30. Clipeus Croatorum (2018 - present)
 31. Kaštelanske povijesne crtice (2019 - present)
 32. HERALDICA DALMATICA (2022 - present)
 33. Splitski grbovnik (2024 - present)

head of the School of heraldry
Mate Božić, MA Educ. Hist. and Phil.
herald of the Historical Unit "Kliški uskoci"

Historical Unit Kliški uskoci

 
Trg Mejdan 7, 21231 Klis, Splitsko-dalmatinska, Croatia
info@kliskiuskoci.hr
+385 99 3130932
Mile Barić, president of the association