= Split = '''Split''' is the second largest city in Croatia. <> ---- == History == Split was founded as a Greek colony under the name ''Aspalathos'' or ''Spalathos''. The [[WorldHistory/RomanEmpire|Romans]] conquered this region and established nearby '''Salona''' as the capital of the province of Dalmatia. Split began to be referred to as ''Spalatum'' in this era. '''Diocletian''' built his palace here in the 4th century. Salona was sacked in 639, leading refugees to settle in Split. Split developed as a [[WorldHistory/DalmatianCityStates|city state]] under the protection of the [[WorldHistory/ByzantineEmpire|Byzantine Empire]]. It then was fought over by the Byzantines, [[WorldHistory/RepublicOfVenice|Venetians]], [[Hungary/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Hungary|Hungarians]], and [[Croatia/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_Croatia|Croats]] for the next several centuries. Split was under Venetian rule from 1420 until 1797. Following a brief [[WorldHistory/NapoleonicWars|Napoleonic conquest]], Split was ceded to the [[Austria/Monarchs#Austrian_Empire|Austrian Empire]]. ---- CategoryRicottone CategoryCity CategoryCityState