The MUSEUM OF CROATIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS (MHAS) is one of the oldest Croatian museums and the only museum in Croatia that was founded with the unique task to explore, collect, present and study the remains of tangible and intangible culture of the Croats from the Middle Ages, respectively from the 7th to 15th century, in particular from the time of the early mediaeval Croatian State (from the 9th to 12th century).

The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments organized the exhibition “Croats and Carolingians” under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia in Split from December 20th, 2000 until July 15th, 2001t.

With the beginning of the new millennium, five cities have marked the unity of the European Union by recalling Charlemagne and his times. The Carolingian presence in south-eastern Europe has resulted in the inclusion of the Croatian lands into the West-European civilization. Here new achievements blended with the ancient Mediterranean experience and tradition. Thus, the Carolingian presence in the Croatian lands has determined the religion as well as the life philosophy, literacy, arts and culture in general that have resulted from it. Almost a century long connection with the Carolingian world made the population of Croatia, for many centuries to come, members of the West-European culture, born just at the time of Charlemagne.

This culture is witnessed in Croatia by the diverse artefacts presented in this exhibition.