These include the Eucharistic star escutcheon from an 11th-century baptistery in Split and checkerboard carvings on the bell tower of St. Lucy’s Church in Jurandvor.
The motif can also be seen in architectural details of medieval Croatian churches such as St. John of Nimfa in Pula, St. Vid in Kaštel, and St. John in Biskupija, often accompanying Croatia’s traditional interlace patterns.
One of the oldest known Croatian coats of arms featuring the checkerboard is from 1495, located on the façade of a building at Herzog-Friedrichstrasse 35 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Historians believe it may have been influenced by Emperor Maximilian I, who popularized many coats of arms across Austria and Germany during that time.
The spread and preservation of the Croatian checkerboard motif in the late 15th century is also linked to the Peace of Pressburg (1491), which allowed the Habsburgs to inherit the Hungarian-Croatian throne should the Jagiellonian dynasty fail to produce a male heir.
Maximilian I was even permitted to use the title “King of Hungary and Croatia,” which might have led him to endorse or introduce the Croatian checkerboard design — if it hadn’t already existed.
However, it wasn't until the Election of Cetin in 1527 that the Habsburgs formally became Croatian kings, suggesting the Jagiellonian dynasty may have adopted the motif earlier.
A relief from 1491 in the Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Senj depicts the checkerboard coat of arms belonging to local nobleman Ludovik Perović, using a 5x5 or 5x6 pattern.
Coins minted by Nicholas of Ilok between 1472 and 1475 also feature a diamond-shaped checkerboard, though this form is often associated with Patriarch Louis of Teck of Aquileia.
Some modern interpretations link the red and white squares to the concepts of "White Croatia" and "Red Croatia" — historical regions.
Others believe the color of the first square symbolizes the country’s political status: a white square first represents sovereignty, while a red one represents subordination.
However, these meanings are relatively modern and lack support in historical documentation.
Today, the checkerboard pattern is a source of national pride and is widely used in Croatian sports culture — especially on the national football team’s kits.
It’s also featured prominently on tourist souvenirs and even on the obverse side of Croatian euro coins, further cementing its place as a key symbol of Croatian identity.
A truly fascinating legacy lies behind the bold red-and-white squares of Croatia’s jersey — a story not just of fashion, but of nationhood and history. ***
