- by croatiaweek
- July 20, 2026
-
in
News
(Photo: : Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan)
VIS, 20 July 2026 – Croatia has marked the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Vis, one of the most significant naval clashes in Adriatic history, with a commemorative ceremony on the island attended by President Zoran Milanović.
The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces took part in the ceremony on Monday, 20 July, marking the anniversary of the historic battle fought off the island of Vis in 1866.
President Milanović laid a wreath at sea from a Croatian Navy vessel. He was followed by Austria’s Ambassador to Croatia, Yvonne Tončić-Sorinj, and Vis Mayor Hrvoje Mratinić, who also paid tribute to those who took part in the battle.
The Battle of Vis, known in Croatian as the Viški boj, took place on 20 July 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War. It was the first major naval battle in history fought on the open sea between fleets powered by steam, marking an important technological turning point in naval warfare.
Despite having a numerically superior fleet, Italy was defeated by the Austrian Navy. Croatian sailors from the Adriatic, particularly from Dalmatia, played a key role in the Austrian victory.
(Photo: : Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan)
The outcome also had wider political and historical consequences. The defeat halted Italian ambitions towards Dalmatia at a time when Italy was consolidating its national state.
The battle subsequently became an important part of the development of national consciousness in Dalmatia and Croatia during the second half of the 19th century.
Speaking at the commemoration, President Milanović said the anniversary represented an important moment in Croatian history.
He noted that the outcome of the battle had influenced the political circumstances in Dalmatia and questioned how the history of the region might have developed had the Italian fleet prevailed.
“Those who took part in the battle were our people from the Croatian Adriatic, Dalmatian people,” Milanović said, adding that he was attending the commemoration for the first time with particular satisfaction.
(Photo: : Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan)
The anniversary is commemorated on Vis every ten years. This year’s ceremony brought together representatives of Croatia and Austria, including Austrian military personnel in historic uniforms, as well as officials from the island, Dalmatia and the cultural sector.
Among those attending were Vis Mayor Hrvoje Mratinić, Vis City Council President Roko Brajčić, Split-Dalmatia County representative Tonči Sanader, Komiža Mayor Ivica Vitaljić, Austrian Ambassador Yvonne Tončić-Sorinj and Austrian Defence Attaché in Croatia Brigadier Jure Johann Bauer.
President Milanović was accompanied by Bartol Šimunić, Head of the Office of the President, Nikša Peronja, the President’s Adviser for Local and Regional Government Relations, and Commodore Damir Dojkić, Commander of the Croatian Navy.
