Prof. Hrvoje Kekez, PhD, delivered a lecture at the 12th Gymnasium in Zagreb

At the invitation of history teacher Iva Lekić, MA in History and Archaeology, Prof. Hrvoje Kekez, PhD, from the University Department of History of the Catholic University of Croatia, delivered a thematic lecture entitled “How Many Soldiers Did King Tomislav Have?” on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, for second-year students attending elective history classes at the 12th Gymnasium in Zagreb.

The lecture focused on one of the most well-known historiographical debates of Croatian medieval history - the question of King Tomislav’s military strength and the interpretation of historical sources. Prof. Kekez explained to the students how historians analyze medieval sources, how historiographical assessments are formed, and why certain claims and figures remain the subject of scholarly debate to this day. As part of the visit, Assistant Veronika Novoselac, MA hist. et MA comm., briefly presented the Catholic University of Croatia and the opportunities it offers for studying. Students were provided with basic information about the history study program at CUC, with an emphasis on the skills the program develops as well as the contemporary challenges and perspectives of the historical profession.

The lecture represents one of the first concrete outcomes of the presentation of the University Department of History at the County Professional Council of History Teachers in Zagreb high schools at the end of January. On that occasion, Associate Professor Kristina Puljizević, PhD, and Veronika Novoselac, as representatives of the Department, proposed strengthening promotion through various forms of cooperation with secondary schools, including guest and thematic lectures by university staff. The collaboration between the 12th Gymnasium and the Catholic University of Croatia confirms the importance of connecting university scholarship with secondary education and opens space for further joint activities.