View source for Croatian Chileans

{{Short description|Chileans of full or partial Croatian descent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Croatian Chileans<br/>''Chileno-croatas''<br>''Hrvatski Čileanci''
| image =
| caption  =
| population  = '''500 000'''<br>'''4,3% of Chile's population'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.domovina.cl/inmigrantes-otras.php |title=La presencia croata en Chile forma parte de la historia nacional. Se calcula que actualmente la colectividad está compuesta por cerca de 400.000 mil descendientes, muchos de los cuales han contribuido destacadamente al progreso de este país que acogió a sus familias. |access-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702225324/http://www.domovina.cl/inmigrantes-otras.php |archive-date=2 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.southeast-europe.org/pdf/05/DKE_05_e_m_sb.pdf International Relations Quarterly Vol 2.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123020435/https://www.southeast-europe.org/pdf/05/DKE_05_e_m_sb.pdf |date=23 November 2015 }}</ref> {{Better source needed|date=March 2019}}
| popplace = [[Punta Arenas]], [[Santiago]], [[Antofagasta]], [[Iquique]]
| langs    = [[Chilean Spanish]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]]
| rels     = Christianity, mainly Roman Catholic<br>others
| related  = [[Croatians]]
}}
{{Croats}}
'''Croatian Chileans''' ('''Chileno-croatas''', {{IPA|es|tʃiˈleno kɾoˈata}}; [[Croatian language|Croatian]]: ''čileanski Hrvati'') are [[Chileans]] of full or partial Croatian descent. Chile has one of the largest communities of ethnic Croats outside [[Europe]], second only to [[Croatian Americans]]. They are one of the main examples of successful assimilation of a non-Spanish-speaking European ethnic group into Chilean society. Many successful entrepreneurs, scientists and artists, as well as prominent politicians who have held some of the highest offices in the country, have been of Croatian descent – including the current [[president of Chile|president of the Republic]], [[Gabriel Boric]].

== History ==
[[File:Ad-of-croat-cruiser-en-route-to-sth-america.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Early 20th century ad-poster of Croatian ship ready to travel to South America.]]
{{See also|Tierra del Fuego Gold Rush}}
The [[oppression]] of the Croatian people and the denial of an internationally recognised nation was the principal factor leading them to embark on a constant [[Human migration|migration]] to Chile. At first they were recognised and officially registered as former citizens of the countries or empires from which they had fled. Until 1915 they were recognised as [[Austrians]], and afterwards up until 1990 as [[Yugoslavians]]. Since 1990, and in accordance to the establishment of the newly internationally recognised [[Republic of Croatia]], Chilean Croats have reasserted their cultural and ethnic identity.<ref name="Immigración croata en Chile (1864-1930): Reafirmando una identidad croata.">{{cite web|title= Immigración croata en Chile (1864–1930): Reafirmando una identidad croata.|publisher=hrvatskimigracije.es.tl|date=10 April 2008|url=http://www.memoriachilena.cl/temas/index.asp?id_ut=inmigracioncroataenchile1864-1930|accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref>

The Croatian community first established itself in two provinces situated at the extreme ends of [[Chile]]: [[Antofagasta]], in the [[Atacama]] desert of the north and [[Punta Arenas]] in the [[Patagonia]]n region in the south. The large arrival of Croats in Chile began in 1864 and the migration grew steadily until 1956 – reaching several more than 6,000. In the early part of this ''1864–1956'' era more Croats settled in Argentina than in Chile. For example, in Argentina, the number reached 80,000, but only about 57% of Croats remained in Argentina. Some returned to Europe or moved and settled in Chile where Croats had a more rapid and successful [[cultural assimilation|assimilation]], which led to a significant increase in the Chilean-Croat population in periods when there was no migration of Croats from Europe to the Americas.<ref name="Croacia y Chile: DUBROVNIK, EL ÚLTIMO BALUARTE">{{cite web|title= Croacia y Chile: DUBROVNIK, EL ÚLTIMO BALUARTE|publisher=hrvatskimigracije.es.tl|date=10 April 2008|url=http://hrvatskimigracije.es.tl/Croacia-y-Chile.htm?PHPSESSID=36d25ef77c698e5bfe8d0f7257c3e71c|accessdate=3 April 2009}}</ref>

It is estimated that there are up to 400,000–450,000 Chileans of Croatian descent.<ref>[http://hrvatskimigracije.es.tl/Diaspora-Croata.htm Croatian Chilean.]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://matis.hr/vijesti.php?id=2265 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604233703/http://www.matis.hr/vijesti.php?id=2265 |url-status=dead |date = 25 March 2009 | language = hr | title = Splitski osnovnoškolci rođeni u Čileu | first = Merien | last = Ilić |archive-date=4 June 2012 |publisher = [[Hrvatska matica iseljenika]] }}</ref> Even though the number may be much higher with some [[demographic]] analysts estimating a figure of 500,000.<ref name="hrvatski">[http://www.hrvatski.cl/html/croatas.htm hrvatski.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195315/http://www.hrvatski.cl/html/croatas.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> Included in the Croatian population are [[Italians of Croatia|Italian]] and [[Istro-Romanians|Istro-Romanian]] minorities, the latter speak a Romance language relates to Italian; they too easily assimilated to the Chilean society bexause of related Latin culture.

== Dalmatian-Croatian in Chile ==
The first issue of the publication ''Sloboda'' was published in March 1902, in [[Antofagasta]]. It was the first newspaper of the Croatian immigrants in [[Latin America]]. The Croatian [[immigrant]]s in Chile conducted extensive journalistic work since 1902, which includes more than 50 newspapers, publications and newsletters.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The [[Dalmatian coast]], with thousands of islands of white rock, covered with vineyards, pine forests and olive trees, is similar to the geographical features of Chile. Most families have a relative or descendant in [[Chile]]. Chile's name, unlike other parts of the world where it is almost unknown, is loved and admired by many Dalmatians as a second home.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.umag.cl/noticias/?id=631 Brač una isla "chilena" en la costa Dálmata] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207050458/http://www.umag.cl/noticias/?id=631 |date=7 December 2008 }}</ref>

== Croatians in Punta Arenas ==
{{see also|Tierra del Fuego gold rush}}
[[Punta Arenas]] is the most prominent settlement on the [[Strait of Magellan]] and the capital of the [[Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region]], [[Chile]]. It has a population of over 146,000 inhabitants (2008). The city has its roots among the population origin of the European colonists (Croatian and Spanish) that populated the area in the mid-nineteenth century. There are also descendants of people from other countries (i.e. [[German Chilean|German]], [[English Chilean|English]], [[Italian Chilean|Italian]], [[Swiss Chilean|Swiss]] and others).{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Croatian immigration in Punta Arenas was a crucial development in the region of [[Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region|Magallanes]] and the city in particular. Currently, it is possible to see this influence in the names of shops and many buildings.<ref>Congreso Mundial Croata: [http://hrvatskimigracije.es.tl/Congreso-Mundial-Croata.htm?PHPSESSID=9dfe7120e64e61da5c184f9007dcb61e Los croatas de Chile].</ref>

== Croatian Chileans ==

=== Political figures ===
*[[:es:Tamara Agnic|Tamara Agnic]] – business administrator, Superintendent of pensions (2014–16)
*[[Ingrid Antonijevic]] – economist, Chilean minister (2002–06)
*[[Vicente Merino|Vicente Merino Bielich]] – Naval officer, Chilean minister (1946), [[Vice President of Chile]] (1946) 
*[[Gabriel Boric]] – deputy (2014–22), [[President of Chile]] (since 2022)
*[[Hernán Büchi|Hernán Büchi Buc]] – economist, Chilean Minister (1983–84 / 1985–89)
*[[Romy Schmidt|Romy Schmidt Crnosija]] – lawyer, Chilean minister (2006–10)
*[[Igor Garafulic]] – economist, Intendant of [[Santiago Metropolitan Region]] (2008–10)
*[[Carolina Goic|Carolina Goić Borojević]] – social worker, deputy (2006–14), Senator (2014–22)
*[[Alejandro Jadresic|Alejandro Jadresic Marinovic]] – industrial engineer, Chilean minister (1994–98)
*[[:es:Carlos González Jaksic|Carlos González Jaksic]] – teacher, Regidor (1963–69) and Alcalde of [[Punta Arenas]] (1964–67 / 1992–96), deputy (1969–1973)
*[[Cedomil Lausic Glasinovic]] – agronomist, [[Revolutionary Left Movement (Chile)|MIR]] activist
*[[Yerko Ljubetic]] – lawyer, Chilean minister (2005–06)
*[[:es:Miodrag Marinović|Miodrag Marinović]] – businessman, deputy (2010–14)
*[[Vlado Mirosevic]] – political scientist, deputy (since 2014)
*[[Baldo Prokurica]] – lawyer, deputy (1990–2002), Senator (2002–18), Chilean minister (2018–20 / 2020–22)
*[[:es:Claudio Radonich|Claudio Radonich]] – lawyer, Intendant of [[Magallanes Region]] (2013–14), Alcalde of [[Punta Arenas]] (since 2016)
*[[:es:Esteban Tomic|Esteban Tomic]] – lawyer, Ambassador to the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] (2000–06) 
*[[Radomiro Tomic]] – lawyer, deputy (1941–49), Senator (1950–53 / 1961–65), Ambassador to the [[United States]] (1965–68)
*[[:es:Tomás Vodanovic|Tomás Vodanovic]] – sociologist, Alcalde of [[Maipú, Chile|Maipú]] (since 2021) 
*[[Pedro Vuskovic]] – economist, Chilean minister (1970–72)
*[[Edmundo Pérez Zujovic]] – businessman, Chilean minister (1965–67 / 1968–69)

=== Academics and scientists ===
*[[Francisco Bozinovic|Francisco Bozinovic Kuscevic]] – biologist, [[National Prize for Natural Sciences (Chile)|National Prize for Natural Sciences]] (2020)
*[[Lily Garafulic|Lily Garafulic Yankovic]] – sculptor, professor of fine arts
*{{ill|Cedomil Goic|es|vertical-align=sup}} – literary critic and professor of literature at [[Pontifical Catholic University of Chile]]
*[[Eric Goles]] – mathematician and author, [[National Prize for Exact Sciences (Chile)|National Prize for Exact Sciences]] (1993)
*[[Alfredo Jadresic]] – professor of medicine (also Olympic high jumper)
*[[Ernesto Livacic|Ernesto Livacic Gazzano]] – academic, author
*{{ill|Ernesto Livacic Rojas|es|vertical-align=sup}} – academic, economist
*[[Mateo Martinic|Mateo Martinić Beroš]] – academic, [[Chilean National History Award]] (2000), founder of Institute of Patagonia
*[[Luis Advis|Luis Advis Vitaglich]] – philosophy academic, composer of [[Santa María de Iquique (cantata)|Santa María de Iquique]]
*{{ill|Jorge Yutronic|es|vertical-align=sup}} – academic, electrical engineer

=== Writers ===
*[[Lenka Franulic]] – journalist, author, the annual ''Lenka Fraunlic Award'' for the best journalist of the year was named in her honour
*[[Astrid Fugellie|Astrid Fugellie Gezan]] – poet
*[[José Goles|José Goles Radnić]] – music writer and composer<ref>http://www.musicapopular.cl/artista/jose-goles/ Jose Nicolas (Pepe) Goles Radnić</ref>
*[[Eugenio Mimica Barassi]] – author
*[[Andrés Morales|Andrés Morales Milohnic]] – poet, author, academic, Prize Pablo Neruda 2001
*[[Cristián Contreras Radovic]] – journalist, author, speaker, Doctor of Philosophy, leader of the [[United Centre (Chile)|United Centre]]
*[[Roque Esteban Scarpa]] – poet, author, academic
*[[Antonio Skármeta|Antonio Skármeta Vranicic]] – author, novelist

=== Sportspeople ===
====Auto racing====
*[[:es:Boris Garafulic Litvak|Boris Garafulic Litvak]] – racing driver
*[[:es:Boris Garafulic Stipicic|Boris Garafulic Stipicic]] – racing driver

====Basketball====
*[[Andrés Mitrovic]] – basketball player
*[[Juan Ostoic]] – basketball player
*[[:es:Milenko Skoknic|Milenko Skoknic]] – basketball player, also diplomat

====Football====
*[[Ivo Basay|Ivo Basay Hatibovic]] – football manager and footballer
*[[Marko Biskupovic]] – football manager and footballer
*{{ill|Yerko Darlic|es|vertical-align=sup}} – footballer
*[[Felipe Seymour|Felipe Seymour Dobud]] – footballer
*{{ill|Peter Dragicevic|es|vertical-align=sup}} – football administrator, former president of [[Colo-Colo]]
*[[Juan Koscina]] – footballer 
*[[Benjamín Kuscevic]] – footballer
*[[José Lafrentz|José Lafrentz Marusich]] – footballer
*{{ill|Vladimiro Mimica|es|vertical-align=sup}} – sports radio personality, also [[Alcalde]] of [[Punta Arenas]] (2008–2012)
*[[Milovan Mirošević]] – football manager and footballer
*[[Nicolás Peranic]] – footballer <!--Argentine naturalized Chilean-->
*[[Nicolás Peric]] – footballer and sports commentator
*[[Harold Mayne-Nicholls|Harold Mayne-Nicholls Sekul]] – football administrator, former president of [[Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional|ANFP]] and [[FIFA]] official 
*[[Jaime Lo Presti|Jaime Lo Presti Travanic]] – footballer
*[[Luka Tudor|Luka Tudor Bakulic]] – footballer and sports commentator

====Other sports====
*[[Neven Ilic]] – sports official, member of the [[International Olympic Committee]]
*[[Iván Morovic]] – Chess [[Grandmaster (chess)|International Grandmaster]]
*[[Juan Papic]] – table tennis player
*[[Johnnathan Tafra]] – canoeist

=== Media personalities ===
*[[Cristián Arriagada|Cristián Arriagada Bižaca]] – actor
*[[Jéssica Eterovic]] – model
*[[Carolina Fadic]] – actress
*[[Alejandro Goic (actor)|Alejandro Goic]] – actor
*[[Carolina Mestrovic]] – singer, model
*[[:es:Julio Milostich|Julio Milostich]] – actor
*[[Paulina Mladinic]] – model
*[[:es:Isidora Cabezón|Isidora Cabezón Papic]] – actress
*[[Martín Cárcamo|Martín Cárcamo Papic]] – television presenter
*[[:es:Pedro Pavlovic|Pedro Pavlovic]] – journalist
*[[:es:Santiago Pavlovic|Santiago Pavlovic]] – journalist
*[[Mauricio Pesutic]] – actor
*[[:es:Simón Pesutic|Simón Pesutic]] – actor
*[[Ángela Contreras|Ángela Contreras Radovic]] – actress
*[[Manuela Martelli|Manuela Martelli Salamovich]] – actress
*[[Tonka Tomicic|Tonka Tomicic Petric]] – television presenter, model
*[[Antonio Vodanovic]] – television presenter
*[[Sergio Vodanović]] – screenwriter, journalist, dramatist, lawyer
*[[Carolina Arregui|Carolina Arregui Vuskovic]] – actress

=== Business people ===
*[[Pascual Baburizza|Pascual Baburizza Šoletić]]
*[[Andrónico Luksic Abaroa]]
*[[Andrónico Luksic Craig]]
*[[Guillermo Luksic Craig]]
*[[Jean-Paul Luksic Fontbona]]

=== Other notable Chilean croats ===
*[[Alejandro Goic Karmelic]] – clergyman
*[[Leonor Oyarzún|Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic]] – First Lady of Chile
*[[:es:Antonio Rendic|Antonio Rendić Ivanović]] – doctor, a.k.a. "Ivo Serge" as poet
*[[Koko Stambuk]] – Chilean musician

== See also ==
{{Portal|Croatia|Chile}}
* [[Chile–Croatia relations]]
* [[Croatian Argentines]]
* [[Croatian Brazilian]]
* [[Croatian Peruvian]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [http://hrvatskimigracije.es.tl/Diaspora-Croata.htm Diaspora Croata]

{{Croatian diaspora}}
{{Ethnic groups in Chile}} 
{{Portal bar|Chile|Croatia}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}

[[Category:Croatian diaspora by country]]
[[Category:Chilean people of Croatian descent| ]]
[[Category:European diaspora in Chile]]