[4][5] The diocese was established in the 3rd century AD and was made an archdiocese by the Pope Anastasius IV in 1154.

Today, it is not part of any ecclesiastical province of Croatia, rather it is the only Croatian archdiocese directly subject to the Holy See.

Zadar (modern Croatia) has been a Roman Catholic diocese in Dalmatia since AD 381 and, since 1146, an archdiocese.

In 1276 Patriarch Ægidius summoned Archbishop John with his suffragans to the Council of Grado where they were, however, represented by deputies.

Archbishop Nicholas III of Zadar was present at the synod convened by Cardinal Guido of Santa Cecilia at Padua in 1350.