This paper examines various researches in the field of heraldry concerning territory of the Republic of Croatia, as well as the development of croatian heraldry (or armory) through history. First basic researches can be traced all the way to the first half of XIV. century, regarding various portulan charts, or navigational maps based on compass directions and estimated distances observed by the pilots at sea. The authors of these maps recorded some of the first coat of arms that are known to be used in Croatia through history, for example: coat of arms of the lords of Krk (House of Frankopan) and the coat of arms of the unknown family that ruled lower Neretva area at the begining of the XIV. century, or even before that time. After those first records various authors from other european countries noted many coats of arms wich were used in Croatia in their heraldic works all the way till the middle of the XVI. century, including famous chequered coat of arms of the Kingdom of Croatia, whose origin could be connected with the already mentioned early use of basic checkered flag described in the second half of the XIV. century as the coat of arms of the „Neretva“ region. At the end of XVI. century (1595.) first croatian roll of arms, the Korjenić-Neorić Armorial was created by the members of Korjenić-Neorić family that lived close to town of Slano near city of Dubrovnik. After that first armorial, many manuscripts based on Korjenić-Neorić Armorial followed during XVI., XVII. and XVIII. century. That armorial, as well as other manuscripts that followed, had great importance for the later preservation of many coats of arms recorded in those heraldic collections, as well as for the future development of heraldic researches in Croatia. Later heraldic works by Mavro Orbini, Pavao Ritter Vitezović, Ivan Voršič, Jerolim Bufalis, Marko Lauro Ruić, Ivan Nepomuk Labaš described in this paper, as well as many other authors, contributed a lot to the final phase of development of croatian heraldic theory during XIX. century by the armorials of Ivan Bojničić and C. G. F. Heyer von Rosenfeld. During first half of XX. century various researches in the field of heraldry reached it's peak, but they were brutally suppressed by the Yugoslav comunist regime after the end of Second World War. Concerning feudal origin of heraldry, use and study of coats of arms were practically prohibited during the era of socialism. But, at the end of XX. century, breakup of Yugoslavia as well as the collapse of comunist regime in Croatia allowed restoration of heraldry to the full extent. So, for the last two decades, number of heraldic researches and various works in the field of heraldry constantly increases.