Here's a simplified explanation of its development:
* Early Slavic Migrations: Around the 6th and 7th centuries, Slavic tribes migrated into the Balkan peninsula, bringing their own languages. These languages eventually diversified into different South Slavic languages, including the ancestors of Croatian.
* Development of Regional Dialects: Over time, different dialects arose within the Croatian region, influenced by local factors and contact with other languages like Latin and Hungarian.
* Standardization Efforts: During the 19th century, with the rise of nationalism, efforts were made to standardize the Croatian language. This involved choosing a base dialect, developing a unified grammar and orthography, and promoting its use in literature and education.
* Literary Figures: Important figures like Ljudevit Gaj and Vinko S. Radić played crucial roles in codifying the language and establishing its written form.
Therefore, while there wasn't a single "inventor" of Croatian, the language evolved through a complex process of natural linguistic change and conscious standardization efforts.