Zadar has a centuries-long tradition of university, the longest in the Croatian regions: the traditions of church education which is mentioned in Zadar from the 10th century, more 14 June 1396 was established in Zadar Dominican institution Studium generale, later called Universitas Jadertina. The city of Zadar was not chosen for the seat of the university, because at that time was in full bloom as the most important maritime center of the Croatian-Hungarian kingdom in which was the seat of state government institutions such as the seat of the Croatian-Dalmatian Ban and the Hungarian-Croatian Navy. The first rector of the University of Zadar was John of Durres which is connected with the fact that the Zadar General College inherited formerly founded University in Durres, which withdrew in Zadar due to the growing Turkish threat in Southeast Europe.