This master's thesis combines the traditional formal grammatical approach, and the contemporary functional semantic-pragmatic conception of the case paradigm. The aim of this thesis is to reconstruct the position of the vocative case in the Croatian grammaticology from the 17th to the beginning of the 21st century by analyzing the content of selected grammar books, using the explicative analysis method for the interpretation of the recorded notes, and the descriptive analysis method, together with the contrastive approach. The research problem is formulated around three areas of concern: what was the status and description of the vocative in Croatian grammar books during the last five centuries, to what extent are recorded vocative forms and their characteristics aligned with the contemporary grammatical norm, and whether there are signs of fluctuation between the vocative and the nominative case form. Results will show what were the grammatical practices of recording the vocative in the grammar books of different historical periods, upon which conclusions will be formed concerning its development and the level of affirmation in Croatian grammaticology, something which, in turn, should form a holistic diachronic image of the status, description, functions, and development of vocative in Croatian grammaticology during the last five centuries.