Eugen Kvaternik

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Eugen Kvaternik (1825-1871) was a Croatian politician. Kvaternik and Ante Starčević formed the Croatian Party of Rights together.

He was born in Zagreb. He was educated in Senj and in Pest. After the abolition of feudalism in 1848 by ban Josip Jelačić, greater freedom from Austria-Hungary was granted. This encouraged proponents of Croatian independence such as Kvaternik. In 1858 he sought help in Russia. When this turned out unsuccessful, he distanced himself from the regions and Slavic nations in general to seek help from France.

He returned to Croatia in 1860 and was elected to Parliament the following year under the new banner of the Party of Rights. In 1862 he was arrested for his political activities. He was jailed and left the country until 1865. He returned only be to be forced to leave the country again. However, after the crowning of Franz Joseph as king of Austria-Hungary in 1867 he was allowed to return.

In 1871, he abandoned his party's aim of only using political resistance and launched the Rakovica Revolt. This rebellion ended up being unsuccessful, and Kvaternik himself was killed in it.

"I hate neither Hungary nor Austria and all that I do I do out of immense love of Croatia." - Eugen Kvaternik