Politician and publicist Dr. Ante Starčević (Žitnik near Gospić, 23 May 1823 – Zagreb, 28 February 1896) is one of the most prominent figures in Croatian political history ever. He was born in Lika and received his education in Zagreb, his hometown, and in Pest, where he earned his doctorate in philosophy. In his youth, he was an ardent supporter of Ban Josip Jelačić and the Illyrian movement, but after the disappointment of 1848/49, he rejected the ideas of Illyrianism and Yugoslavism as fallacies and devoted himself to building a modern Croatian national idea based on history and state law, to which he would devote himself until death. In 1861, he co-founded the Party of Rights with Eugen Kvaternik and was elected to the Croatian Parliament for the first time in the same year. With one brief hiatus, he was a member of Parliament until his death, and the rostrum, together with newspaper articles and election notices, was the primary means by which he disseminated his doctrine. This doctrine was adopted by his followers, who passed on these beliefs and ideas to the Croatian people. Some of the most notable figures of Croatian literature of the time (Ante Kovačić, Eugen Kumičić, Antun Gustav Matoš) played a particularly vital role in establishing the cult of “the Old,” especially among the youth in high schools and universities.
Irreconcilable with Vienna and Budapest, and especially with the ruling House of Habsburg, Starčević lived an ascetic life, in constant opposition, often the target of ridicule, but even in extremely difficult circumstances he managed to keep alive the belief in the territorial integration and independence of Croatia, which earned him the title of “Father of the Fatherland.”
He died in Zagreb on 28 February 1896 and was buried two days later in Šestine near Zagreb, as was his heart’s desire.
Dr. sc. Branko Ostajmer
Croatian Institute of History, Zagreb
