The Illyrian movement (1835–1848) was a Romantic nationalist campaign led by Croatian intellectuals that sought to construct a unified South Slavic national identity—initially termed "Illyrian"—to resist Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman cultural pressures. While its ultimate goal of a broad South Slavic state failed, it succeeded in consolidating the modern . Core Themes in Identity Construction
: Proponents, including Ljudevit Gaj (1.3.7), utilized the "Illyrian myth," claiming that South Slavs were the direct descendants of ancient Illyrians. This served to provide "deep historical roots" and a sense of continuity that predated imperial rule. The Illyrian movement and the construction of t...
If you are researching this topic for a paper, the following scholarly works provide critical analysis: including Ljudevit Gaj (1.3.7)
The Illyrian Movement and the Construction of National Territory utilized the "Illyrian myth