after being banned from practicing law in 1857, starčević travelled to russia where he hoped he would gather support from the empire's eastern rival. when this failed, he travelled to france, pinning his hopes on french emperor napoleon iii. while in paris, he published his work "la croatie et la confédération italienne", considered by some to be the precursor to his party of rights' political program. in 1859, the austrian empire was defeated in the second italian war of independence, during which time starčević returned to croatia. austria lost control over italy, and austria's weakening status in the world paved the way for starčević's career.