They were led by Stjepan Radić, who would later form the influential Croatian People's Peasant Party.
That day the emperor attended the unveiling ceremonial completion of the Croatian National Theatre.
On October 16, the final day of the imperial visit, the students marched to Ban Jelačić Square where they chanted "Živio hrvatski kralj Franjo Josip I" ("Long live Croatian king Franz Joseph I"), "Slava Jelačiću" and "Abzug Magjari" ("Away with Hungarians").
The city police soon informed ban Khuen-Héderváry of the act, and he ordered that the students be arrested.
These students would form the basis of the Croatian Moderna, a cultural and political movement active at the turn of the century, characterized by anti-traditionalism, cosmopolitanism, and focus on artistic freedom.