[1] The intention of members of this academy was to make their language more attractive and to deal with questions of the writing style.
The Illyrian Academy was one of many similar academies established in Dalmatia in the beginning of the 18th century to further the causes of the Counter-Reformation movement of the Catholic church and to advance Slavic letters hoping to spread the use of Slavic (Slovinski) language.
[6][7] The archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Split-Makarska, Stephanus Cosimi, supported the establishment of the Illyrian Academy.
[11] The Illyirian Academy published literature works using a language spoken by the people.
[12] In 1703 it had 19 members, including Catholic priest Franjo Kriton, Jerolim Kavanjin, Ivan Dražić and Petar Macukat.