In March 1860, Kvaternik claimed to Napoleon of France that Croatia could provide some 250,000 soldiers explaining that Croats were able to do so when they fought the Hungarians in the 1848 Revolution. A month later, he stated to the Sardinian ambassador (Signor Nigra) that Croats still hoped for revolution and could raise some 400,000 men and liberate Venice. Kvaternik was, however, more active during his stay in Italy between 1863-65. As a member of the Croatian "Sabor" beginning in 1861, Kvaternik become popular among those who disliked Austria, and at the same time he was still in contact with the Grenzers.