Figure 1.--

Montenegro is a small Balkan republic whose history has been strongly affected by its mountainous terrain and Adriatic coast. Its history is strongly associated with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Albania. Montenegro like the Balkans in general were a part of the Roman Empire. The Roman influence was substantial and the Italian Peninsula was only a short distance across the Adriatic. With the division if the Empire (4th century AD) and fall of Rome (5th century), the Balkans came under the control of the Eastern Empire or Byzantium. This was contested by various groups including the Huns and Bulgars. The mountainous terrain and coast helped the local people achieve autonomy within the Byzantine Empire. The first state in what is modern Montenegro was Duklja which emerged as a Byzantine vassal state (9th century). The ruling dynasty was the he Vojislavljevics. King Vojislav having ruled for 25 years defeated a Byzantine Army near Bar (1042). This meant that Duklja was now independent. Under King Vojislav's son, King Mihailo (1046-81), and his son King Bodin (1081-1101), Duklja was independent and prosperous. At this time the kingdom bega to be called Zeta. It was annexed by Raska. Beginning with the Crnojevic dynasty, Zeta was commonly called Crna Gora. Venice by this time had emerged as an Adriatic power. Thus the Venitian (Italian) version became common--Monte Verde. Serbia and Monte Verde were defeated by the Ottomass at Kosovo Polje (14th century). Montenegro was on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire and because of the mountainous terrain, difficult to control. Montenegro was a constant irritant to the Ottoman sultans. Montenegro gained its independent from the Ottoman Empire after the Russo-Turkish War (1878). It sided with Serbia in World War I and was occupied by the Central Powers (1915). After the War in joined with the other southern Slavs in what became Yugoslavia. When the NAZIs during World war II invaded Yugoslavia (1941), Montenegro was occupied by the Italians and then the Germans (1943). The Communist partisans seized power at the end of the War (1945). Montenergro was not involved in the Balkan Yugoslavian wars of independence (1990s), but voted by referendum to sever ties with Serbia and become independent (2006).

Ancient History

Montenegro like the Balkans in general were a part of the Roman Empire. The Roman influence was substantial and the Italian Peninsula was only a short distance across the Adriatic.

Medieval Era

With the division if the Empire (4th century AD) and fall of Rome (5th century), the Balkans came under the control of the Eastern Empire or Byzantium. This was contested by various groups including the Huns and Bulgars. The mountainous terrain and coast helped the local people achieve autonomy within the Byzantine Empire. The first state in what is modern Montenegro was Duklja which emerged as a Byzantine vassal state (9th century). The ruling dynasty was the he Vojislavljevics. King Vojislav having ruled for 25 years defeated a Byzantine Army near Bar (1042). This meant that Duklja was now independent. Under King Vojislav's son, King Mihailo (1046-81), and his son King Bodin (1081-1101), Duklja was independent and prosperous. At this time the kingdom began to be called Zeta. It was annexed by Raska. Beginning with the Crnojevic dynasty, Zeta was commonly called Crna Gora. Venice by this time had emerged as an Adriatic power. Thus the Venitian (Italian) version became common--Monte Verde.

Ottoman Era

Serbia and Monte Verde were defeated by the Ottomans at Kosovo Polje (14th century). Montenegro was on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire and because of the mountainous terrine, difficult to control. Montenegro was a constant irritant to the Ottoman sultans. One such rebellion occurred during one of the many the Russo-Turkish Wars (1710-13). Tsar Peter the Great encouraged Montenegro to rebel. Montenegro with its small army repelled several attacks by the Ottoman Army, which had a vastly superior force. Peter concluded peace with Turkey without any concern for Montenegro. When Montenegro's forces were exhausted and the threat of total annihilation loomed, an ambassador was urgently dispatched to Tsar Peter. The Montenegrin ambassador waited over a year for permission to meet with Peter I, but permission was denied. Montenegro was virtually destroyed and devastated. Only 3 years later, in 1715, did the Tsarist Government provide some aid to Montenegro. It's important to note that the Moscow Metropolitanate objected, considering this aid 'too expensive gifts'. 【РОССИЙСКАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ НАУК】

Independence

Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire (1876). Montenegro's Prince Nikola Petrović (Nicholas I) joined Serbia immediately. This led to the Russo-Turkish War (1878). It was a turning point in Monenegrian history. Territorial gains werechieved by Montenegro in the initial Treaty of San Stefano. Thery weresubseuently reduced at the Congress of Berlin (1878). Even so the extent of Montenegro was baically doubled in area. Perhaps even more importantly, and for the first time in histoy, the borders were set down by trety, although somewhat vaguely. Montenegro importantly achived access to the sea at Antivari (now Bar) and Dulcigno (Ulcinj). The other Great Powers strongly opposed a Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean As a result they restrict the use of these ports ewhich impacted the Montenegrioan economy. Even so Montenegro after breaking awy from Ottoman control was now able to more freely engage vin interntional commerce, most imprtantly with the bustling economies of Europe. Trade expanded for Miontenegran agricvulturl mproducts (tobacco and wine). Montenegro began to ceate the istitution of a modern nation, including a making ytem wuth a state bank. They also began to create an European-style educatinal system. here was road construction and a postal system created. Expanding eduxational and literacy as well as increasing contact with Europe fueled a sire to modernize society whivh because of Ottomon control was backward compared to the rest of Europe. An imprtat step was modenizing the legal code (1888). European-tyle parliamentary government was introduced (1905). Prince Nicholas did not, however, approve odparlimentary limots on his power which meant that a range of disputes developed. He took the title of king (1910). The country's first ril system was opened from Antivari to Virpazar on Lake Scutari (1908). Foreign invetmentsfinmced the rail ystem and othr infrastructure projcts. Itsalin investment was espcially imprtanty. OPENONG THE Econmy resultd in emogrtion, primarily Serbia and the United States. Montenegro's peaceful path ended with the bloody Balkan Wars (1912–13). Montenegro continued its close association with Serbia and sided with them and the other Balkan League states drive the Ottoman Turks from Europe. The Treaty of London (1913) brought small territorial gains along on the Albanian border and in Kosovo. Thee was also the partitio of the Ottoman sanjak (military-administrative district) of Novi Pazar between Serbia and Montenegro. This created border with Serbia forthe first time. There were concerning posible union with Serbia. Before this occurred, World War I eruptd (1914). Austrian and German firces invaded Serbia and Montenegro (1915). Nicholas went into into exile. ). Montenegro ws one of the many recipients of American food relief. After the War, Montegro joined with the other southern Slavs in what became Yugoslavia. When the NAZIs during World War II invaded Yugoslavia (1941), Montenegro was occupied by the Italians and then the Germans (1943). The Communist partisans seized power at the end of the War (1945). Montenrgro was not involved in the Balkan Yugoslavian wars of independence (1990s), but voted by referendum to sever ties with Serbia and become independent (2006).

Sources

РОССИЙСКАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ НАУК. ИНСТИТУТ СЛАВЯНОВЕДЕНИЯ. (RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. INSTITUTE OF SLAVIC STUDIES. ЧЕРНОГОРЦЫ в РОССИИ (Montenegrins in Russia) (2011).

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