Loading

History of Montenegro

A country on the Balkan Peninsula that declared its independence in June 2006 after a referendum. 6 eras, 1360 to today.

Principality of Zeta, 1360–1516 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Principality of Zeta was a late medieval principality located in the southern parts of modern Montenegro and northern parts of modern Albania, around the Lake of Skadar. It was ruled by the families of Balšić, Lazarević, Branković and Crnojević in succession from the second half of the 14th century until Ottoman conquest at the very end of the 15th century. In 1360 the House of Balšić were enthroned as rulers of the state under Tsar Uroš.

Seat of power: Shkodër

Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro, 1516–1852 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro was a Serbian Orthodox ecclesiastical principality that existed from 1516 until 1852. It emerged from the Eparchy of Cetinje, whose bishops defied the Ottoman Empire overlordship and transformed the parish of Cetinje into a de facto theocracy, ruling it as Metropolitans. In 1516, Vavila was elected as ruler of Montenegro by its clans. The system was transformed into a hereditary one by Danilo Šćepčević, a bishop of Cetinje who united the several tribes of Montenegro into fighting the Ottoman Empire.

Seat of power: Cetinje

Rulers

Principality of Montenegro, 1852–1910 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Principality of Montenegro was a principality in Southeastern Europe that existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. The Principality was formed on 13 March 1852 when Vladika Danilo II decided to renounce ecclesiastical status, married, and secularized his realm. The first Montenegrin constitution was proclaimed in 1855, known as Danilo's Code. Under a peace treaty signed on 3 March 1878, Constantinople recognised the independence of Montenegro, as well as Romania and Serbia, and Montenegro's territory increased from 4,405 km2 to 9,475 km2.

Seat of power: Cetinje

Rulers

Kingdom of Montenegro, 1910–1918 Draft, not yet reviewed

During the tumultuous period on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I, the Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe, present-day Montenegro. Prince Nikola of Montenegro proclaimed the Kingdom of Montenegro in Cetinje on 28 August 1910, elevating the country from the rank of a principality. Montenegro joined the First Balkan War in 1912, hoping to win a share in the last Ottoman-controlled areas of Rumelia. On 28 November 1918, following the end of World War I, with the Montenegrin government still in exile, the Podgorica Assembly proclaimed unification with the Kingdom of Serbia, which itself was merged into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes three days later, on 1 December 1918.

Seat of power: Cetinje

Socialist Republic of Montenegro, 1945–1992 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Socialist Republic of Montenegro was one of the six republics forming the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the nation state of the Montenegrins. Prior to its formation, Montenegro was part of Zeta banovina administrative unit of Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Between 1945 and 1963, the Montenegrin government embarked on a program of rapid industrialization, nationalization of private property, and collectivization of agriculture, following the wider Yugoslav socialist development strategy. On 7 July 1963, the People's Republic of Montenegro was renamed the Socialist Republic of Montenegro.

Seat of power: Podgorica

Montenegro, 2006 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Montenegro is a country in Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Montenegro's independence was recognised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro together proclaimed a federation. In June 2006 Montenegro declared its independence following a referendum.

Seat of power: Podgorica

Rulers

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.