Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro
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
Sava II Petrović-Njegoš
Prince-Bishop, 1735–1744
Sava Petrović was the Metropolitan of Cetinje between 1735 and 1781, ruling what is known in historiography as the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro. He succeeded his relative Danilo I as Metropolitan in 1735. He was a contemplative man and not as energetic as his predecessor, and sought to cultivate good relations with both Venice and Russia.
Portrait of Sava II Petrović-Njegoš: Unknown author, Public domain, file
Sava II Petrović-Njegoš
Prince-Bishop, 1766–1781
From 1744 to 1766, Metropolitan Vasilije Petrović Njegoš, Sava's coadjutator, became effectively the highest authority in Montenegro and its representative abroad. After Vasilije died at St. Petersburg in 1766, Sava again resumed his duties as Metropolitan.
Portrait of Sava II Petrović-Njegoš: Unknown author, Public domain, file
Culture
- Vladikas were elected for 180 years by clan chieftains and people on Montenegrin assembly called Zbor, an arrangement that was ultimately abandoned in favor of the hereditary system.
- The highest office-holder of the polity was the Metropolitan (vladika, also rendered prince-bishop).
- The medieval Cetinje Monastery, also known as the Old Cetinje Monastery, was built by Ivan Crnojević in 1484.
Picture
The Cetinje Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Cetinje, Montenegro, and the seat of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.
Image: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, file
Sources
- Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro (Wikipedia)
- Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro (Wikidata)
- About the picture (Wikipedia)
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.