History

Process of settlement of southern and coastal Balkan territories by slavic tribes began from Vikings and Byzantium rule of in the sixth century. The slavic state Duklja (named so after the Roman city of Doklea, located near the present Podgorica), was founded in the beginning of VII-th century in the territory of Prevalis, the former Roman province, in the borders and under the formal rule of Byzantian empire.

With appearance of slavs the Prevalis demography and structure of state system had undergone radical changes. Duklja was located in the compact, isolated territory in the area of basin of the Skadar lake, surrounded by mountain chains. This region was sentenced to become the basis for the further sociopolitical and state development of Montenegro which was, as a matter of fact, centuries-old struggle for independence and autonomy. This struggle became a distinctive feature of existence Montenegrin people.

Having settled in the Balkans, slavs accepted christianity that promoted their ethnic, cultural and political integration with Romans, Illyrians and another non-slavic population. The established data about Duklja and its governors are extremely poor till the moment of coming to power of prince Vladimir (the end of X-th century). The legend about prince Vladimir and his martyr death is described in "Chronicle of Pope Dukljanin" of the XII-th century, and also in national legends and is saved in the modern religious rites. In the days of Voislav’s rule, Vladimir nephew, Duklja gained the big victory over the Byzantian army near the Bar city in 1042, that resulted in the further strengthening of its positions. This victory had forced the Byzantian emperor to enter into an alliance with Mihailo, the son of Voislav. Thus, Duklja was the first of the Balkan states had received the sovereignty and independence from Byzantium. Approximately from that times the country began to be called Zeta, and the name had gradually superseded the former in the Byzantian sources.

In 1077 Mihailo had received blessing to reign from the Roman Pope - Grigory VII, and Zeta had been proclaimed a kingdom. His heir Bodin (1083-1101) had continued the struggle against domination of Byzantium in the Balkans, and for years of his reign the territory and influence of Zeta were distributed to the neighbouring Raska, Bosnia and Bulgaria.

After the death of the last governor from Vladimir`s dynasty (named as Voislavici) began the period of struggle for the throne, which Byzantium had used, and in 1185 Zeta had been joined to Raska, the Serbian area, being under the Byzantian control. Thus all coastal cities, except for Kotor had been destroyed. The Serbian dynasty of Nemanjic, ruled over Raska in the structure of their " Kingdom of Diokletia and Dalmatia ", had not changed the state system, created by their predecessors. During the years of rule of the dynasty, the roads from coast to Serbia were built, trade and crafts were developed, which resulted in essential progress and raise of welfare of the coastal cities. Kotor played the special role in trade between the countries of the Balkan peninsula and Italy.

In the second half of XIV-th century, Zeta became independent from the central authority in Serbia and continued its existence as the independent feudal state, initially under the control of dynasty of Balsic, and then - Crnojevic. Balsic had essentially extended territory of their state as a result of the constant wars both with the neighbours - the Albanian, Bosnian, Serbian feudal lords, and with growing stronger Venice and Turkey. With the increase of Crnojevic authority, Zeta (or Montenegro is name had appeared under their rule) became the country, whose state system represented a mix of feudal and community-tribal system. During this period Turks attacks had become more frequent. The territory of the country decreased, the population receded to the Lovcen mountains. Ivan Crnojevic selected a new capital of the decreased country Cetinje, where he built the palace and a monastery. Cetinje was fated to become the state and spiritual (cultural) center of Montenegrins, maintaining their aspiration to freedom in the following five long centuries.

At financial support of Djuradj, the son of Ivan Crnojevic, in Cetinje the first printed house started working in the South-Slavic land. In 1493 five church books, printed in Cyrillic had been issued there.

After the short Djuradj reign, the country had got under the Turk authority (1496). Since 1513 Montenegro was allocated in the special administrative and territorial unit in a composition of Ottoman empire, with a high degree of autonomy, having its own government, judicial bodies and a standing army. Such situation in the country was preserved up to Kandinskaja war (1645-1669 г.г.) after which the territory around of mountains Lovcen again had got a full independence.

The Supreme authority, both spiritual, and secular, belonged to Cetinje Lords (Vladika). Public authorities were the General Montenegrin assemblage and Council of tribal heads. At the lower levels the management was realized by the Councils of tribes. In 1697 the Montenegrin assemblage (gathering) elected Danilo I as a vladiko (lord), the first governor of Petrovices dynasty. Danilo began the organized struggle for the political and religious unification of the country undermined by inter-clan conflicts and islamization of population conducted by Turks on the borders of the country. 1712 entered into the history of Montenegrin people as the year of one of the greatest victories of their army over Ahmed – pasha, the Bosnian vizier in the fight at Carev Laz.

The country, united by efforts of the lord Peter I Petrovic (1784-1830), the most prominent figure in Montenegrin history by many opinions, had followed the road of strengthenings the sovereignty. The influence of Turkey had been also limited and de facto Montenegro became the independent state after a series of big victories over the superior forces of Turkish armies in 1796. Overcoming of the long internal crisis was also the merit of Peter I: he united Montenegrin clans, established strong connections with inhabitants of the coast, being under the Austrian occupation. He issued the laws provided a recession from the traditional, clan organization of society and introduction of modern state institutes and methods of management.

Peter II Petrovich Njegos (1830-1851), the well-known poet and philosopher, was the last governor of Montenegro, who combined secular and spiritual authorities. During his twenty years rule he continued the successful development of Montenegro, having formed bodies of judicial, administrative and military authority. During his trips across the Europe Njegos met with many political leaders, officials, noted people, it promoted the formation of positive foreign policy image of Montenegro.

The establishment of borders with Austria which he could manage to achieve in 1841, had resulted in recognition of Montenegro by the world powers as independent state, with the certain borders and territory.

Danilo Petrovic (1851-1860), a successor of Njegosh, was the first secular governor since Ivan Crnojevica`s times. During his govern the significant part of the former Montenegrin territories was liberated. Prince Danilo also paid the big attention to the establishment of relations with the West. After the big military victory over Turks in Grahovac (1858) and the establishment of Montenegrin borders, which were recognized by the largest states at the Constantinople conference, the country officially fixed its sovereignty.

Nikola Petrovic (1860-1918) inherited throne in the years, when in the European political arena the problem "east question" was again renewed. During the Eastern crises of 1875-1878 Montenegro won over osman armies in the fights at Vucji Do and Fundina. As a result of these victories Montenegrin politicians had achieved many objectives, among which there was a full international recognition of the country at the Berlin congress, returning of the Bar and Ulcinj cities (that meant an output to the sea), and also the cities of Podgorica, Niksic and Kolasin. Thus, Montenegro increased its territories, population and obtained the certain economic gains. Simultaneously Montenegrin had shown greater tolerance in relation to local population so that many moslems and ethnic Albanians had remained to live in Montenegro and received all the civil rights and freedom. Many representatives of these groups of population had taken up the high positions in state bodies and military service.

The struggle of the small Montenegrin people, the only people on the Balkans - managed to resist successfully to centuries-old domination of powerful Ottoman empire, brought them sympathy and support of the rest part of Europe. In 1910, having recollected papal blessing of the XI-th century, prince Nikola had proclaimed himself a king, and the country began to refer to as kingdom.

Montenegro had immediately entered to the first World war after its announcement and fought together with Serbia on the side of Antanta against Germany and its allies. After defeat of the Serbian army Montenegro capitulated, and the king Nikola left the country on January, 6, 1916. Upon termination of the war, ended with a victory of the Antanta countries, Serbs raised a question on joining of two states. On November 26, 1918 the so-called "Great national skupshchina Montenegro" had made the decision on deposition of king Nikola and a dynasty as a whole. The sharp criticism was caused because the monarch ran away and the fact, that Mirko the king`s son of Nikola, became the provisional puppet governor of the occupied kingdom. So Njegos-Petrovic dynasty appeared dethroned. And the entrance on territory of the country had been forbidden to the king and members of his family, the resistance of supporters of independence was cruelly suppressed. For the first time during the centuries-old history the name of Montenegro had disappeared from a political map of Europe, the country became a part of Kingdom of Serbs, Croatians and Slovenes (from the middle of 20th years - Kingdoms of Yugoslavia).

Authorities of Yugoslavia had been made attempts to suppress the discontent of many Montenegrins with their position in structure of Kingdom due to the change of the administrative-territorial organization of the region, namely the creation of the so-called provinces ("banovina") and introduction of the posts of governors ("bans"). However these changes had no due effect and political conflicts became more and more sharp.

Immediately after the beginning of the second world war the country had undergone to the attack of Italy. During the war 10 % of the population of Montenegro had been killed in the battles with invaders both local nationalist and fascist groups. Love of freedom of Montenegrin people was widely proved during the armed popular uprising on July 13, 1941, brought the huge contribution to antifascist movement in Yugoslavia. The struggle against fascism during the war allowed Montenegro to restore its state status and in 1946 it had become one of the six republics of socialist Yugoslavian federation.

Character of internal political system of federation during the early post-war period did the constitutional and legal opportunities of republics, including Montenegro, more formal, than real. But in the 70th years the significant movement to decentralization and democratization began which had strengthened the positions of republics. However in the result of death of Josip Broz Tito, who concentrated all power of the country in his hands, the inability and unavailability of the republican leaders to start a number of political reforms and to solve the problem of preservation or dissolution of federation by democratic way had resulted to that Yugoslavia was captured with the bloody civil war which had come to the end in the beginning of 90th years by separation of Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 1992 Montenegro together with Serbia formed the new state – the Union Republic of Yugoslavia. However because of disagreements between the republics, SRYU had hardly existed for more than 10 years and it has been liquidated on February 4th, 2003. In the same day the formation of the State community of Serbia and Montenegro was proclaimed. Both republics became the independent states, but with some restrictions. So, the general parliament and the government of five ministries had been formed: ministry of foreign affairs, defense, economy, the international economic relations, protection of human rights and minorities.

Though frailty of this formation was clear from the very beginning, it had existed for three years (it was the requirements of the international community under a pretext "maintenance of stability in the Balkans"), and its end was quite logical: on May 21, 2006 at the referendum Montenegrins had restored independence of their country.