Kingdom of Montenegro

State in southeast Europe from 1910 to 1918

This article is about the early 20th-century Montenegrin state. For the WWII state sometimes called the Kingdom of Montenegro, see Italian governorate of Montenegro.

Kingdom of Montenegro

Краљевина Црна Горa
Kraljevina Crna Gora

1910–1918[a]

Flag

Coat of arms

Anthem: Убавој нам Црној Гори
Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori
("To Our Beautiful Montenegro")

The Kingdom of Montenegro in 1914

Kingdom of Montenegro in 1914 zoomed in the map with some cities

Capital| Cetinje
Capital-in-exile| Bordeaux
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Common languages| Serbian
Religion

| Serbian Orthodox (official)[1]
Demonym(s)| Montenegrin
Government| Constitutional monarchy
King|

• 1910–1918

| Nicholas I
Prime Minister|

• 1910–1912 (first)

| Lazar Tomanović

• 1917–1918 (last)

| Evgenije Popović
Legislature| Popular Assembly
History|

• Elevation from principality

| 28 August 1910

• Balkan Wars

| 1912–1913

• Treaty of London

| 30 May 1913

• Balkans theatre

| 1914–1918

• Corfu Declaration

| 20 July 1917

• Unification with Serbia

| 28 November 1918[a]
Area

• Total

| 14.000 km2 (5.405 sq mi)
Currency| Montenegrin perper

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Principality of Montenegro

|

| Kingdom of Serbia |

|

Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
Today part of|

* Montenegro
* Serbia
* Kosovo

Part of a series on the

History of Montenegro
Prehistory

* Roman Praevalitana

Middle Ages and early modern

* Duklja
* Crown land of Zeta
* Principality of Zeta
* Albania Veneta
* Sanjak of Montenegro
* Sanjak of Scutari
* Sanjak of Herzegovina
* Prince-Bishopric

Modern and contemporary

* Principality
* Sanjak of Novi Pazar
* Kingdom
* Zeta Oblast
* Zeta Banovina
* Italian governorate
* German occupation
* Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
* Socialist republic
* Constituent state
* Montenegro

Topics

* Demography
* Nobility
* Tribes

* v
* t
* e

The Kingdom of Montenegro[b] was a monarchy in southeastern Europe, present-day Montenegro, during the tumultuous period of time on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Officially it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice. 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. This unification with Serbia lasted, through various successor states, for almost 88 years, ending in 2006.

During this period, Montenegro remained largely rural and traditional. The constitution, adopted in 1905, provided a basic framework for governance and recognized some civil rights, such as freedom of religion and the press, but the political system remained heavily centered on the king. King Nikola maintained tight control over political life, and the state operated with only limited parliamentary influence. The society was patriarchal and conservative, with significant influence from the church and tribal customs, and few advancements in terms of modernization or civil institutions.

Internationally, Montenegro aligned itself with Serbia and other Balkan states during the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), aiming to expand its territory at the expense of the weakening Ottoman Empire. These efforts brought some gains but also deeper entanglement with Serbian political ambitions. When World War I broke out in 1914, Montenegro joined the Allied Powers, but by 1916 it had been overrun by Austro-Hungarian forces. King Nikola and his government went into exile, and the monarchy never returned to power.

The kingdom’s end came in 1918, when the Podgorica Assembly, under heavy influence from pro-Serbian forces, declared the unification of Montenegro with Serbia, effectively dissolving Montenegrin independence without a popular referendum. King Nikola was deposed in absentia. Many Montenegrins saw this act as illegitimate, leading to the Christmas Uprising in 1919 by royalist forces, which was quickly suppressed. Despite this resistance, Montenegro was absorbed into the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia), and it ceased to exist as a sovereign kingdom.

## History

[edit]

See also: History of Montenegro

1899 map of the Balkans; Montenegro is coloured magenta.

Prince Nicholas of Montenegro proclaimed the Kingdom of Montenegro in Cetinje on 28 August 1910, elevating the country from the rank of Principality. King Nicholas I had ruled the country as prince since 1860, and had initiated several modernising reforms at the beginning of the 20th century, such as introducing a constitution and a new currency, the Montenegrin perper. Although independent, Montenegro was nationally and culturally close to Serbia.[2]

Montenegro joined the First Balkan War in 1912, hoping to win a share in the last Ottoman-controlled areas of Rumelia. Montenegro did make further territorial gains by splitting Sandžak with Serbia on 30 May 1913. But the Montenegrins had to abandon the newly captured city of İşkodra (Skadar in Serbian, modern-day Shkodër) to the new state of Albania in May 1913, at the insistence of the Great Powers. Esad Pasha made a deal to surrender the town to the Montenegrins in exchange for Montenegro supporting his claims in Central Albania. However, as Shkodër and the surroundings had a large ethnic Albanian majority, the area went to the state of Albania instead. When the Second Balkan War broke out in June 1913, Serbia fought against Bulgaria, and King Nicholas sided with Serbia.

During World War I (1914–1918) Montenegro allied itself with the Triple Entente, in line with King Nicholas' pro-Serbian policy. Accordingly, Austria-Hungary occupied Montenegro from 15 January 1916 to October 1918. In 1918, coastal areas were occupied by the French and the Italian troops within the framework of the occupation of the eastern Adriatic.

On 20 July 1917, the signing of the Corfu Declaration foreshadowed the unification of Montenegro with Serbia. On 26 November 1918, the Podgorica Assembly, an elected body claiming to represent the Montenegrin people, unanimously adopted a resolution deposing king Nicholas I (who was still in exile) and unifying Montenegro with Serbia. Upon this event Nicholas I, who had previously supported unification with Serbia into a greater state with his dynasty playing the pivotal role, switched to promoting Montenegrin nationalism and opposing the union with Serbia, a position he maintained until his death in France in 1921.

On 1 December 1918, Serbia and Montenegro together formed a major part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia).

During World War II, the occupying forces in Yugoslavia considered turning the Italian governorate of Montenegro into a puppet kingdom, but nothing came of these plans.[citation needed]

## Rulers

[edit]

### King of Montenegro (1910–1918)

[edit]

See also: List of rulers of Montenegro

* Nicholas I of Montenegro (1910–1918)

### Prime Ministers (1910–1916)

[edit]

See also: Prime Minister of Montenegro

* Lazar Tomanović (1910–1912)
* Mitar Martinović (1912–1913)
* Janko Vukotić (1913–1915)
* Milo Matanović (1915–1916)
* Lazar Mijušković (1916)

### Prime Ministers in-exile (1916–1922)

[edit]

* Lazar Mijušković (1916)
* Andrija Radović (1916–1917)
* Milo Matanović (1917)
* Evgenije Popović (1917–1919)
* Jovan Plamenac (1919–1921)
* Anto Gvozdenović (1921–1922)
* Milutin Vučinić (1922)
* Anto Gvozdenović (1922)

## See also

[edit]

* History of Montenegro
* Principality of Montenegro

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 1916–1922: Government-in-exile
2. ^ Serbian: Краљевина Црна Горa, romanized: Kraljevina Crna Gora

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Constitution of the Principality of Montenegro, 1905, Article 40, "Paragraph 1: State religion in Montenegro is Eastern-Orthodox. Paragraph 2: Montenegrin Church is Autocephalous. It is independent from any other Church, but maintains dogmatic unity with Eastern-Orthodox Ecumenical Church. Paragraph 3: All other recognized religions are free in Montenegro.[1]
2. ^ Ivetić, Eđidio (2015). GRANICA NA MEDITERANU. ISTOČNI JADRAN IZMEĐU ITALIJE I JUŽNOSLOVENSKOG SVETA OD XIII DO XX VEKA. Arhipelag. p. 72.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Živojinović Dragoljub R. (2014). "King Nikola and the territorial expansion of Montenegro, 1914–1920". Balcanica (45).

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Kingdom of Montenegro at Wikimedia Commons
* Kingdom of Montenegro in 1918 Archived 2012-12-05 at archive.today
* Montenegro – World Statesmen

* v
* t
* e

Montenegro articles

History|

* Roman period
* Praevalitana
* Duklja
* Zeta
* under Nemanjići
* under Balšići
* under Crnojevići
* Venetian period
* Venetian Albania
* French period
* Illyrian Provinces
* Ottoman period
* Sanjak
* Vilayet
* Austrian period
* Venetian Province
* Kingdom of Dalmatia
* Prince-Bishopric
* Principality
* Kingdom (1910–18)
* Kingdom of Yugoslavia
* Zeta Banovina
* World War II
* Italian governorate of Montenegro
* German occupied territory of Montenegro
* CASNO
* SFR Yugoslavia
* Socialist Republic
* Serbia and Montenegro
* Federal Republic
* 2006 independence referendum

Geography|

* Cities
* Extreme points
* Islands
* Lakes
* Mountains
* Protected areas
* Regions
* Rivers

Politics|

* Constitution
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Military
* Municipalities
* Government
* Prime Minister
* President
* List
* Parliament
* Speaker
* Political parties
* Intelligence agency
* Law enforcement
* Human rights
* Religion
* LGBT rights

Economy|

* Central Bank
* Companies
* Euro (currency)
* Economy of Montenegro
* Telecommunications
* Mobile network operators
* Tourism
* Transport
* Rail

Society|

* Crime
* Demographics
* Education
* Languages
* Montenegrins
* List

Culture|

* Academy
* Architecture
* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Wine
* Folklore
* Literature
* Music
* Media
* News Agency
* Newspapers
* TV
* Radio
* Religion
* Sport
* World Heritage Sites

Symbols|

* Anthem
* Coat of arms
* List
* Flag
* List
* Name

* Outline

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Monarchies

* Monarch
* Imperial, royal and noble ranks
* List of current sovereign monarchs
* List of current non-sovereign monarchs
* List of monarchy referendums

Type|

* Absolute
* Constitutional
* Diarchy
* Elective
* Federal
* Hereditary
* Non-sovereign
* Personal union
* Regency

Topics|

* Abdication
* Abolition of monarchy
* Aristocracy
* Criticism of monarchy
* Decolonization
* Democratization
* Dynasty
* Government
* Head of state
* Legitimacy (political)
* Oligarchy
* Order of succession
* Republicanism
* Self-proclaimed monarchy
* Sovereignty

Titles|

* Chhatrapati
* Emperor
* Khan
* King
* Queen regnant
* Pharaoh
* Prince regnant
* Raja
* Shah
* Sultan
* Tsar

Current|

| Africa|

* Eswatini
* Lesotho
* Morocco
* list

|

Asia|

* Bahrain
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Malaysia
* Oman
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Thailand
* United Arab Emirates
* list

Europe|

* Andorra
* Belgium
* Denmark
* Liechtenstein
* Luxembourg
* Monaco
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Spain
* Sweden
* Vatican City (Holy See)

Oceania|

* Tonga

Commonwealth realms|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Australia
* Bahamas
* Belize
* Canada
* Grenada
* Jamaica
* New Zealand
* Cook Islands
* Niue
* Papua New Guinea
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Solomon Islands
* Tuvalu
* United Kingdom

Former|

| Africa|

* Adamawa
* Ankole
* Aussa
* Bagirmi
* Barotseland
* Bornu
* Burundi
* Central Africa
* Dahomey
* Egypt
* Ethiopia
* Ghana
* Gomma
* Gumma
* Islands of Refreshment
* Kaffa
* Kongo
* Libya
* Luba
* Madagascar
* Mali
* Maore
* Maravi
* Mwali
* Ndzuwani
* Ngazidja
* Rwanda
* Shilluk
* Tunisia
* Wituland
* Wassoulou
* Yeke
* Zanzibar
* Zimbabwe
* and other

|

Americas|

* Araucanía
* Aztec
* Brazil
* Haiti
* Inca
* Mexico
* Miskito
* Suriname
* Talamanca
* Trinidad
* Thirteen Colonies

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Asir
* Bengal
* Bukhara
* Burma
* Cebu
* Chehab
* China
* Dapitan
* Hejaz
* Indonesia
* Iran (Qajar)
* Iraq
* Jabal Shammar
* Kathiri
* Khiva
* Korea
* Kumul
* Kurdistan
* Laos
* Maguindanao
* Mahra
* Maldives
* Manchukuo
* Mongolia
* Najran
* Nepal
* Qu'aiti
* Ryukyu
* Sarawak
* Shan
* Sikkim
* Sri Lanka
* Sip Song Chau Tai
* Sulu
* Syria
* Tibet
* Taiwan
* Upper Asir
* Upper Yafa
* Vietnam
* Yemen
* Emirates of South Arabia
* South Arabia

Europe|

* Albania
* Aragon
* Asturias
* Austria
* Austria-Hungary
* Bavaria
* Bosnia
* Brittany
* Bulgaria
* Catalonia
* Cilicia
* Corsica
* Crimea
* Cyprus
* Finland
* France
* Galicia
* Georgia
* Germany
* Granada
* Greece
* Hanover
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Imereti
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kartli-Kakheti
* Lithuania
* Majorca
* Man
* Moldavia
* Montenegro
* Navarre
* Neuchâtel
* Ottoman Empire
* Papal States
* Piedmont-Sardinia
* Poland–Lithuania
* Portugal
* Prussia
* Romania
* Russia
* Samos
* Savoy
* Saxony
* Scotland
* Serbia
* Tavolara
* Tuscany
* Two Sicilies
* United Baltic Duchy
* Valencia
* Württemberg
* Yugoslavia

Oceania|

* Abemama
* Bora Bora
* Easter Island
* Fiji
* Hawaii
* Huahine
* Mangareva
* Niuē-Fekai
* Nuku Hiva
* Raiatea
* Rapa Iti
* Rarotonga
* Rimatara
* Rurutu
* Tahiti
* Tahuata

Commonwealth realms|

* Barbados
* Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
* Fiji
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guyana
* India (British Raj, princely states)
* Irish Free State / Ireland
* Kenya
* Malawi
* Malta
* Mauritius
* Nigeria
* Pakistan
* Rhodesia
* Sierra Leone
* South Africa
* Tanganyika
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Uganda

* v
* t
* e

Timeline of Yugoslav statehood

| Region  | until
1918 | 1918–
1929 | 1929–
1945 | 1941–
1945 | 1945–
1946 | 1946–
1963 | 1963–
1992 | 1992–
2003 | 2003–
2006 | 2006–
2008 | since
2008

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Slovenia |

Part of

Austria-Hungary

including the
Bay of Kotor

See also:

Kingdom of
Croatia-Slavonia
(1868–1918)

Kingdom of Dalmatia
(1815–1918)

Condominium of
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
(1878–1918)

State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
(1918)

Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes
(1918–1929)

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
(1929–1943)

See also:

Republic of Prekmurje
(1919)

Banat, Bačka and Baranja
(1918–1919)

Free State of Fiume
(1920–1924)
(1924–1945)

Italian province of Zadar
(1920–1947)

| Annexed by
Italy, Germany, and Hungarya |
Democratic Federal Yugoslavia
(1943–1945)

Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
(1945–1963)

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(1963–1992)

Consisted of the
Socialist Republics of:

Slovenia (1945–1991)
Croatia (1945–1991)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1945–1992)

Serbia (1945–1992)
(included the autonomous
provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo)

Montenegro (1945–1992)
Macedonia (1945–1991)

See also:

Free Territory of Trieste (1947–1954)h

|  Republic of Slovenia
Ten-Day War
Dalmatia |

Independent State of Croatia
(1941–1945)

Puppet state of Germany.
Parts annexed by Italy.
Međimurje and Baranja annexed by Hungary.

|  Republic of Croatiab
Croatian War of Independence
Slavonia
Croatia
Bosnia |  Bosnia and Herzegovinac
Bosnian War

Consists of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 1995),
Republika Srpska (since 1995), and
Brčko District (since 2000).

Herzegovina
Vojvodina | Part of the Délvidék region of Hungary  | Autonomous Banatd

(part of the German
Territory of the
Military Commander
in Serbia)

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Consisted of the
Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)
and
Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006) Included Kosovo and Metohija, under UN administration, without control since 1999

State Union of Serbia and Montenegro

Included Kosovo, under UN administration

|  Republic of Serbia

Included the autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija under UN administration

Republic of Serbia

Includes the autonomous province of Vojvodina; Kosovo claim

Central Serbia |
Kingdom of Serbia
(1882–1918) | Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
(1941–1944) e
Kosovo | Part of the Kingdom of Serbia
(1912–1918) | Mostly annexed by Italian Albania
(1941–1944)

along with western Macedonia and south-eastern Montenegro

|  Republic of Kosovo
Metohija |
Kingdom of Montenegro
(1910–1918)

Metohija controlled by Austria-Hungary 1915–1918

Montenegro and Brda | Protectorate of Montenegrof
(1941–1944) |  Montenegro
Vardar Macedonia | Part of the Kingdom of Serbia
(1912–1918) | Annexed by the Kingdom of Bulgaria
(1941–1944) |  Republic of North Macedoniag

* a Prekmurje annexed by Hungary.
* b See also: SAO Kninska Krajina (1990) → SAO Krajina (1990–1991); and SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (1990–1991), SAO Western Slavonia (1990–1991) and the Republic of Serbian Krajina (1990–1995), all replaced by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (1996–1998).
* c See also: Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia; and the Serbian Autonomous Oblasts (SAOs) of Bosanska Krajina, North-East Bosnia, Romanija and Herzegovina (1991–1992), which all combined to form the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1995).
* d Bačka was reannexed by Hungary (1941–1944), while Syrmia was annexed by the Independent State of Croatia (1941–1944).
* e Including North Kosovo. See also: Republic of Užice.
* f Annexed by Italy (1941–1943) and Germany (1943–1944). Smaller part annexed by the Independent State of Croatia (1941–1944).
* g North Macedonia's official and constitutional name was the Republic of Macedonia until 2019. It was known in the United Nations as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because of a naming dispute with Greece.
* h Free Territory was established in 1947. Its administration was divided into two areas (Zone A) and (Zone B). Free Territory was de facto taken over by Italy and SFRY in 1954.

42°38′00″N 19°32′00″E﻿ / ﻿42.6333°N 19.5333°E﻿ / 42.6333; 19.5333
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template