Kingdom of Montenegro Facts for Kids

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

Quick facts for kids

Kingdom of Montenegro

Краљевина Црна Горa
Kraljevina Crna Gora

1910–1918

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)

Demonym(s)

Montenegrin

Government

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

under military dictatorship (1913–1917)

King

• 1910–1918

Nicholas I

Prime Minister

• 1910–1912 (first)

Lazar Tomanović

• 1917–1918 (last)

Evgenije Popović

Legislature

Popular Assembly

Historical era

20th century
World War I

• Proclamation

28 August 1910

• Balkan Wars

1912–1913

• Treaty of London

30 May 1913

• Balkans Campaign

1914–1918

• Corfu Declaration

20 July 1917

• Podgorica Assembly

28 November 1918

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

The Kingdom of Montenegro (Serbian: Краљевина Црна Горa, romanized: Kraljevina Crna Gora) 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.

History
Rulers
Gallery
See also

History

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.

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.

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.