Montenegro Guide - History

The name Montenegro is mentioned for the first time in 1276 in the Charter of King Milutin. It is believed that the name derived from the forests which covered Mt Lovcen and were so dense that they gave the impression of the mountain being black. The area which is now Montenegro was first settled by the Illyrians in about 600 BC, although civilisation in the Balkans can be dated back to the 7th Millenium BC. The Romans moved into the area around 400 BC and although the Illyrians remained, the Roman influence strengthened. When the Byzantine Empire gained control of the eastern half of what is now Serbia, the Romans remained in control of the western portion (today’s Western Serbia and Montenegro). Roman settlements are found at Kotor, Budva, Ulcinj, Duklija and Bar.

The Croats and Serbs along with the Poles and some Baltic peoples came into the region during the 6th century AD and from here on the Slavic influence strengthened. The influence of the Orthodox church spread through the Kingdom of Duklija (1017-1169) as the region was next known, and the Cyrillic script was introduced.

In the mid 13th century the Ottoman Empire expanded northwards and the region began to be known more commonly as Crna Gora (Black Mountain). Despite several attacks this small country resisted actual Turkish occupation. An alliance was made with the Venetians in the 1450’s and led to the Venetian influence which is still visible today in the area around the Bay of Kotor, both architecturally and also in the use of some Italians words in everyday spoken language.

Montenegro’s independence was recognised by the Ottomans by 1800 and the country then went forth into battle with Napoleon at Kotor (aided by Russia) and independently in Herceg Novi. In 1814 Kotor Bay was given to the Austrians. Petar II Petrovic Njegos, today considered Montenegro’s finest ruler, came to power in the early 19th century. He is credited with the establishing the foundations of modern day Montenegro. Montenegro remained standing on its own two feet until the end of the I World War when Serbia took advantage of the post war chaos to enter Montenegro. Initially welcomed as protectors and allies in the new Slavic states, relations soured quickly as the Serbs annexed Montenegro. From all of the Allied countries Montenegro had the unwanted title of being the only country to lose its freedom.

The II World War saw Montenegro divided by the Italians and Albanians. The Royal Yugoslav army formed a group called the Chetniks and the man known then as Josip Broz - Tito - formed the Partisans. The Chetniks wished to maintain Yugoslavia in a state that could be handed back to the King after the war, while the Partisans wished to turn Montenegro and Yugoslavia at large into a communist state. With the help of the Russians Belgrade was liberated in autumn 1944 and the Partisans quickly took over the rest of Yugoslavia from there.

Despite the common interests of the Russians and Tito during the war, their relations soured afterwards and once Tito decided to take his own road to socialism, Yugoslavia was effectively isolated from the rest of the Eastern bloc and set about its own brand of communism. Montenegro formed part of the New Yugoslavia, and gained a larger share of the coastline than previously. The six Yugoslav republics had a degree of autonomy, but rugged, inaccessible Montenegro lagged behind in development in many areas. After Tito’s death in 1980 each republic increasingly went their own way and by the early 1990’s the Balkans were, not for the first time in history, the firecracker of Europe. Only Montenegro and Serbia remained joined, with the other republics seceding from the old Yugoslavia and from which war ensued between all but Slovenia, Macedonia and to a large extent the actual territory of Montenegro.

Finally the civil war ended but it did not herald the arrival of peace for Montenegro and Serbia, when Milosevic ordered the forced evacuation of ethnic Albanians from semi-autonomous Kosovo. Milosevic’s failure to reverse his orders led to the NATO bombings of both Serbia and Montenegro in 1999 and once again the region became a no-go area.

Today Montenegro is an independent country taking firm steps towards future stability with the increased promotion of tourism and investment. The government is keen to bring the country into the European Union as soon as possible and has a very positive and proactive relationship with many major Western governments.