This article is about the early 20th-century Montenegrin state. For the WWII state sometimes called the Kingdom of Montenegro, seeItalian governorate of Montenegro.
During this period, Montenegro remained largelyrural and traditional. The constitution, adopted in 1905, provided a basic framework for governance and recognized somecivil 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 waspatriarchal 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 withSerbia and other Balkan states during theBalkan Wars (1912–1913), aiming to expand its territory at the expense of the weakeningOttoman Empire. These efforts brought some gains but also deeper entanglement with Serbian political ambitions. WhenWorld War I broke out in 1914, Montenegro joined theAllied Powers, but by 1916 it had beenoverrun byAustro-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 thePodgorica 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 theChristmas 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.
1899 map of theBalkans; Montenegro is coloured magenta.
PrinceNicholas of Montenegro proclaimed the Kingdom of Montenegro inCetinje 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, theMontenegrin perper. Although independent, Montenegro was nationally and culturally close toSerbia.[2]
Montenegro joined theFirst Balkan War in 1912, hoping to win a share in the last Ottoman-controlled areas ofRumelia. Montenegro did make further territorial gains by splittingSandžak withSerbia on 30 May 1913. But the Montenegrins had to abandon the newly captured city of İşkodra (Skadar in Serbian, modern-dayShkodër) to thenew state of Albania in May 1913, at the insistence of theGreat 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 theSecond Balkan War broke out in June 1913, Serbia fought against Bulgaria, and King Nicholas sided with Serbia.
DuringWorld War I (1914–1918) Montenegro allied itself with theTriple Entente, in line with King Nicholas' pro-Serbian policy. Accordingly,Austria-Hungaryoccupied 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 theoccupation of the eastern Adriatic.
On 20 July 1917, the signing of theCorfu Declaration foreshadowed the unification of Montenegro with Serbia. On 26 November 1918, thePodgorica Assembly, an elected body claiming to represent the Montenegrin people, unanimously adopted a resolution deposing kingNicholas I (who was still in exile) and unifying Montenegro with Serbia. Upon this event Nicholas I, who had previously supported unification withSerbia into a greater state with his dynasty playing the pivotal role, switched to promotingMontenegrin nationalism and opposing the union with Serbia, a position he maintained until his death in France in 1921.
^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]
^Ivetić, Eđidio (2015).GRANICA NA MEDITERANU. ISTOČNI JADRAN IZMEĐU ITALIJE I JUŽNOSLOVENSKOG SVETA OD XIII DO XX VEKA. Arhipelag. p. 72.
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 asthe former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because of anaming dispute withGreece.
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.
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