TheMontenegrin nobility (1852–1918) are notable people of thePrincipality of Montenegro and theKingdom of Montenegro who hold titles such asVeliki Vojvoda (Grand Duke),Knez (Prince),Vojvoda (Duke),Serdar (Count), andGuvernadur (Governor). The titles are hereditary or personal.[1] Focusing on the Montenegrin nobility of the late 19th century surrounding the then recent secularization of the Principality under Danilo II and his court, excluding the older traditional clan nobility.
Historically the hereditary Metropolitans orPrince-Bishops of Montenegro (theocratic rulers) had created a governing class that was somewhat similar to nobility in other countries.Petar II Petrović-Njegoš issued a decree creatingPrince Alexander Karađorđević (later Alexander I, Prince of Serbia between 1842 and 1858), the younger son ofKarađorđe, asVojvoda (Voivode). During this reign there were fourteen families with the rank ofSerdar, namely, Petrović-Njegoš, Vukotić, Đurašković, Martinović, Perović, Plamenatz, Drekalović, Mijušković, Bošković, Božović, Đulović, Medenica, Vlahović and Laketić.
In the diploma creating Nikola Mihailov Vasojević a hereditaryKnez, Petar II signed the document inCetinje as "Prince Petar Petrović-Njegoš, Vladika (Prince-Bishop) and Gospodar (Lord) of Montenegro andBrda". The diploma establishes a noble lineage for the new Prince Nikola Mihailov as a direct descendant ofPrince Radonja of Holmia (Brda) (himself raised to the rank of Prince byStephen Dušan "the Mighty", Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, in 1346. The diploma is also agrant of arms describing ablazon for the Princes of Holmia and their heirs.
Rade Gvozdenović (1672–1750) was elevated to the rank of hereditary Knez (Prince) following his heroism at the Battle of Tsarev Laz (1712) by Prince-Bishop Danilo I (in which he was himself was wounded).
King Nikola I Petrovic-Njegos, formerly Prince (reigning 1860–1921) deprived disloyal subjects from inheriting the titles of their ancestors;Marko Miljanov Popović, having previously unified his ownKuči clan with Montenegro in 1874, following a fierce disagreement with Prince Nikola in 1882, had to resign the State Council and was deprived of his title ofVojvoda by Prince Nikola.
The granting of titles has continued to the present day, under the ongoingfons honorum. In 2001,Prince Nicholas II granted the titleVeliki Vojvoda (Grand Voivode) of Grahovo and Zeta to his son,Prince Boris Petrović-Njegoš.[2] Other members of the Royal family and persons close to the dynasty have also received titles of nobility.
^Šekularac, Bozidar (1987).Dukljansko-Zetske Povelje [Charters from Duklja and Zeta] (in Serbian). Titograd: Istorijski institut Crne Gore. pp. 211–213.
^Tomić, Jovan (1933).Pitanje Careva Laza (in Serbian). belgrade: Srpska Kraljevska Akademija. p. 27.
^Nikolić, Branislav (2013).Hronika bratstva Nikolić Ozrinići Metohija (in Serbian). Belgrade: Poeta, Belgrade. p. 80.ISBN978-86-6319-024-5.
^Vukotić, Milija (2001).Vukotići (in Serbian). Belgrade: Društveno preduzeće za izdavačko trgovinsku delatnost i stručno usavršavanje SASA. p. 90.ISBN86-80431-06-0.
^Draskovic, Nebojsa (1999).Ozrinici. Belgrade: Kulturno prosvetna zajednica Republike Srbije. p. 124.
^Stanojevic, Gligor (1954).Jedan nepoznati rukopis Marijana Bolice o Crnoj Gori (in Serbian) (4th ed.). Belgrade: Istorijski glasnik. p. 62.
^Vukotić, Milija (2001).Vukotići (in Serbian). Belgrade: Društvo za izdavačku delatnost SASA. p. 92.ISBN86-80431-06-0.
^Draskovuc, Nebojsa (1999).Čevsko zaljuće i donji kraj sela u plemenu OzrinićaB (in Serbian). Belgrade: Kulturno prosvetna zajednica Republike Srbije. p. 22.
^Draskovic, Nebojsa (1999).Cevsko zaljuce i donji kraj sela u plemenu Ozrinića (in Serbian). Kulturno prosvetna zajednica Republike Srbije. p. 503.
^Pejovic, Petar (2004).Ozrinici pleme Stare Crne Gore (in Serbian). Belgrade: Verzal Belgrade. p. 170.ISBN86-905597-0-1.
^Njegos, Petar Petrovic (1835).Ogledalo srpsko (in Serbian). Cetinje, Montenegro: Obod Cetinje.
^Vujačić, Marko (1956).Znameniti Crnogorski i Hercegovački junaci IV (in Serbian). Belgrade: Prosveta. pp. 32–72.
^Marko, Vujačić (1952).Znameniti Crnogorski i Hercegovački junaci II. Belgrade: Prosveta. pp. 284–286.
^Luburić, Andrija (1934).Orlovići (in Serbian). Belgrade: Štamparija Drag.Gregorića. p. 22.
