Petar I Petrović-Njegoš | |
|---|---|
| Prince-Bishop of Montenegro | |
 | |
| Church | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Installed | 1784 |
| Term ended | 1830 |
| Predecessor | Arsenije Plamenac |
| Successor | Petar II Petrović-Njegoš |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1784 by Mojsije Putnik |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1748 |
| Died | 31 October 1830(1830-10-31) (aged 81–82) |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodoxy |
| Residence | Cetinje |
| Parents | Marko Petrović Anđelija Martinović |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | October 31 (Gregorian calendar), October 18 (Julian calendar) |
| Venerated in | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Title as Saint | Saint Peter of Cetinje |
| Canonized | by Petar II Petrović Njegoš |
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian:Петар I Петровић Његош; 1748 – 31 October 1830) was thePrince-Bishop of Montenegro from 1784 to 1830 and Exarch (legate) of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. He was the most popular spiritual and military leader from thePetrović dynasty. During his long rule, Petar strengthened the state by uniting the often quarrelingtribes, consolidating his control overMontenegrin lands, introducing the first laws in Montenegro in 1798.[1] His rule prepared Montenegro for the subsequent introduction of modern institutions of the state: taxes, schools and larger commercial enterprises. He was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church asSaint Peter of Cetinje (Serbian:Sveti Petar Cetinjski / Свети Петар Цетињски).[2]
The son of Marko and Anđelija (née Martinović), Petar followed the footsteps of his relatives, becoming a monk and a deacon. He spent four years inImperial Russia, finishing the Military School (1765–69). In 1778, archimandrite Petar was in Russia withguvernadur Jovan Radonjić andserdar Ivan Petrović.[3] MetropolitanSava Petrović (s. 1735–1781), who died in 1781, chose his nephew and co-adjutorArsenije Plamenac the successor,[4] which was met with opposition from the Montenegrin tribes at the beginning, later switching in favour after Sava gained the support ofŠćepan Mali,[5] the false tsar and ruler of Montenegro. Plamenac was inactive and had little power,[3] serving as metropolitan between 1781 and his death in 1784.[5][3] Theguvernadur family of Radonjić, which had Venetian support and then Austrian, increased their power and sought to push aside the Petrović metropolitans.[3] The chieftains had suggested Petar the bishop seat already in 1783, and he was then sent to the Habsburg Monarchy to be ordained.[3]
Petar was made a bishop (ordained) byMojsije Putnik of theMetropolitanate of Karlovci atSremski Karlovci on 13 October 1784. He then returned to Vienna where he met Russian chancellor Potemkin, and also Austrian general Zorić and Ragusan emigre Frano Dolci.[3] Petar was, under unclear circumstances, kicked out of St. Petersburg in November 1785.[3] During his trip, Montenegro was threatened byKara Mahmud Pasha, thePasha of Scutari.[3] Mahmud Pashaattacked in June 1785.[3] The Montenegrin army of 8000 was reduced by 3,000Crmničani, and they were followed by many more surrenders.[6] Mahmud Pasha crossedBjelice, and burnt downNjeguši, and received help fromNikšići, then crossedPaštrovići to return to Scutari.[7]
The Metropolitan Petar I andguvernadurJovan Radonjić were the two head chiefs of Montenegro, one by title, the other according to actual position.[8] Jovan sought to rule Montenegro by himself; he appropriated secular rights for himself and wanted the Metropolitan to exercise only his spiritual leadership;[9] that theguvernadur was the master of the people and the Metropolitan the master of the church.[10] The two clashed in international politics: the Metropolitan held to Russia, while Jovan relied on Austria.[9][11] Hence, there were two parties in the land, one "Russophile" and the other "Austrophile", led by the Metropolitan and Jovan, respectively.[9] On the question whether to support Austria or not, the two sides conflicted during theAustro-Turkish War (1787–91) andRusso-Turkish War (1787–92).[12] During this period, Montenegro was divided into the following districts:Katunska nahija,Riječka nahija,Crmnička nahija,Lješanska nahija andPješivačka nahija. These were governed by the officials, Jovan Radonjić and the Metropolitan, with the help of 5 serdars, 9 vojvodas and 34 knezes (a synthesis of secular and theocratic government which will cause strife and struggle for supremacy until 1832–33).[13]
In July 1788, Jovan Radonjić asked Empress Catherine II of Russia to sendSofronije Jugović-Marković,[14] whom he promised the throne of Montenegro; Jovan sought to bring him to the land and replace Petrović, then get rid of him too, securing the rule for himself.[15] He sent another letter in 1789,[14] then made a trip to Austria[16] seeking to retrieve his reputation with the help of the Austrian court.[16] Radonjić requested that the Austrian army be sent into Montenegro, which was declined.[16] On Radonjić's re-request, the Austrian Emperor decided to send munition to Montenegro in February 1790, provided that the Montenegrins "come under the wings of the Emperor in war-time, as much as in peace-time, with the Ottoman Empire".[16] Austrian support looked unpromising.[16]
In 1794, theKuči andRovčani (tribes outside Montenegro) were devastated by the Ottomans.[17] In 1796, Kara Mahmud Pasha was defeated at theBattle of Martinići. Mahmud Pasha later returned and was defeated and killed at theBattle of Krusi on 22 September. Half of the Montenegrin army was led by Metropolitan Petar I, the other by Jovan.[18] Petar I's army was assisted by theBjelopavlići andPiperi.[17] Mahmud Pasha's army, allegedly made up of 30,000, including seven French officers, fought a Montenegrin force of 6,000, and had heavy casualties. The Montenegrin victory resulted in territorial expansion, with the tribes ofBjelopavlići and Piperi being joined into the Montenegrin state.[19] TheRovčani, as other highlander tribes, subsequently turned more and more towards Montenegro.[20]
The tribe ofNjeguši to which thePetrović-Njegoš belonged was involved in one of the most long-standing blood feuds in Montenegro against the tribe ofCeklin in the 18th century. The feud lasted for 32 years and ended in 1797 in a joint meeting of all tribes of Old Montenegro under Petar Petrović. The pacification of the feud between two of the strongest tribes of the region is considered as an important step in Petar Petrović's strategy of uniting Old Montenegro.[21]
Metropolitan Petar I sent letters in 1799 to theMoračani and Rovčani, advising them to live peacefully and in solidarity.[20] In 1799, Montenegro was guaranteed a subsidy by Russia, which assured that it would defend its interest.[22]
During theFirst Serbian Uprising Petar I began cooperating withKarađorđe, the Serbian rebel leader. Petar I had by that time distinguished himself in international relations, as the bishop and ruler of Montenegro. It was known that Petar was ready to revolt as soon as a favourable opportunity came along. Russian ambassador in Vienna, Razumovski, informed Interior MinisterCzartoryski of a secret message received on 13 December 1803 that Petar I had 2,000 armed men, and that he "had taken off his bishop clothes and dressed in military clothing, a general uniform" and that he planned to raise his army to 12,000 men. Knowing that his army would not be able to fight the stronger Ottomans, he sought to unite with the "rebels ofŠumadija", and together, with the help of the Russian, turn on the Turks. He messagedVisoki Dečani of his intentions.[23] Petar I was apen pal ofDositej Obradović.[24]
In 1806, the troops ofNapoleonicFrance advanced toward theBay of Kotor in Montenegro. The Montenegrin army led by Petar I, aided by several Russian battalions and the fleet ofAdmiralDmitry Senyavin pushed them back toDubrovnik. But soon after, RussianTsarAlexander I asked Montenegrins to relinquish control ofBoka toAustria. However, after Montenegrins retreated toHerceg Novi, Alexander changed his mind again, and with a help of Montenegrins conqueredBrač andKorčula. In the meantime, France encouraged Turkey to attack Russia, which withdrew its fleet from theAdriatic to defend theIonian islands. TheTreaty of Tilsit (1807) between Russia and France granted the control of the Bay of Kotor to France. In early 1807, Petar had plans to unite several Serb-inhabited regions intoa renewed Serbian Empire. In February 1807, Petar I planned an invasion of Herzegovina and asked for Karađorđe's aid.[22] After theBattle of Suvodol and Serbian rebel advance, Karađorđe managed connecting the rebel forces to Montenegro (1809).[25] However, Karađorđe was unable to hold lasting ties with the Serbs of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as after 1809 the uprising waned.[26]
Petar I waged a successful campaign against theBosnia Eyalet in 1819. In 1820, in the north of Montenegro, the highlanders fromMorača led byserdar Mrkoje Mijušković won a major battle against the Ottoman Bosnian forces. The repulse of an Ottoman invasion from Albania during theRusso-Turkish War (1828–29) led to the recognition of Montenegrin sovereignty over Piperi.[27] Petar I had managed to unite the Piperi and Bjelopavlići with Montenegro,[27] and when Bjelopavlići and the rest ofthe Hills (Seven hills) were joined into the Montenegrin state, the polity was officially called "Black Mountain (Montenegro) and the Hills".[28]
Petar I conceived a plan in 1807 to revive a Serbian Empire ("Slaveno–Serb empire"), which he informed the Russian court.[29][30][31][32] Earlier, in June 1804, Habsburg Serb metropolitanStefan Stratimirović informed the Russian court of the same plan.[33] Petar I's plan was to unitePodgorica,Spuž,Žabljak, theBay of Kotor,Bosnia,Herzegovina,Dubrovnik andDalmatia with Montenegro.[29] The title of Serbian emperor would be held by the Russian emperor.[29] The French–Russian peace treaty thwarted the plan.[29] After the French conquered Dalmatia, they offered Petar I the title of "Patriarch of all of the Serb nation or all Illyricum" under the condition that he stop cooperation with Russia and accept a French protectorate, which he declined, fearing eventual Papal jurisdiction.[30] The Metropolitanate of Cetinje began exerting influence towardsBrda andOld Herzegovina, which considered Montenegro as the leader for liberation.[30] While his reputation and influence reached the surrounding lands, he increasingly directed himself toRevolutionary Serbia as the backbone for liberation and unification.[30] The project is included in several historiographical works.
He was canonised asSaint Peter of Cetinje by his successorPetar II Petrović-Njegoš. TheSerbian Orthodox Church celebrate him on October 31,Gregorian calendar, which is October 18th in theJulian calendar.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Петровић и гувернадур Јован Радоњић, два прва црногорска главара, један по звању, а други по стварном положају. У почетку сложни, они се ускоро размимоилазе, јер сваки од супарника настоји да обезбиједи првенство у ...
1788. год. пише Иван Радоњић, црногорски губернатор, руској царици Катарини II.: „Сада ми сви Срби Црногорци молимо вашу царску милост да пошљете к нама књаза Софронија Југовића"." 1789. год. пише опет Иван Радоњић, црногорски губернатор, руској царици: „Сад ми сви Срби из Црне Горе, Херцеговине, Бањана, Дробњака, Куча, Пипера, Бjeлопавлића, Зете, Климената, Васојевића, Братоножића, Пећи, Косова, Призрена, Арбаније, Маћедоније припадамо вашему величанству и молимо, да као милостива наша мајка пошљете к нама књаза Со- фронија Југовића
... под Мартинићима и 22 септембра исте године у Крусима, недалеко Под- горице, половином црногорске војске командовао владика Петар I, а другом половином гувернадур Јоко. Из овога се јасно види до које висине је доспела ...
Када, за владе Петра I, црногорсксу држави приступе Б^елопавлиЬи, па после и остала Брда, онда je, званично, „Црна Гора и Брда"
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)This was the time when Petar I devised his visionary programme of creation of a Slavonic-Serb state
Montenegro sent to Russia in the spring of 1807 a project for establishing a Slavic-Serbian kingdom in the Balkans
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Hills 1784–1830 | Succeeded by |
| Prince-Bishopric (1696–1852) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Principality (1852–1910) | ||
| Kingdom (1910–1918) | ||
Heads of state of Montenegro since 1696 | ||
|---|---|---|
 Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro(1696–1852) |  | |
 Principality of Montenegro(1852–1910) | ||
 Kingdom of Montenegro(1910–1918) | ||
 PR Montenegro / SR Montenegro(constituent republic ofFPR Yugoslavia / SFR Yugoslavia) (1945–1992) | ||
 Republic of Montenegro(constituent republic ofFR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro) (1992–2006) |
| |
 Montenegro(since 2006) |
| |
Interimpresidents are initalics | ||
|  | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
|  | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
