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Book review: Realm of the Black Mountain. A History of Montenegro

Friday, January 6, 2012 · Region Cultural · Comments

Early 6th century until 18th century

The book starts at the time of the arrival of the Serbs in the sixth century, when the area was ruled by local tribes. The arrival of the Serbs forced the tribes to organize themselves. In the 12^th century the Serbian dynasty of the Nemanjić family took over the role of the local rulers of the region. In the centuries that followed this empire grew further and further.

With the arrival of the Ottomans in the 14^th century many Serbs were forced to seek refuge in the inaccessible and mountainous region of modern Montenegro. At the same time a local Montenegrin family, Crnojevići, from the fertile lowlands of Montenegro appeared on the stage seeking refuge in the mountains, where they founded the city of Cetinje, which later became the royal capital of Montenegro.

Although the Ottomans finally managed to conquer all the area, they could not really get their hands on the Montenegrins, who always revolted with the help of the Venetians, Serbs and Albanians. The Ottomans were eventually able to get taxes, but the board was left to local rulers.

In the early 17^th century, various tribes in the region united. It could be argued that this is the beginning of the political entity of Montenegro. At the same time in the 17^th century one family became increasingly powerful, the family Petrovic. Their first leader, Bishop Danilio, expanded the families’ spiritual leadership into a more political role. Danilio also achieved a close relationship with Russia.

The 19th century

In 1807 Danilio's successor, Petar I vladika, even tried to establish a Slavic state with Russian support and with Montenegro in a central and leading role. This attempt failed.

The most famous Montenegrin ruler of that time was the successor of vladika Petar I, Petar Petrovic II Njegos (1813-1851). He was able to strengthen the unity of the state and introduce a working tax system. He also had a close relationship with Ilija Njegos Garašanin. This Serbian politician was in favor of the creation of a Slavic state with Serbia as its center. Except as a political leader, Njegos was known for his poems and other writings.

During the Berlin Congress in 1878, Montenegro was internationally recognized as an independent state. Despite this recognition Montenegrin leaders remained in pursue of further territorial expansion for two main reasons:

The access obtained to the sea was not sufficient.
The persistent poverty among the population required an area expansion.

During the First Balkan War in 1912, Montenegro managed to expand its territory. For the first time in history Serbia and Montenegro bordered together. Yet there was no close cooperation between the two countries. There was even a slight rivalry between the Montenegrin King Nikola and leader of the Serbian royal family of the Karadjordjević.

During the First World War, Serbia became the main ruler of the region. Unlike the heroic withdrawal of the Serbian King Petar to Corfu, Nikola fled even before Cetinje was conquered. After Austria-Hungary Army lost the Balkan battle in 1918, the Serbian troops made good use of it by pulling into Montenegro. The Petrović dynasty was overthrown, Cetinje lost its status as the capital to Podgorica and Montenegro was added to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

The 20th century

After the 1^st World War an armed insurrection began between a group of rebels, called Greens, who were opposing the joint state and the opposing group, called Whites. This rivalry can also be seen as a division of the population between those who saw Montenegrins as a separate people and the others who regarded Montenegrins are really just being Serbs.

During the 2^nd World War, when everybody basically found everybody else, the rivalry remained Montenegrins. The Whites rallied behind the main Serbian Chetniks, while most Greens rallied behind the partisans of Tito, because the Communists regarded the Montenegrins as a separate people.

During the reign of Tito Montenegro took advantage of the new political and economic situation. Many Montenegrins were members of the Communist Party and were part of the Yugoslav People's Army. Montenegro could also benefit economically because the country - as one of the poorer parts of Yugoslavia - was financially supported by the richer republics Slovenia and Croatia.

When Yugoslavia began to fall apart in the early nineties of the last century, Montenegro first rallied behind the Serbians lead by Milošević. The absolute low point in this was the shelling of the Croatian coastal city of Dubrovnik by Montenegrin soldiers.

In 1997, Milo Djukanovic came to power. Under his reign Montenegro increasing steered its own course. In the beginning, this independent course was welcomed by the international community. Yet after the fall of Milošević, the International community became less enthusiastic. The expectation of the new Serbian leaders was big and the emergence of an even smaller Balkan state received little international support.

The establishment of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 as a result of the Treaty of Belgrade was only a postponement of independence. Three years later Montenegro became the next independent state in the Balkans.

A common thread that runs throughout the book is whether Montenegrins are a separate people or just Serbs. In the tiny Montenegro, this dichotomy also exists geographically. Those who qualify themselves more as Serbs live in the north and east, the areas that were later added to Montenegro. Those who call themselves Montenegrins can be found mainly around the old capital of Cetinje. The book does not give an answer to the question of who the Montenegrins are. Yet there can be no misunderstanding about the fact that the Montenegrin history is closely interlinked with the Serbian history.

The only downside of the book is the brief description of the last two decades. There for it is best to read another book from Kenneth Morrison “Montenegro, a modern history”.