Nicholas I of Montenegro 817515 218983212 2008-06-13T01:34:33Z Nexm0d 414640 {{Infobox_Monarch| name =King Nicholas I of Montenegro | title =Prince of Montenegro<br>King of Montenegro | image =[[Image:Kingnicholas.jpg|200px|King Nikola I]] | caption =King Nikola (Nicholas) I | reign =[[1860]] - [[28 August]] [[1910]] (Prince) <br> [[28 August]] [[1910]] – [[26 November]] [[1918]] (King) <br> [[26 November]] [[1918]] - [[1 March]] [[1921]] (King in exile) | coronation =[[28 August]], [[1910]] | othertitles = | full name =Nikola Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš | predecessor =Knjaz (Prince) [[Knjaz Danilo|Danilo I]] | successor =Kingdom of Montenegro abolished | spouse 1 =[[Milena Vukotić]] | issue =[[Prince Mirko of Montenegro]] <br> [[Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro|Prince Danilo Alexander of Montenegro]] <br> [[Petar of Montenegro|Grand Voivode Petar of Zahumlje]] <br> [[Zorka of Montenegro|Princess Ljubica "Zorka" of Serbia]]<br> [[Anastasia of Montenegro|Grand Duchess Anastasia "Stana" of Russia]] <br> [[Milica of Montenegro|Grand Duchess Milica of Russia]] <br> [[Elena of Montenegro|Queen Jelena "Elena" of Italy]] <br> [[Princess Marija of Montenegro|Princess Marija (Marica) of Montenegro]] <br> [[Anna of Montenegro|Princess Anna of Battenberg]] <br> [[Sofija of Montenegro|Princess Sofija of Montenegro]] <br> [[Ksenija of Montenegro|Princess Ksenija of Montenegro]] <br> [[Vjera of Montenegro|Princess Vjera of Montenegro]] | royal house =[[House of Petrović-Njegoš]] | royal anthem =[[Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori]] | father =Grand Duke [[Mirko Petrović|Mirko Petrović-Njegoš]] | nationality =[[Montenegrin]] | mother =Anastasija Martinović | date of birth ={{birth date|1841|10|7|df=y}} | place of birth =[[Njeguši]], [[Montenegro]] | date of death ={{death date and age|1921|3|1|1841|10|7|df=y}} | place of death =[[Antibes|Cap d'Antibes]], [[France]] | place of burial = Montenegro | religion = [[Serbian Orthodox Christian]] }} '''King Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš''' ([[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet|Serbian Cyrillic]]: Краљ Никола I Мирков Петровић-Његош) ({{OldStyleDate|October 7|1841|September 25}} – [[March 1]], [[1921]]) was the only [[monarch|king]] of [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]], reigning as king from [[1910]] to [[1918]] and as [[prince]] from [[1860]] to [[1910]]. He was also a [[poet]], notably penning ''[[Onamo, 'namo]]'', a popular [[anthem]] of Montenegro. ==Biography== [[Image:Proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro, [[Cetinje]], August 28, 1910.]] Nikola was born at the village of [[Njeguši]], the ancient home of the reigning [[House of Petrović]]. His father, [[Mirko Petrović-Njegoš]], a celebrated Montenegrin warrior, was elder brother to [[Danilo II Petrovic Njegos|Danilo II of Montenegro]], who left no male offspring. After [[1696]], when the dignity of [[Vladika]], or prince-bishop, became hereditary in the Petrović family, the sovereign power had descended from uncle to nephew, the Vladikas belonging to the order of the black [[clergy]] (i.e., [[monk|monastic]] clergy) who are forbidden to marry. A change was introduced by Danilo II, who declined the episcopal office, married and declared the principality hereditary in the direct male line. [[Mirko Petrovic]] having resigned his claim to the throne, his son was nominated heir, and the old system of succession was thus accidentally continued. Prince Nikola, who had been trained from infancy in martial and athletic exercises, spent a portion of his early boyhood at [[Trieste]] in the household of the Kustic family, to which his aunt, the princess Darinka, wife of Danilo II, belonged. The princess was an ardent advocate of [[French culture]], and at her suggestion the young heir of the viadikas was sent to the [[Lycée Louis-le-Grand]] in [[Paris]]. Unlike his contemporary, [[Milan Obrenović IV|King Milan of Serbia]], Prince Nikola was little influenced in his tastes and habits by his Parisian education; the young highlander, whose keen patriotism, capability for leadership and poetic talents early displayed themselves, showed no inclination for the pleasures of the French capital, and eagerly looked forward to returning to his native land. He was still in Paris when, in consequence of the assassination of his uncle Danilo II, he succeeded as prince ([[August 13]], [[1860]]). In November 1860 he married [[Milena Vukotić|Milena]], daughter of the [[vojvoda]] [[Petar Vukotic]]. In the period of peace which followed he carried out a series of military, administrative and educational reforms. The country was embroiled in a series of wars with the [[Ottoman Empire]] between [[1862]] and [[1878]]. In [[1867]] he met the emperor [[Napoleon III]] at Paris, and in [[1868]] he undertook a journey to Russia, where he received an affectionate welcome from the [[tsar]], [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]]. He afterwards visited the courts of [[Berlin]] and [[Vienna]]. His efforts to enlist the sympathies of the Russian imperial family were productive of important results for Montenegro; considerable subventions were granted by the tsar and tsaritsa for educational and other purposes, and supplies of arms and ammunition were sent to [[Cetinje]]. In [[1871]] [[XX Dolgorukov|Prince Dolgorukov]] arrived at Montenegro on a special mission from the tsar, and distributed large sums of money among the people. In 1869 Prince Nikola, whose authority was now firmly established, succeeded in preventing the impetuous highlanders from aiding the Krivosians in their revolt against the [[Austria]]n government; similarly in [[1897]] he checked the martial excitement caused by the outbreak of the [[Greco-Turkish War]]. In [[1876]] he declared war against Turkey; his military reputation was enhanced by the ensuing campaign, and still more by that of [[1877]]/[[1878|78]], during which he captured [[Nikšić]], [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]] and [[Ulcinj]]. The war resulted in a considerable extension of the Montenegrin frontier and the acquisition of a seaboard on the [[Adriatic]]. He justified the war as a revenge for the [[Battle of Kosovo]] in [[1389]]. In [[1876]] he sent a message to the Montenegrins in [[Herzegovina]]: :''Under Murad I the Serbian Tsardom was destroyed, under Murad V it has to rise again. This is my wish and wish of all of us as well as the wish of almighty God''. [[Image:Kingdom 1914.gif|thumb|left|300px|Kingdom of Montenegro, 1914.]] The independence of Montenegro was recognised at the [[Congress of Berlin]] in [[1878]] and in the succeeding decades Montenegro enjoyed considerable prosperity and stability. Education, communications and the army expanded greatly (the latter with support from [[Imperial Russia]]). In [[1883]] Prince Nikola visited the [[sultan]], with whom he subsequently maintained the most cordial relations; in [[1896]] he celebrated the bicentenary of the '''Petrović''' dynasty, and in the same year he attended the coronation of the Tsar [[Nicholas II]]; in May [[1898]] he visited [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] at [[Windsor Castle]]. In [[1900]] he took the style of [[Royal Highness]]. He gave Montenegro its first [[constitution]] in 1905 following pressure from a population eager for more freedom. He also introduced west-European style [[press freedom]] and [[criminal law]] codes. In [[1906]], he introduced Montenegrin [[currency]], the [[Montenegrin perper|perper]]. On the [[August 28]] [[1910]], during the celebration of his jubilee, he assumed the title of [[monarch|king]], in accordance with a petition from the [[Skupština]]. He was at the same time gazetted [[field-marshal]] in the [[Russian army]], an honor never previously conferred on any foreigner except [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|the Duke of Wellington]]. When the [[Balkan Wars]] broke out in [[1912]] King Nicholas was one of the most enthusiastic of the allies. He wanted to drive the Ottomans completely out of Europe. He defied the Powers and captured Scutari despite the fact that they blockaded the whole coast of Montenegro. Again in the [[World War I|Great War]] which began in [[1914]] he was the first to go to Serbia's aid to repel the [[Austria]]n forces from the [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]]. After the [[World War I|First World War]] [[Montenegro]] united with the other south Slav lands, to form the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], which was renamed [[Yugoslavia]] in [[1929]]. Nikola went into exile in [[France]] [[1918]], but continued to claim the throne until his death in [[Antibes]] three years later. He was buried in Italy. In [[1989]], the remains of Nikola, his queen Milena, and two of their twelve children were re-buried in Montenegro. King Nikola was gifted with a fine physique and a commanding presence, was a successful military leader and a graceful poet, while his merits as a statesman received general recognition. His system of government, which may be described as a [[benevolent despotism]], was perhaps that best suited to the character of his subjects. His historical dramas, poems and ballads hold a recognized place in contemporary Slavic literature; among them are ''Balkanska Carica'' and ''Knjaz Arvanit'' (dramas); ''Hajdana'' and ''Pesnik i Vila'' (poems); ''Skupljene Pesme'' and ''Nova Kola'' (miscellaneous songs); ''[[Onamo, 'namo]]'', popular [[anthem]] of Montenegro. His entire political work was inspired only with one idea, the restoration of a great [[Serbian Empire]]. Nikola saw himself as a modern-day Tsar Dušan, the rightful descendent of the medieval Serb throne. ==Children== {{House of Petrović-Njegoš}} Five of his daughters were married, each to princes and kings, giving Nikola the nickname "the [[father-in-law of Europe]]", a sobriquet he shared with the contemporary King of Denmark. ===Daughters=== * [[Zorka of Montenegro|Princess Ljubica, known as Zorka]] married [[Peter I of Serbia|Petar Karađorđević]] (who after her death would become King Peter I, King of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], annexing Montenegro from Nikola himself), * [[Milica of Montenegro|Princess Milica]] was married to [[Grand Duke Peter Nicolaievich of Russia|Grand Duke Peter Nicolaievich Romanov of Russia]], brother of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich; * [[Anastasia of Montenegro|Princess Anastasia]] (also known as Princess Stana) was married first with [[George, Duke of Leuchtenberg]] and after divorce secondly to the World War I general [[Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich|Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich of Russia, the younger]]; both her husbands were grandsons of [[Nicholas I of Russia|Emperor Nicholas I]] and she had two children by her first marriage * [[Elena of Montenegro|Princess Jelena]] became Queen Elena of [[Italy]], wife of [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]]. * Princess Marija (Marica) * Princess Anna, married [[Prince Franz Joseph of Battenberg]], but remained childless * Princess Sophia ===Sons=== *[[Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro|Crown Prince Danilo Alexander]] married [[Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Duchess Jutta (later known as Militza) of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], they had no children. *[[Prince Mirko of Montenegro|Prince Mirko Dimitri]] married Natalija Konstantinović, a cousin of [[Alexander I of Serbia|Alexander I Obrenović]], and had a son, [[Prince Michael of Montenegro]]. *[[Prince Petar of Montenegro]]. The present heir to the throne is King Nikolas's great-grandson [[Prince Nicholas of Montenegro|Prince Nikola]], Prince Michael's son. ==Literature== '''Nicholas of Montenegro''' (1912) HE speaks as straight as his rifles shot,<br /> As straight as a thrusting blade,<br /> Waiting the deed that shall trouble the truce<br /> His savage guns have made.<br /> "You have dared the wrath of a dozen states,"<br /> Was the challenge that he heard;<br /> "We can die but once!" said the grim old King<br /> As he gripped his mountain sword. "For I paid in blood for the town I took,<br /> The blood of my brave men slain,--<br /> And if you covet the town I took<br /> You must buy it with blood again!" Stern old King of the stark, black hills,<br /> Where the lean, fierce eagles breed,<br /> Your speech rings true as your good sword rings--<br /> And you are a king indeed! ''[[Don Marquis]], Dreams and Dust, 1915'' {{s-start}} {{s-hou|[[House of Petrović-Njegoš]]|October 7|1841|March 1|1921}} |- {{s-reg|}} {{s-bef|before=[[Danilo II, Prince of Montenegro|Danilo II]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Montenegro|Prince of Montenegro]]|years=[[1860]] – [[August 28]], [[1910]]}} {{s-non|reason=Proclaimed King of Montenegro}} {{s-new|rows=2|before=King Nikola I}} {{s-ttl|rows=2|title=[[List of rulers of Montenegro|King of Montenegro]]|years=[[August 28]], [[1910]] – [[November 26]], [[1918]]}} {{s-non|reason=Title abolished|reason2=Montenegro merged into [[Kingdom of Serbia]] which again merged into [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]}} |- {{s-vac|reason=Montenegrin monarchy not restored yet}} |- {{s-off|}} {{s-bef|before=[[Danilo II, Prince of Montenegro|Danilo II]]</br><small>as [[List of rulers of Montenegro|Prince of Montenegro]]</small>}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Montenegro|Head of State of Montenegro]]</br><small>as [[List of rulers of Montenegro|Prince of Montenegro]], later as [[List of rulers of Montenegro|King of Montenegro]]</small>|years=[[1860]] – [[November 26]], [[1918]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Peter I of Yugoslavia|Petar I]]</br><small>as [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|King of Yugoslavia]]</small>}} |- {{s-pre|}} {{s-new|loss}} {{s-tul|title=[[List of rulers of Montenegro|King of Montenegro]]|years=[[November 26]], [[1918]] – [[March 1]], [[1921]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro|Crown Prince Danilo]]}} {{end}} {{Montenegrin Pretenders}} ==External links== {{wikisource author}} {{commonscat|Nicholas I of Montenegro}} *[http://www.mnmuseum.org/StartE.htm The national Museum of Montenegro] *[http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/istorija.htm#doprvogsvjetskograta Digital Library of Montenegrin Culture - in Montenegrin] *[http://www.njegoskij.org/ The Njegoskij Fund Public Project] : Private family archives-based digital documentary fund focused on history and culture of Royal Montenegro. *[http://wikii.itam.ws/index.php/Crnogorska_kraljevska_loza Crnogorska kraljevska loza] ---- * {{1911}} [[Category:Montenegrin people]] [[Category:Rulers of Montenegro]] [[Category:Montenegrin nobility]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]] [[Category:Pretenders to the Montenegrin throne]] [[Category:Lycée Louis-le-Grand alumni]] [[Category:1841 births]] [[Category:1921 deaths]] [[Category:Orthodox monarchs]] [[Category:House of Petrovic-Njegoš]] [[Category:Serbian Orthodox Christians]] [[de:Nikola (Montenegro)]] [[et:Nikola I Petrović]] [[es:Nicolás I de Montenegro]] [[fr:Nicolas Ier de Monténégro]] [[it:Nicola I del Montenegro]] [[hu:I. Miklós montenegrói király]] [[la:Nicolaus (rex Montis Nigri)]] [[nl:Nicolaas I van Montenegro]] [[ja:ニコラ1世 (モンテネグロ王)]] [[pl:Mikołaj I Petrowić-Niegosz]] [[ru:Никола I Петрович]] [[sl:Nikola I. Petrović Njegoš]] [[sr:Никола I Петровић]] [[fi:Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš]] [[sv:Nikola I]]