Ivan I Crnojevic
Encyclopedia
Ivan Crnojević (names in other languages) was the medieval ruler of Zeta
and first lord of the Principality of Montenegro
from 1465 to 1490.
, and on one occasion he was captured. For a very long time was he the Herzog's servant before release. Ivan married Goislava, the sister of the Albanian lord Gjergj Arianit Komneni
of the Comnenus dynasty, and became related with Serbian
titular Despot Stefan Branković across his wife from the same family. In the beginning of his reign Ivan was at very bad relations with the Venetians, whom he saw as occupiers of his cities. In return, the Venetians have put a price on his head in 1465. But thanks to moves of the Saint Abbaside Duke Stephen and Albanian Lord Scanderbey
, in 1466 he became a Duke under payment from the Venetian Republic with the capital in Žabljak at the Lake Skadar. His payment was quite fair, 1,200 ducat
s annually. In 1469 Ivan remarried. His next spouse was Mara, the daughter of the Herzegovinian Duke Stephen.
Ivan Crnojević fought fearsomely for the Venetians
in its wars against the Ottomans. The Venetian Captain of Upper Zeta and Duke was accepted thus in 1473 into the ranks of Venetian nobility. The next 1474 he further honored his obligations and defended Skadar from an Ottoman
attack. After this success, Duke Ivan planned to liberate Herzegovina
from Ottoman occupation for the brother of his second wife, Duke Vladislav Hercegović. Conflicts came out over discussions regarding the future border between the realms of Montenegro and Herzegovina, which allowed Sultan Mehmed II to take initiative and invade Montenegro, and with Duke Stephen's help the Turks seize Ivan's throne of Žabljak in 1478. The next 1479 Ivan gave up on Montenegro and fled to Italy
, forced to leave his realm in Ottoman hands.
After Sultan Mehmed II's death in 1481, Ivan Crnojević came back to occupied Montenegro. Using the civil war that erupted between Mehmed's heirs, Bayezid and Jem, he restored control with the help of the people that welcomed him gladly as a liberator. The new Ottoman sultan Bayezid accepted the reality, but Ivan-bey anyway sent his youngest son Staniša in 1482 as a hostage to Istanbul as a sign of accepting vassalage, where he naturalized as "Skander". The center of his renewed realm was at Obod
above the Crnojević River. Wishing to preserve the realm of Montenegro and its independence from the Turks because he didn't feel safe at the edge and the border, Ivan moved its capital deep into the hills and at the foot of Mount Lovćen
. He also moved the seat of the Serbian Orthodox church
Metropolinate to the Cetinje Monastery
. He had his court built in the field of Cetinje
in 1482. In 1485 Ivan built the monastery of the Mother of Christ in Cetinje as a personal endowment to the Orthodox Church. It was known as the Monastery of Crnojević. The new capital Cetinje
that remains the Montenegrin capital to this day, was thus founded. Ivan Crnojević died in 1490, when he was succeeded by his son Đurađ Crnojević.
During his long-lasting reign, Ivan I he tried, in order to consolidate his country, to maintain good relations with the Venetians
and Turks
. That way, he found favor with those two powerful countries for his successor. He brought a range of legislative acts that was later of great importance for the legal and cultural history of a future Montenegro
.
Ivan was the father of Đurađ IV Crnojević. Ivan has become already in his life a living legend and one of the greatest Montenegrin national heroes.
"Alas, Emperor, wounds got thee,
alive the Serbs slain thee,
with thou men chattered,
Moscowans your Empire destroyed!
If it is thou turcified my son -
given thou him the cursed pashaluk
my lands and my states,
slaughtered his children, inhuman?"
Zeta
-Science:* Zeta functions, in mathematics** Riemann zeta function* Zeta potential, the electrokinetic potential of a colloidal system* Tropical Storm Zeta , formed in December 2005 and lasting through January 2006* Z-pinch, in fusion power...
and first lord of the Principality of Montenegro
Principality of Montenegro
The Principality of Montenegro was a former realm in Southeastern Europe. It existed from 13 March 1852 to 28 August 1910. It was then proclaimed a kingdom by Knjaz Nikola, who then became king....
from 1465 to 1490.
Reign
In his youth he was in the many raids against the domains of the Bosnian nobleman Stefan Vukčić Kosača of HumZahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
, and on one occasion he was captured. For a very long time was he the Herzog's servant before release. Ivan married Goislava, the sister of the Albanian lord Gjergj Arianit Komneni
Gjergj Arianit Komneni
Gjergj Arianiti was an important Albanian hero and the great uncle of Moisi Arianit Golemi. He was also the father of Gjergj Kastrioti's wife Marina Donika . He shared a distant relation from his great grandmother with the famous Byzantine Komnenos dynasty, originating in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor...
of the Comnenus dynasty, and became related with Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
titular Despot Stefan Branković across his wife from the same family. In the beginning of his reign Ivan was at very bad relations with the Venetians, whom he saw as occupiers of his cities. In return, the Venetians have put a price on his head in 1465. But thanks to moves of the Saint Abbaside Duke Stephen and Albanian Lord Scanderbey
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
, in 1466 he became a Duke under payment from the Venetian Republic with the capital in Žabljak at the Lake Skadar. His payment was quite fair, 1,200 ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s annually. In 1469 Ivan remarried. His next spouse was Mara, the daughter of the Herzegovinian Duke Stephen.
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
in its wars against the Ottomans. The Venetian Captain of Upper Zeta and Duke was accepted thus in 1473 into the ranks of Venetian nobility. The next 1474 he further honored his obligations and defended Skadar from an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
attack. After this success, Duke Ivan planned to liberate Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
from Ottoman occupation for the brother of his second wife, Duke Vladislav Hercegović. Conflicts came out over discussions regarding the future border between the realms of Montenegro and Herzegovina, which allowed Sultan Mehmed II to take initiative and invade Montenegro, and with Duke Stephen's help the Turks seize Ivan's throne of Žabljak in 1478. The next 1479 Ivan gave up on Montenegro and fled to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, forced to leave his realm in Ottoman hands.
After Sultan Mehmed II's death in 1481, Ivan Crnojević came back to occupied Montenegro. Using the civil war that erupted between Mehmed's heirs, Bayezid and Jem, he restored control with the help of the people that welcomed him gladly as a liberator. The new Ottoman sultan Bayezid accepted the reality, but Ivan-bey anyway sent his youngest son Staniša in 1482 as a hostage to Istanbul as a sign of accepting vassalage, where he naturalized as "Skander". The center of his renewed realm was at Obod
Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića is a city settlement in Montenegro beside the river of Crnojević - near the coast of Skadar lake.It is part of Old Royal Capital Cetinje.With 300 citizens, Rijeka Crnojevića is seat of Riječka nahija....
above the Crnojević River. Wishing to preserve the realm of Montenegro and its independence from the Turks because he didn't feel safe at the edge and the border, Ivan moved its capital deep into the hills and at the foot of Mount Lovćen
Mount Lovcen
Lovćen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor...
. He also moved the seat of the Serbian Orthodox church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
Metropolinate to the Cetinje Monastery
Cetinje Monastery
The Cetinje Monastery is the most famous Serb Orthodox monastery in Montenegro. It is located in Cetinje and is the seat of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and its name derives from Saint Peter of Cetinje...
. He had his court built in the field of Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
in 1482. In 1485 Ivan built the monastery of the Mother of Christ in Cetinje as a personal endowment to the Orthodox Church. It was known as the Monastery of Crnojević. The new capital Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
that remains the Montenegrin capital to this day, was thus founded. Ivan Crnojević died in 1490, when he was succeeded by his son Đurađ Crnojević.
During his long-lasting reign, Ivan I he tried, in order to consolidate his country, to maintain good relations with the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. That way, he found favor with those two powerful countries for his successor. He brought a range of legislative acts that was later of great importance for the legal and cultural history of a future Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
Ivan was the father of Đurađ IV Crnojević. Ivan has become already in his life a living legend and one of the greatest Montenegrin national heroes.
Culture
Addressing to the Ottoman Emperor:"Alas, Emperor, wounds got thee,
alive the Serbs slain thee,
with thou men chattered,
Moscowans your Empire destroyed!
If it is thou turcified my son -
given thou him the cursed pashaluk
my lands and my states,
slaughtered his children, inhuman?"
Names in other languages
- EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: John the Black - SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
: Cyrillic: Иван Црноjeвић - Иво, old-style: Јован; Latin: Ivan I Crnojevic - ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Giovanni Cernovichio - TurkishTurkish languageTurkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
& Ottoman TurkishOttoman Turkish languageThe Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
: Ivan-bey