Knjaz Danilo
Encyclopedia
Prince Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian Cyrillic: Данило Петровић Његош), (known once as Vladika Danilo II), (May 25, 1826, Njeguši
, Montenegro
– August 13, 1860, Kotor
, Austria
in today's Montenegro
), son of Stiepo/Sava Petrović-Njegoš and wife Angelika Radamovich.
Prince Danilo I, was the prince-bishop and later prince of Montenegro
from 1851 to 1860. During his reign, Montenegro became a secular state
, a lay principality
instead of a bishopric-principality. He became involved in a war with the Ottoman Empire
in 1852, the Porte claiming jurisdiction in Montenegro, and the boundaries between the two countries were not defined until 1858. Danilo, with the help of his elder brother, Duke Mirko, defeated the Ottomans at Ostrog
in 1853 and at Grahovac
in 1858. On January 12, 1855 at Njegoš he married Darinka Kvekić, who was born in a wealthy Serbian merchant family in Trieste
on December 31, 1837 and died on February 14, 1892), daughter of Marko Kvekić and wife Jelisaveta Mirković. They had one daughter, Olga (Cetinje
, March 19, 1859 - Venice
, September 21, 1896), who never married and died young.
died, the Senate, under the influence of Đorđije Petrović (the wealthiest Montenegrin at the time), proclaimed Petar II's elder brother Pero Tomov Petrović as Prince (not Vladika). Nevertheless, in a brief struggle for power, Pero, who commanded the support of the Senate, lost to the much younger Danilo who had much more support among people.
Prior to the determination of Petar II's
successor, after making peace between the Crmnica
and Katunjani tribes, and being recognized by all of the Serb clans
except for the Bjelopavlići, Danilo traveled to Vienna
, Austrian Empire
and then to the Russian Empire
, supposedly to be ordained as Vladika, not Prince. After Danilo returned from Russia in 1852, he took Pero and his supporters by surprise, bringing with him the endorsement from Nicholas I of Russia
to become the Prince of Montenegro. Thus somewhat unexpectedly, Danilo became prince and Pero conceded defeat by returning to his position as president of the Senate.
After centuries of theocratic
rule, Danilo was the first Montenegrin secular prince who did not hold the ecclesiastical position of the Vladika. He was planning out the foundations for Montenegro turning into a kingdom but did not live long enough to see his ambitions realized.
His charismatic elder brother, Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš lead 7,500 strong army and won a crucial battle against the Turks (between 7,000 and 13,000) at Grahovo
on 1 May 1858. The Turkish
forces were routed. A considerable arsenal of war trophies was left in the Montenegrins hands, to come handy again in the final wars of independence in 1862 and 1875-8.
In front of the tent I'll serve the king if Serbdom would be ever united and unity of Serbs
reached or let prince Mihajlo
just start, I'll join him with my Montenegrins to liberate the Serb nation, with me even as an ordinary soldier.
This major victory had had even more diplomatic significance. The glory of Montenegrin weapons was soon immortalized in the songs and literature of all the South Slavs, in particular the Serbs in Vojvodina , then part of Austria-Hungary
. This Montenegrin victory forced the Great Powers to officially demarcate the borders between Montenegro and Turkey
, de facto recognizing Montenegro's centuries-long independence. In November 1858, a commission of foreign powers representatives demarcated the border between Montenegro and Turkey. Montenegro gained Grahovo
, Rudine
, Nikšić
's Župa
, more than a half of Drobnjaci
, Tušina
, Uskoci, Lipovo
, Upper Vasojevići
, and the part of Kuči
and Dodoši.
a military ally while trying not to upset Austria. His educated and wealthy wife together with Russia's failure to live up to promise for Montenegro's international recognition of full sovereignty, heavily influenced his Francophile
attitude. This Francophile attitude was detrimental to Danilo's relations with Russia, Austria and Serbia, who saw the good relations between Montenegro and France as a threat to their interests.
At the same time, all major European powers worked to undermine Russian influence in Southeastern Europe, which was the strongest in Montenegro. Knowing the mood of his people, Danilo refused to compromise on sovereignty of Montenegro averting to the extent the pressure from Europeans. At the same time, Russia
was in no position to help Montenegro after suffering a defeat in the Crimean War
in 1854. In the subsequent Congress of Paris
in 1856, Russian government representatives did not have enough strength to support Montenegrin demands for the independence and territorial enlargement. However, the Russian government replied on Danilo's memorandum "that the Russian government has always recognized Montenegro's independence and will always do so regardless of the position of other great powers". During the trip to France
, Danilo received some financial help (200,000 francs annually) from France hoping that France would insure the formal recognition of Montenegro's sovereignty. By the same token, Napoleon III hoped that this would bring Montenegro closer to French influence to the expense of the Russia. This act of Danilo earned many enemies since it was seen by many influential Montenegrins as a betrayal of Russia.
Danilo's enemies grew in numbers and included Danilo's elder brother, Grand Duke Mirko and the president of the Senate Đorđije Petrović. The plans to organize the elimination of the Prince were coined by the Montenegrin emigration led by Stevan Perović Cuca and assisted by foreign powers. Danilo's loyals managed to assassinate Perović in Istanbul
but the resistance to the Prince was not over.
In domestic issues, Danilo was an authoritarian and sometimes brutal ruler. As it happened, the centralization of his power contributed to development of the modern functions of the state.
Danilo used the Law of Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
as an inspiration for his own General Law of the Land from 1855 (Zakonik Danila Prvog). Danilo's Code was based on the Montenegrin traditions and customs and it is considered to be the first national constitution in Montenegrin history
. It also stated rules, protected privacy and banned warring on the Austrian Coast (Bay of Kotor
).
It also stated: "Although there is no other nationality in this land except Serb nationality and no other religion except Eastern Orthodoxy, each foreigner and each person of different faith can live here and enjoy the same freedom and the same domestic right as Montenegrin or Highlander."
Danilo organized the first census
in Montenegro
in 1855 and ordered that all Montenegrin households be recorded. According to the census, Montenegro's population was 80,000.
Danilo made a taxing plan and his plan for tax collection was accepted by all Montenegrin tribes except the Kuči
tribe, though it was accepted out of fear from the Prince. In order to punish the Kuči tribe, Danilo sent his elder brother Duke Mirko in 1856 to "not only to slay all leaders but also to kill even the babies in cradles". In this extremely cruel duty, Duke Mirko killed 247 people (only 17 soldiers, the rest the elderly and children), thus forcing the tribe to pay the taxes.
Another atrocity was made by Danilo's forces which involved the Bjelopavlići
tribe, but the damage was limited by giving high ranks to the rebel leaders of the tribe.
. The assassin, Todor Kadić from the Bjelopavlići
tribe, was assisted by Austrian authorities in carrying out the assassination, which is why some say this Montenegrin was an Austrian agent. However it is generally believed that the reason for the assassination was the brutal mistreatment of the Bjelopavlići tribe by the Danilo's guards and his forces. The Prince (Knjaz) Nikola
, Danilo's nephew, succeeded Danilo as the next secular Prince of Montenegro.
Njeguši
Njeguši is a village in southern Montenegro, within Cetinje municipality. It is located on the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within Lovćen national park....
, 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...
– August 13, 1860, Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in today's 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...
), son of Stiepo/Sava Petrović-Njegoš and wife Angelika Radamovich.
Prince Danilo I, was the prince-bishop and later prince of 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...
from 1851 to 1860. During his reign, Montenegro became a secular state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
, a lay principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
instead of a bishopric-principality. He became involved in a war with the Ottoman Empire
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...
in 1852, the Porte claiming jurisdiction in Montenegro, and the boundaries between the two countries were not defined until 1858. Danilo, with the help of his elder brother, Duke Mirko, defeated the Ottomans at Ostrog
Ostrog
Ostrog may refer to:* Ostrog, Slovenia, a settlement in Šentjernej municipality in Slovenia* Ostrog monastery, a Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery in Montenegro* Ostroh, a historic town in Ukraine* Ostrog, a Russian term for a small fortress...
in 1853 and at Grahovac
Battle of Grahovac
The Battle of Grahovac occurred from 28 April to 1 May 1858, when the Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš, elder brother of Knjaz Danilo, led a strong army of 7,500 and won a crucial battle against the Turks at Grahovac. The Turkish forces were routed...
in 1858. On January 12, 1855 at Njegoš he married Darinka Kvekić, who was born in a wealthy Serbian merchant family in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
on December 31, 1837 and died on February 14, 1892), daughter of Marko Kvekić and wife Jelisaveta Mirković. They had one daughter, Olga (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...
, March 19, 1859 - Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, September 21, 1896), who never married and died young.
Rise to power as Prince
When Petar II Petrović-NjegošPetar II Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš , was a Serbian Orthodox Prince-Bishop of Montenegro , who transformed Montenegro from a theocracy into a secular state. However, he is most famous as a poet...
died, the Senate, under the influence of Đorđije Petrović (the wealthiest Montenegrin at the time), proclaimed Petar II's elder brother Pero Tomov Petrović as Prince (not Vladika). Nevertheless, in a brief struggle for power, Pero, who commanded the support of the Senate, lost to the much younger Danilo who had much more support among people.
Prior to the determination of Petar II's
Petar II Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar II Petrović-Njegoš , was a Serbian Orthodox Prince-Bishop of Montenegro , who transformed Montenegro from a theocracy into a secular state. However, he is most famous as a poet...
successor, after making peace between the Crmnica
Crmnica
Crmnica is a geographical region in southern Montenegro. It is within the municipality of Bar and is considered a division of that municipality. The capital of the region is Virpazar...
and Katunjani tribes, and being recognized by all of the Serb clans
Serb clans
Serb clans is a general term referring to what are known as plemena and bratstva , traditional geo-political units of the Western Balkans that now richly attest social anthropology and family history . The descendants of the clans are divided by regional and lately, national affiliation...
except for the Bjelopavlići, Danilo traveled to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and then to the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, supposedly to be ordained as Vladika, not Prince. After Danilo returned from Russia in 1852, he took Pero and his supporters by surprise, bringing with him the endorsement from Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
to become the Prince of Montenegro. Thus somewhat unexpectedly, Danilo became prince and Pero conceded defeat by returning to his position as president of the Senate.
After centuries of theocratic
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
rule, Danilo was the first Montenegrin secular prince who did not hold the ecclesiastical position of the Vladika. He was planning out the foundations for Montenegro turning into a kingdom but did not live long enough to see his ambitions realized.
Military successes
It was during Danilo's reign that Montenegro won its most important battle with Turkey and its de-facto independence.His charismatic elder brother, Grand Duke Mirko Petrović-Njegoš lead 7,500 strong army and won a crucial battle against the Turks (between 7,000 and 13,000) at Grahovo
Grahovo
Grahovo is a tribe in western Montenegro. It contains the village of Grahovac, which was the sight of the Battle of Grahovac.-History:In the early 17th century, during the Sanjak of Scutari, Grahovo was commanded by Mile Perin....
on 1 May 1858. The Turkish
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...
forces were routed. A considerable arsenal of war trophies was left in the Montenegrins hands, to come handy again in the final wars of independence in 1862 and 1875-8.
In front of the tent I'll serve the king if Serbdom would be ever united and unity of Serbs
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...
reached or let prince Mihajlo
Mihailo Obrenovic III, Prince of Serbia
Mihailo Obrenović was Prince of Serbia from 1839–1842 and again from 1860–1868. His first reign ended when he was deposed in 1842 and his second when he was assassinated in 1868.-Early life and first reign:...
just start, I'll join him with my Montenegrins to liberate the Serb nation, with me even as an ordinary soldier.
This major victory had had even more diplomatic significance. The glory of Montenegrin weapons was soon immortalized in the songs and literature of all the South Slavs, in particular the Serbs in Vojvodina , then part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. This Montenegrin victory forced the Great Powers to officially demarcate the borders between Montenegro and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, de facto recognizing Montenegro's centuries-long independence. In November 1858, a commission of foreign powers representatives demarcated the border between Montenegro and Turkey. Montenegro gained Grahovo
Grahovo
Grahovo is a tribe in western Montenegro. It contains the village of Grahovac, which was the sight of the Battle of Grahovac.-History:In the early 17th century, during the Sanjak of Scutari, Grahovo was commanded by Mile Perin....
, Rudine
Rudine
Rudine is a village in the municipality of Čajetina, western Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 159 people.-References:...
, Nikšić
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
's Župa
Župa
A Župa is a Slavic term, used historically among the Southern and Western branches of the Slavs, originally denoting various territorial and other sub-units, usually a small administrative division, especially a gathering of several villages...
, more than a half of Drobnjaci
Drobnjaci
Drobnjaci is an Old Herzegovinian clan and region in northern Montenegro . Its unofficial centre is in Boan/Šavnik. The Drobnjaci families are predominantly Serb Orthodox, with a majority declaring as Serbs, the rest as Montenegrins...
, Tušina
Tušina
Tušina is one of the five rivers in the municipality of Šavnik, Montenegro. It is made of many streams that meet under Somina and Krnja Jela mountains. It is 10 km long....
, Uskoci, Lipovo
Lipovo
Lipovo is a village in Shchyokinsky District of Tula Oblast, Russia....
, Upper Vasojevići
Vasojevici
The Vasojevići tribe is the largest Serb clan in Montenegro. It occupies the area between Vjetarnih Lijeva Rijeka in the South and Bihor under Bijelo Polje in the North, Mateševo in the West to Plav in the East. The clan is one of seven "highland clans"...
, and the part of Kuči
KUCI
KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...
and Dodoši.
Alliance with Russia and its failure
Danilo I sought in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
a military ally while trying not to upset Austria. His educated and wealthy wife together with Russia's failure to live up to promise for Montenegro's international recognition of full sovereignty, heavily influenced his Francophile
Francophile
Is a person with a positive predisposition or interest toward the government, culture, history, or people of France. This could include France itself and its history, the French language, French cuisine, literature, etc...
attitude. This Francophile attitude was detrimental to Danilo's relations with Russia, Austria and Serbia, who saw the good relations between Montenegro and France as a threat to their interests.
At the same time, all major European powers worked to undermine Russian influence in Southeastern Europe, which was the strongest in Montenegro. Knowing the mood of his people, Danilo refused to compromise on sovereignty of Montenegro averting to the extent the pressure from Europeans. At the same time, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
was in no position to help Montenegro after suffering a defeat in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
in 1854. In the subsequent Congress of Paris
Congress of Paris (1856)
The Congress of Paris was a peace conference held in Paris, France, in 1856, , between representatives of the great powers in Europe to make peace after the almost three year long Crimean War.- Before the Congress :...
in 1856, Russian government representatives did not have enough strength to support Montenegrin demands for the independence and territorial enlargement. However, the Russian government replied on Danilo's memorandum "that the Russian government has always recognized Montenegro's independence and will always do so regardless of the position of other great powers". During the trip to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Danilo received some financial help (200,000 francs annually) from France hoping that France would insure the formal recognition of Montenegro's sovereignty. By the same token, Napoleon III hoped that this would bring Montenegro closer to French influence to the expense of the Russia. This act of Danilo earned many enemies since it was seen by many influential Montenegrins as a betrayal of Russia.
Danilo's enemies grew in numbers and included Danilo's elder brother, Grand Duke Mirko and the president of the Senate Đorđije Petrović. The plans to organize the elimination of the Prince were coined by the Montenegrin emigration led by Stevan Perović Cuca and assisted by foreign powers. Danilo's loyals managed to assassinate Perović in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
but the resistance to the Prince was not over.
Danilo's Code
Danilo used the Law of Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
Petar I Petrovic-Njegoš
Petar I Petrović Njegoš was the ruler of Montenegro, the Cetinje Episcop of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Exarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne. He was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the Petrović dynasty...
as an inspiration for his own General Law of the Land from 1855 (Zakonik Danila Prvog). Danilo's Code was based on the Montenegrin traditions and customs and it is considered to be the first national constitution in Montenegrin history
History of Montenegro
The History of Montenegro begins in the early Middle Ages, into the former Roman province of Dalmatia that forms present-day Montenegro.-Illyria:...
. It also stated rules, protected privacy and banned warring on the Austrian Coast (Bay of Kotor
Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor in south-western Montenegro is a winding bay on the Adriatic Sea. The bay, sometimes called Europe's southernmost fjord, is in fact a submerged river canyon of the disintegrated Bokelj River which used to run from the high mountain plateaus of Mount Orjen...
).
It also stated: "Although there is no other nationality in this land except Serb nationality and no other religion except Eastern Orthodoxy, each foreigner and each person of different faith can live here and enjoy the same freedom and the same domestic right as Montenegrin or Highlander."
Danilo organized the first census
Demographic History of Montenegro
This article presents the demographic history of Montenegro through census results and official documents which mention demographic composition...
in 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...
in 1855 and ordered that all Montenegrin households be recorded. According to the census, Montenegro's population was 80,000.
Danilo made a taxing plan and his plan for tax collection was accepted by all Montenegrin tribes except the Kuči
KUCI
KUCI is a college radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Irvine, California, USA, the station serves the Orange County area...
tribe, though it was accepted out of fear from the Prince. In order to punish the Kuči tribe, Danilo sent his elder brother Duke Mirko in 1856 to "not only to slay all leaders but also to kill even the babies in cradles". In this extremely cruel duty, Duke Mirko killed 247 people (only 17 soldiers, the rest the elderly and children), thus forcing the tribe to pay the taxes.
Another atrocity was made by Danilo's forces which involved the Bjelopavlići
Bjelopavlici (clan)
Bjelopavlići is a Serb clan and region in central Montenegro . The clan is situated around Danilovgrad.-History:The Bjelopavlići are first mentioned Serbian documents dated to 1411, when they, together with Malonšići, Ozrinići and Maznići loot a ship from Dubrovnik. The eponymous founder, Bijeli...
tribe, but the damage was limited by giving high ranks to the rebel leaders of the tribe.
Death and successor
Danilo was assassinated in August, 1860 as he was boarding a ship at the port of KotorKotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
. The assassin, Todor Kadić from the Bjelopavlići
Bjelopavlici (clan)
Bjelopavlići is a Serb clan and region in central Montenegro . The clan is situated around Danilovgrad.-History:The Bjelopavlići are first mentioned Serbian documents dated to 1411, when they, together with Malonšići, Ozrinići and Maznići loot a ship from Dubrovnik. The eponymous founder, Bijeli...
tribe, was assisted by Austrian authorities in carrying out the assassination, which is why some say this Montenegrin was an Austrian agent. However it is generally believed that the reason for the assassination was the brutal mistreatment of the Bjelopavlići tribe by the Danilo's guards and his forces. The Prince (Knjaz) Nikola
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of 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 song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
, Danilo's nephew, succeeded Danilo as the next secular Prince of Montenegro.
External links
- Official website of the Royal House of Montenegro.
- The Njegoskij Fund Public Project : Private family archives-based digital documentary fund focused on history and culture of Royal Montenegro.
- Branko Pavićević: Knjaz Danilo, in Montenegrin
- Knjaz Danilo's Law Code - in Montenegrin
- http://www.montenegro.org/danilo_v.html
- Genealogy of the House of Petrović-Njegoš