Nikola Petanovic
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Petanovich, born Nikola Petanović (Montenegrin Cyrillic
: Никола Петановић) (1892 - 29 January 1932) nicknamed "Naiad" was an American Montenegrin
emigrant, philosopher, writer, political publicist and fighter for Montenegro
's sovereignty and independence. He was one of the very few amongst the Montenegrin diaspora to achieve higher level education.
in Crmnica
, Princedom of Montenegro. In 1912 he went moved to the United States of America at the call of his brother Mitar Petanovic, who already settled as a US citizen. Young Nikola studied English
in Butte
, Montana
, then's largest Montenegrin emigration colony in the United States, and quickly became prolific in it. To support himself he worked on ranch
es during the season, having little time for his studies in the libraries. For his nickname he chose "The Naiad", referring the mythological nymph that had the power of precognition
, implying that he will do the same for Montenegro. Afterwards, he moved to California
and started his literary publicist career. In 1923 he published in San Francisco in Serbo-Croat his first work, the "Ponos života" ("Pride of Life"), a poetic philosophical novel. He was plagued by his poverty
heavily until the end of his life, barely managing to make ends meet.
, Nikola was gravely worried. Considering that Montenegro's sovereignty was unjustly extinguished, ever since 1924 he worked on the gathering of the post-WWI growing Montenegrin emigration's intelligence in North America
. He went forth publishing brochures and holding lectures about facts about Montenegro
, attempting to inform and unite the Montenegrin diaspora on the West Coast
. In 1927 he formed a "Board for a Sovereign and Independent Montenegro" and met with a member of the House of Petrović-Njegoš
with same Montenegrin sovereignist ideas, Milo Petrović. He became the Editor in Chief of the Board's political magazine, the "Montenegrin Mirror", which spread the word in English propagating the creation of an independent Montenegro from the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He chose the name as an ironic protest to one of the major works of the Montenegrin writer Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
, the "Serb Mirror" (Огледало српско). In 1929 Nikola expanded cooperation with Prince Milo forming with him, freedom fighters Krsto Zrnov Popović
and Marko Zekov Popović, and former regent Evgenije Popović
the "Montenegrin National Committee" in Geneva
bent on uniting the whole Montenegrin emigration. The Committee published the brochure "The Greatest Crime in History" defining that there has been never a worse crime in the history of mankind from the total annexation of Montenegro by Serbia. Petanovic saw in prince Milo a possible new monarch of a restored Montenegrin kingdom and dedicated to him a poem: "The Royal Heritage will be Restored; The Sun shall Smile upon Montenegro once again".
Petanovic attempted to use influential people to affect the American public opinion and authorities to liken the idea of a sovereign Montenegro, which would be under a US protectorate. Nikola had already perceived the United States' bright future as one of the leading nations in world. The US State Department never paid heed to his calls however, because they considered the unification legal, legitimate and unquestionable. Petanovic's desires to conduct a free democratically-held referendum
in the territories of the once Montenegrin realm that would decide if it would stay in Yugoslavia or regain independence on the basis of the, popular in the Western World, self-determination
, in this case that of the Montenegrin People, reached a moot end gaining no support.
During this period his most important work is the "Troslavia and five small Slavic nations", an ironic depiction of the Yugoslavian kingdom supporting the proposals of the Kingdom of Italy
for breakup of the South Slavic country and establishment of several Slavic mini-nations at the coast of the Adriatic Sea
under Italian influence. Nicholas was one of the few who already also depicted the Macedonians
as a distinct people as well. His other significant works were "Without Homeland", referring to the Montenegrin people, the "Naiad" and "Dayan". Petanovic saw the origins of Montenegro in ancient Doclea
and claimed that the specific ethno-genetic makeup in the ethnogenesis of Illyrian
blood, which allegedly made the Slavs living in what was once Montenegro far closer to the Albanians
, was sufficient enough for them to be proclaimed as a distinct ethnic group, akin but not identified directly with the Serbs
themselves - in this claim laid as the basis for Petanovic's desire to ask for national self-determination of the Montenegrins. Although not essentially a historian, Nikola touched the historical subjects claiming that the Slavic people appeared in the territories of Montenegro only in the 9th century in its ethnic form and through mixing with the local populations, claimed that a distinct mix identity was born in Montenegro.
Nikola Petanovic was completely an unknown person to the public eye and his works never widespread until the sovereingist and pro-independence movements
emerged in the 21st century with Montenegro promoting and justifying its secession from its state union with the Republic of Serbia
. An example is the Montenegrin Matrix
, which published the work of Gordan Stojović "Nikola Petanović - Crnogorsko Ogledalo" (Nikola Petanovich - The Montenegrin Mirror) that revealed the first facts about this historical figure to the Montenegrin public.
Montenegrin alphabet
The Montenegrin alphabet is the collective name given to "Abeceda" and "Азбука" writing systems used to write the Montenegrin language. It was adopted on 9 June 2009 by the minister of education of Montenegro, Sreten Škuletić and replaced the Serbian Cyrillic and Croatian Latin alphabets...
: Никола Петановић) (1892 - 29 January 1932) nicknamed "Naiad" was an American Montenegrin
Montenegrin American
Montenegrin Americans are citizens of the United States who are of Montenegrin ancestry. Also, the term "Yugoslavian American" may be preferred by people who identify with the former nation of Yugoslavia before its breakup during the early 1990s, and in 2006, Montenegro became independent from the...
emigrant, philosopher, writer, political publicist and fighter for 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...
's sovereignty and independence. He was one of the very few amongst the Montenegrin diaspora to achieve higher level education.
Early life
Nikola Petanovic was born in 1892 in the village of PodgorPodgór
Podgór is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kramsk, within Konin County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland.-References:...
in 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...
, Princedom of Montenegro. In 1912 he went moved to the United States of America at the call of his brother Mitar Petanovic, who already settled as a US citizen. Young Nikola studied English
English language
English 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...
in Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, then's largest Montenegrin emigration colony in the United States, and quickly became prolific in it. To support himself he worked on ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
es during the season, having little time for his studies in the libraries. For his nickname he chose "The Naiad", referring the mythological nymph that had the power of precognition
Precognition
In parapsychology, precognition , also called future sight, and second sight, is a type of extrasensory perception that would involve the acquisition or effect of future information that cannot be deduced from presently available and normally acquired sense-based information or laws of physics...
, implying that he will do the same for Montenegro. Afterwards, he moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and started his literary publicist career. In 1923 he published in San Francisco in Serbo-Croat his first work, the "Ponos života" ("Pride of Life"), a poetic philosophical novel. He was plagued by his poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
heavily until the end of his life, barely managing to make ends meet.
Political work
Upon hearing about the 1918 unification of Montenegro with the Kingdom of SerbiaPodgorica Assembly
The Podgorica Assembly , in full the Great National Assembly of the Serb People in Montenegro , was an assembly held in Podgorica that served as the representative body of the Montenegrin people during the...
, Nikola was gravely worried. Considering that Montenegro's sovereignty was unjustly extinguished, ever since 1924 he worked on the gathering of the post-WWI growing Montenegrin emigration's intelligence in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. He went forth publishing brochures and holding lectures about facts about 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...
, attempting to inform and unite the Montenegrin diaspora on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. In 1927 he formed a "Board for a Sovereign and Independent Montenegro" and met with a member of the House of Petrović-Njegoš
House of Petrovic-Njegoš
The House of Petrović-Njegoš was the Royal House of Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. Montenegro had enjoyed de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire from 1711 but only received formal international recognition as an independent principality in 1878.Montenegro was ruled from inception by...
with same Montenegrin sovereignist ideas, Milo Petrović. He became the Editor in Chief of the Board's political magazine, the "Montenegrin Mirror", which spread the word in English propagating the creation of an independent Montenegro from the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He chose the name as an ironic protest to one of the major works of the Montenegrin writer Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
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...
, the "Serb Mirror" (Огледало српско). In 1929 Nikola expanded cooperation with Prince Milo forming with him, freedom fighters Krsto Zrnov Popović
Krsto Žrnov Popovic
Captain Krsto Todorov-Zrnov Popović was one of the leaders of 1919 Christmas Uprising in Montenegro against Serbian dynasty Karađorđević, organized by the greens , followers of dethroned King Nikola and Montenegrin dynasty Petrović-Njegoš...
and Marko Zekov Popović, and former regent Evgenije Popović
Evgenije Popovic
Evgenije Popović was a Montenegrin statesmen, journalist, diplomat, politician, writer and editor....
the "Montenegrin National Committee" in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
bent on uniting the whole Montenegrin emigration. The Committee published the brochure "The Greatest Crime in History" defining that there has been never a worse crime in the history of mankind from the total annexation of Montenegro by Serbia. Petanovic saw in prince Milo a possible new monarch of a restored Montenegrin kingdom and dedicated to him a poem: "The Royal Heritage will be Restored; The Sun shall Smile upon Montenegro once again".
Petanovic attempted to use influential people to affect the American public opinion and authorities to liken the idea of a sovereign Montenegro, which would be under a US protectorate. Nikola had already perceived the United States' bright future as one of the leading nations in world. The US State Department never paid heed to his calls however, because they considered the unification legal, legitimate and unquestionable. Petanovic's desires to conduct a free democratically-held referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in the territories of the once Montenegrin realm that would decide if it would stay in Yugoslavia or regain independence on the basis of the, popular in the Western World, self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
, in this case that of the Montenegrin People, reached a moot end gaining no support.
During this period his most important work is the "Troslavia and five small Slavic nations", an ironic depiction of the Yugoslavian kingdom supporting the proposals of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
for breakup of the South Slavic country and establishment of several Slavic mini-nations at the coast of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
under Italian influence. Nicholas was one of the few who already also depicted the Macedonians
Macedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
as a distinct people as well. His other significant works were "Without Homeland", referring to the Montenegrin people, the "Naiad" and "Dayan". Petanovic saw the origins of Montenegro in ancient Doclea
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
and claimed that the specific ethno-genetic makeup in the ethnogenesis of Illyrian
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
blood, which allegedly made the Slavs living in what was once Montenegro far closer to the Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, was sufficient enough for them to be proclaimed as a distinct ethnic group, akin but not identified directly with the 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...
themselves - in this claim laid as the basis for Petanovic's desire to ask for national self-determination of the Montenegrins. Although not essentially a historian, Nikola touched the historical subjects claiming that the Slavic people appeared in the territories of Montenegro only in the 9th century in its ethnic form and through mixing with the local populations, claimed that a distinct mix identity was born in Montenegro.
Death and legacy
In 1931 Nicholas Petanovich withdrew from public life and abandoned his activities on promoting Montenegro's independence, claiming he was fighting a completely lost cause. He died on 29 January 1932 in his 40th year due to poor health caused by his unhealthy lifestyle, never marrying nor having children because of his virtually non-existent social life. With his death the Montenegrin Mirror stopped being published and the Montenegrin Committee was disbanded. He was buried at the Kolma cemetery just outside of SF.Nikola Petanovic was completely an unknown person to the public eye and his works never widespread until the sovereingist and pro-independence movements
Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
emerged in the 21st century with Montenegro promoting and justifying its secession from its state union with the Republic of Serbia
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. An example is the Montenegrin Matrix
Matica crnogorska
Matica crnogorska is a Montenegrin cultural institution. The name can be literally translated into English as the "Montenegrin queen bee," which is a metaphor meaning "the parent body of the Montenegrins."...
, which published the work of Gordan Stojović "Nikola Petanović - Crnogorsko Ogledalo" (Nikola Petanovich - The Montenegrin Mirror) that revealed the first facts about this historical figure to the Montenegrin public.
Works
- Ponos Života (The Pride of Life), San Francisco (1923)
- Troslavia and Five Small Slavic Nations
- Naiad
- Dayan
Further reading
- Stojović, Gordan (2006). Nikola Petanović - Crnogorsko Ogledalo. Matica Crnogorska. Podgorica.