Duklja

The territorial basis for all further phases in Montenegro's development as a state and political organization was the Slavic social community of Duklja (Doclea, the name originates from the name of the ancient Roman town near Podgorica which had the same name as the Illyrian tribe Dokleati). "Sclavinia", as it was referred to by the Byzantines, was formed at the beginning of the 7th century on the territory of the previous Roman province Prevalis, within the borders and under the formal sovereignty of the Byzantine Empire. With the arrival of the Slavs and after they had formed their own state, the democratic structure and the overall situation of the province Prevalis was fundamentally changed. Duklja was formed in a geographically and historically compact region, which included the broader basin of the Skadarsko Lake surrounded by mountain regions.

At the end of the 10th century, the Byzantine Empire granted Duklja the status of an independent state and Vladimir became the first "knez" (duke) of Duklja. In the year 1040 the people of Duklja acquired the independence of their state, which became a kingdom in 1077 named Zeta. Accordingly Zeta (the name originates from the Slavic phrase "zeteoci", which was brought from the mother land of the Slavs: Polablje - East Germany) was one of the first states on the Balkans that acquired its independence.

Zeta

After the death of the first ruler from the dynasty - Vladimir I Vojisavljevic, Zeta was confronted with constant political conflicts and disunity among the nobility concerning the issue of who was to sit at the throne. This caused the Byzantine Empire to predominate again and in 1185 Zeta was conquered by the Serbian State of Raska and its ruler Nemanja the Great.

After having annexed the "Kingdom of Doiklicija and the Kingdom of Dalmacija" to their state, the Nemanjici did not change the order that had been previously established in their independent life, which had been developed as a specific state tradition. In the second half of the 14th century Zeta became independent under the rule of the dynasties of Balsici and Crnojevici, and separated from the Serbian state. Afterwards it became an independent feudal state. The Dynasty Balsici had achieved significant territorial expansion by constant battles against the neighboring Albanians, Bosnians and Serbians, as well as against the Venetians and Turks who were becoming more and more powerful.

The rise of the Crnojevici Dynasty

With the rise of the Crnojevici Dynasty, Zeta, that is Crna Gora (Montenegro) was organized as a state the social order of which was a mixture of feudal and tribal elements. During that period, the attacks of the Turks became more frequent and more powerful and consequently the territory of the Montenegrin state became smaller and the population withdrew towards the Mountain Lovcen massif. Ivan Crnojevic chose Cetinje to be his new seat and he built a palace and monastery there. Cetinje became the capital of the reduced Montenegro and the spiritual and stately center of the Montenegrin liberation forces in the next five centuries. During the reign of his son Djuradj, the first printing house among the South Slavs was established in Cetinje in 1493, and the first book on the Balkans in the Cyrillic letter, called "Oktoih", was printed in 1494. After the short reign of Djuradj Crnojevic Montenegro was conquered by the Turks in the year 1496.

During the strengthening of Petar I Petrovic on the throne, who was according to the opinion of the majority the most important character in Montenegrin history, Montenegro was making large steps towards its independence. Especially after great victories over the more powerful Turkish army, the Turkish influence in Montenegro was completely eliminated and it, de facto, became an independent and autonomic state. Thanks to Petar I, Montenegro overcame its long-term crises. He was the one to unite the Montenegrins and their tribes. The influence and connections with the Montenegrin coastal population, which was under the Austrian domination, were strengthened. During the reign of Petar I, laws were passed on the basis of which the traditional tribal organization of the state was abandoned and a new basis was created for the organization of a modern state with authorities organized like in other European countries, with which Montenegro gained reputation throughout Europe. Njegos's efforts in establishing the borders (like the ones envisaged by the Agreement with Austria from 1841), have made the powerful countries tacitly recognize Montenegro as a truly independent state with acknowledged borders and territory.

His successor king Danilo was more Western Europe orientated. This contributed to the formal recognition of the sovereignty of Montenegro after the great military victory over the Turks on the Grahovo battlefield in 1858 and then after the establishment of the Montenegrin state borders that were acknowledged by the representatives of the powerful countries at the Conference in Constantinople in the year 1858. 

King Nikola I Petrovic

During the period of the Eastern crisis from the year 1875 until 1878, when Montenegro under the reign of King Nikola achieved great victories over the Turkish army, some of its political goals were accomplished. These goals were full international recognition at the Congress in Berlin, regaining the coastal towns of Bar and Ulcinj back and returning the towns of Podgorica, Niksic and Kolasin within the boundaries of Montenegro. Montenegro also expanded territorially and became more economically powerful and increased its population as well. During this expansion both the government and the army showed tolerance towards the citizens, so a great number of both Albanian and Muslim citizens continued to live in Montenegro enjoying all rights while their leaders were appointed to take over important governmental and military positions. The small Montenegrin population which has, through constant struggles and battles, opposed the Turkish Empire on the Balkans for centuries and preserved its freedom and autonomy, won the sympathy and supports of the whole of Europe. This, among other things, enabled Montenegro to proclaim itself a Kingdom in the year 1910.

Montenegro in the 20th century

Montenegro joined Serbia and the allies in World War I right after its declaration. After surrendering to the Austro-Hungarians in 1916, King Nikola Petrovic and his government left the country and went to exile in Italy and afterwards to France. From here they succeeded neither in imposing themselves as partners in the peace conference negotiations, nor in promoting their project of a federal state organization and uniting the South Slavs on equal basis. In the year 1918, Serbia annexed Montenegro and it lost its sovereignty, army and dynasty. Though Montenegro was a victorious country and ally during the War, it was not successful in fighting the plans and interests of Serbia and some powerful countries, and after centuries its name disappeared for the first time from the political map of Europe.

During this period, expectations for economic development and transformation of the whole Montenegrin society were not fulfilled, so it remained the most undeveloped region of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The regime of the Kingdom tried to repulse the growing dissatisfaction because of the economic, political and national situation and rights in Montenegro with dictatorship and with strong, sometimes even bloody, and repressive measures.

Just after World War II had begun, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia collapsed before Germany and Italy. The freedom-loving tradition of the Montenegrin people was also showed in the national uprising against the Italian occupier on July 13th, 1941. This uprising was a unique example in Europe because of its extension and solidarity, and it has also greatly contributed to the antifascist battle in Yugoslavia. During World War II the antifascist movement reestablished the constitutional and legal status of Montenegro. It became one of the six Republics in the new Yugoslav Federation.