King Nikola I Petrović Njegoš occupies a special place in the history of the Serbian and Montenegrin people—as a ruler, military leader, poet, and statesman who shaped the destiny of Montenegro for nearly half a century. Born on October 19, 1841, in Njeguši, Nikola grew up in the spirit of the glorious Petrović dynasty, which had carried the torch of freedom and statehood for the small, but proud, Montenegro through the centuries.
He ascended the throne in 1860, following the assassination of his uncle, Prince Danilo I. Young and inexperienced, but of firm character, Prince Nikola found the country poor and exhausted by wars, but determined to defend its independence. During his reign, Montenegro, step by step, grew from a tribal community into a modern European-style state. He introduced the first laws, opened schools, encouraged literacy, and established a regular army. His motto was clear—”For the honorable cross and the golden freedom.”
Nikola was also a skilled diplomat. He knew how to balance the interests of the Great Powers, especially Russia and Austro-Hungary, striving to secure the most favorable position for Montenegro. In the wars against the Ottoman Empire, especially in the famous battles of Vučji Do and Fundina, the Montenegrin army won victories that resonated throughout Europe. By the Congress of Berlin in 1878, Montenegro was finally recognized as an independent state—a historical moment that marked the peak of his policy.
In 1910, on the fiftieth anniversary of his reign, Prince Nikola proclaimed himself King. With this, Montenegro gained its first and only royal throne. Although already advanced in years, King Nikola continued to dream of the unification of all Serbs, believing that small Slavic nations could only survive in unity. However, fate was not kind to him. After the First World War, in 1918, Montenegro entered into a union with Serbia and the other South Slavic nations, and King Nikola was deposed and went into exile in France.
He died on March 1, 1921, in Antibes, far from his beloved country, but with the faith that his people would preserve what he had created throughout his life—freedom and dignity. His remains were transferred back to Montenegro in 1989, where they now rest in the Cetinje Monastery, alongside his ancestors.
King Nikola left behind a rich legacy—not only in history but also in culture. He wrote poems and dramas, many of which were permeated with patriotism and faith in the people. He was called the “Father-in-law of Europe” because his daughters were married to many European princes and kings, which brought Montenegro closer to the European courts than ever before.
In national memory, King Nikola remains as a ruler who united tradition and modernity, the saber and the pen, faith and the state. His work testifies to a time when the ideals of freedom and honor were more important than borders and politics—a time when Montenegro, under his leadership, became a symbol of resistance and pride for the entire Serbian people.
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Source: Wikipedia, Foto: ZIPAPHOTO / Borislav Zdrinja