by 
 |
| Montenegro (lower left corner) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio%C4%8De_derailment |
Ancient Illyrians first settled the land now called Montenegro in the 1000s BCE. These peoples formed alliances with their neighbors (i.e. Macedonians, Albanians), and eventually came under the influence of the Hellenic world. The Romans pushed themselves into the territory and officially gained control of it in 168 BCE (the last Illyrian king, Gentius, was ousted from power). Many notable Roman Emperors came from this hardy province (called Dalmatia) including Cladius Gothicus, Aurelian, and Probus.
 |
| Aurelian Rule 270-275 CE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelian |
After the Roman Empire fell in 476 CE, Dalmatia was occupied by the feisty Ostragoths. The Slavs (a group from North of the Danube River) were forced into the Illyrian areas after the Avars, a fierce, nomadic tribe from central Asia, invaded their territory. Two groups of Slavs settled along the Adriatic Sea: the Croats and the Serbs. Some of the first Slavic kingdoms arose in 9th century CE, including Raska, Duklja, and Zeta. Zeta would become a large trading area with different families vying for control over it. In the 14th century CE, the Turks (from the Ottoman Empire) and the Venetians each tried to successfully take control of Montenegro. The land was situated perfectly between the west and east, and was located on the opportune Adriatic Sea. In the 1470s, the Turks officially came to control most of the Balkan region, and it was under the reign of Durad (one of the remaining Crnojević clans) that Montenegro’s name came into existence. In the region, Mt. Lovcen dominated the landscape; Venetian sailors said it looked like a “black mountain”, hence “monte-negro.”
|
|
Mount Lovcen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lov%C4%87en |
However, the people of Montenegro retained a certain degree of autonomy from the Ottoman Empire (more than their neighboring Serbs did). Napoleon briefly intervened in the affairs of the Montenegrins in 1797, but withdrew when he was finally toppled. In 1878, the Congress of Berlin officially granted Montenegro and Serbia freedom from the Ottoman Empire (they had rebelled along with Bosnia and Herzegovina). Nikola, a Montenegrin prince, became increasingly autocratic after his kingdom had won its independence–he officially became king in 1910.
|
|
King Nikola http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_I_of_Montenegro |
Balkan Wars, WWI, WWII
|
|
Milo Đukanović http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_%C4%90ukanovi%C4%87 |
In 1991, Milo Đukanović became the prime minister of Montenegro and wanted to improve standards of living/open his country up to Western ways. In 2006, the Montenegrins became independent citizens and the new country continues to further western ideals; they even want to be part of the European Union! The current president is Filip Vujanovic; the capital is Podgorica.
|
| Kotor, Montenegro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotor |