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This article is about a republic in South-East Europe. See also: Montenegro, Brazil or Montenegro, Colombia.
Република Црна Гора
Republika Crna Gora
Republic of Montenegro
Motto: None
Anthem: Oj, svijetla majska zoro
Location of Montenegro
Capital
and largest city
Podgorica
Official languagesMontenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian
GovernmentRepublic
Independence
• Water (%)
N/A
Population
• 2003 estimate
616,258 (164th if ranked)
GDP (PPP)2005 estimate
• Total
$1.91 billion (167th if ranked)
• Per capita
$3,100 (117th if ranked)
HDI (N/A)N/A
Error: Invalid HDI value (N/A)
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Calling code381
ISO 3166 codeME
Internet TLD.yu

Montenegro [ˈmɔntɛnɛːgrɔ], officially the Republic of Montenegro (Serbian: Crna Gora, Црна Гора) is a republic in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea. By its constitution, Montenegro is defined as a "democratic, welfare, and ecological state" [1]. Montenegro is set to become the world's newest independent state after Montenegrins voted for independence in a 2006 referendum.

Crna Gora translates literally to "black mountain", a reference to the dark forests that once covered the slopes of the Dinaric Alps as seen from the coast [2]. The country's name in most Western European languages, including English, reflects an adoption of the Venetian term monte negro which also means black mountain. Other languages use their own direct translation of black mountain, including Albanian Mali i Zi, Greek: Μαυροβούνιο, Romanian: Muntenegru and Turkish:Karadağ.

Throughout a number of centuries Montenegro was a de facto independent principality ruled by a succession of dynasties and rulers. The country obtained de jure international recognition of its independence, following the Eastern Crisis (1875-1878), at the Congress of Berlin. On 28 August 1910, Montenegro's ruler Prince Nikola Petrović-Njegoš proclaimed himself King. In 1918, Montenegro's Serb-approved legislature, sitting in Podgorica, voted for Montenegro to become part of Serbia. Montenegrins loyal to King Nicholas rebelled in 1919 and were suppressed by 1924 by the Serbian Army.

Between 1945 and 2003, Montenegro was a Republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and later the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Until 2006 it was one of two constituent states of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. On May 21 2006, Montenegro held a referendum to determine whether or not to terminate the union with Serbia. The next day, state-certified results showed voters favoring independence, with 55.4% of voters in favor, just above the 55% mandate required by the referendum.

History

Main article: History of Montenegro
File:Principalities02.png
Duklja in the 10th century

The Slav tribes mixed with Illyrians, Avars, and Romans organized into a semi-independent dukedom of Duklja by the 10th century. In 1077, Pope Gregory VII recognized Duklja as an independent state, acknowledging its King Mihailo (Michael) (of the Vojisavljević dynasty founded by nobleman Stefan Vojislav) as rex Docleae (King of Duklja). The kingdom, however, paid tribute to the Byzantine Empire; it gave birth to the later medieval kingdom of Serbian Grand Prince (Template:Lang-sr) Stefan Nemanja, who originated from Duklja.

The Principality of Zeta (which more closely corresponds to the early modern state of Montenegro) asserted itself towards 1360. The House of Balšić (1360s–1421) and the House of Crnojević (1421–1499) dynasties ruled Zeta; and though the Ottoman Empire controlled the lands to the south and east from the 15th century, it never fully conquered Zeta.

In 1516, the secular prince Đurađ Crnojević abdicated in favor of the Archbishop Vavil, who then formed Montenegro into a theocratic state under the rule of the prince-bishop (vladika) of Cetinje, a position held from 1697 by the Petrović-Njegoš family of the Riđani clan. Petar Petrović Njegoš, perhaps the most influential vladika, reigned in the first half of the 19th century. In 1851 Danilo II Petrović Njegoš became vladika, but in 1852 he married, threw off his ecclesiastical character, assuming the title of knjaz (Prince), and transformed his land into a secular principality.

In 1910, Prince Nikola I became King of Montenegro. Two years later, in October, 1912, King Nikola declared war on the Ottoman Empire, precipitating the two Balkan Wars. The Montenegrin army attacked the Ottoman fortress city of Skutari, forced the empire to gather a large army in neighboring Macedonia. This Ottoman army was then attacked by the forces of Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria which entered the war by pre-arrangement. The result was a military disaster for the Ottomans, who were thrown back to an area north of Constantinople.

Montenegro emerged from the Balkan Wars doubled in size, receiving half of the former Ottoman territory known as the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, but without Skutari, the country's major prize in the war. The London Conference awarded Skutari to an independent Albania.

An allied power during World War I, Montenegro was occupied by Austro-Hungarian troops. In 1918, the Podgorica Assembly voted for joining Montenegro to Serbia. However, pro-independence Montenegrins revolted on Christmas Day, 1919 against Serbia. The revolt was supressed in 1924.

From 1919 to 1941, Montenegro was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During World War II, Montenegro was occupied by Italian troops and later German Axis troops (1941–1944). From 1945 to 1992, Montenegro was a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was during this time that the present capital Podgorica was known as Titograd.

After dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992 Montenegro went into federacy with Serbia firstly as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and later when federation of the two countries had loosened as Serbia and Montenegro.

On May 21 2006 Montenegro's citizens voted by referendum for independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, ending dissolution of former Yugoslavia's states. 55.4% voted for independence, just over the 55% the referendum required to succeed.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Montenegro
See also: List of cities in Montenegro
A detailed map of Montenegro
Municipalities of Montenegro

The principal cities and towns of Montenegro are:

Internationally, it borders Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.

The Montenegrin surface ranges from high peaks along its borders with Kosovo and Albania, a segment of the Karst of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only one to four miles wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, where Mount Lovcen and Mount Orjen plunge abruptly into the inlet of the Bay of Kotor.

Montenegro's vast Karst region lies generally at elevations of 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) above sea level — however some parts rise to 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) like Mount Orjen (1,894 m / 6,214 ft), the highest massif among the coastal limestone ranges. Zeta River valley is the lowest segment at an elevation of 500 meters (1,640 ft).

The rough mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrain in Europe. They average more than 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks is Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor mountain, which reaches a height of 2,522 meters (8,274 ft). The Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Montenegro


Demographics

Ethnic map of Montenegro according to the 2003 census
Main articles: Demographics of Montenegro and Demographic history of Montenegro

Ethnic composition according to the 2003 census:

NB: Montenegrin and Serb identities are not exclusive, and the size of each group varies with each census, due to political events and as people view themselves, on balance, as more one than the other. A "Montenegrin" may view himself as a "Serb" as well, and vice versa. In both groups there are also those who view themselves as belonging to one group exclusively.

Over 270,000 citizens of Serbia have Montenegrin citizenship. Around 69,000 of them are Montenegrins, while others are mostly Serbs.

In the constitution of Montenegro adopted in 1992, the official language of the republic was changed from Serbo-Croat to the Serbian of the Ijekavian standard. As of 2003, 63.5% of the population declare Serbian their mother tongue, while almost 22% declare Montenegrin language. The dialects used are the same, very similar to those used by Serbs, Croats, and Muslims in Bosnia and Croatia, with slight nuances.

Over 74% of Montenegrins are Eastern Orthodox Christians, adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church, although there is also the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. 110,000 Muslims make up 17.74% of Montenegro's population. They are divided into three main groups: ethnic Albanians, and Slavic Muslims split among Bosniaks, who speak Bosnian and Montenegrin Muslims, who prefer Serbian. Albanians are a separate group, speaking their Albanian (5.26%) and living mostly in the south-east, especially in Ulcinj, where they form the majority of the population. Bosniaks are Slavic Muslims speaking the Bosnian language and living mostly in the north. Finally, there are a few Croats and other Catholic inhabitants, who live mostly in the coastal areas, particularly the Bay of Kotor.

Union with Serbia

In the referendum on remaining in Yugoslavia in 1992, 95.96% of the votes were cast for remaining in the federation with Serbia, although the turnout was at 66% because of a boycott by the Muslim and Catholic minorities as well as of pro-independence Montenegrins. Proponents of independence claim that the poll was organized under undemocratic conditions, with widespread propaganda from the state-controlled media in favour of a pro-federation vote.

In 1996, Milo Đukanović's government severed de facto ties between Montenegro and Serbia (then still under Milošević). Montenegro formed its own economic policy and switched to using the Deutsche Mark as its currency as proposed by foreign economic advisors at the time. It currently uses the euro, though it is not formally part of the Eurozone. The Serbian Dinar is not legal tender in Montenegro and is only accepted at a few tourist resorts.

The current and previous government of Montenegro are carrying out pro-independence policies. Political tensions with Serbia still simmer regardless of the recent political changes in Belgrade.

In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro came to a new agreement regarding continued cooperation. In 2003, the Yugoslav federation was replaced in favour of a looser state union named Serbia and Montenegro and the possible referendum for Montenegro's independence was postponed for a minimum of three years.

This referendum took place in 2006 and was approved with a percentage of 55.4%, passing the threshold by just 0.4%.

Independence

The status of union of Montenegro with Serbia was decided by a referendum on Montenegrin independence on May 21, 2006 where 55.4% of voters voted for independence of Montenegro. That is just over the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum under rules set by the European Union.

Symbols

A new official flag of Montenegro was adopted on July 12 2004 by the Montenegrin legislature. The new flag is based on the personal standard of King Nikola I of Montenegro. It is all red with a gold border with a gold coat of arms of King Nikola I (the initials НІ are of King Nikola I in Cyrillic script).

The national day of 13 July marks the date in 1878 when the Congress of Berlin recognised Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world and the start of the first popular uprising in Europe against the Axis Powers on 13 July 1941 in Montenegro.

In 2004, the Montenegrin legislature selected a popular Montenegrin folk song, "Oh the Bright Dawn of May", as the national anthem. Montenegro's official anthem during the reign of King Nicholas was Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori (To our beautiful Montenegro). The music was composed by the King's son Knjaz Mirko. The Montenegrin popular anthem has been Onamo, 'namo! since King Nicholas I of Montenegro wrote it in the 1860s.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Montenegro.

Official websites

General information

Tourist guides

Miscellaneous

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