Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MONTENEGRO: Was Montenegro an Independent State and King

Nicholas a Sovereign?
Author(s): Marcellus Donald A. R. von Redlich
Source: Social Science, Vol. 6, No. 3 (July, 1931), pp. 231-243
Published by: Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23907714
Accessed: 22-10-2016 05:24 UTC

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted
digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about
JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at
http://about.jstor.org/terms

Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences is collaborating with JSTOR to
digitize, preserve and extend access to Social Science

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 SOCIAL SCIENCE
Edited by Leroy Alien

Vol. VI July, 1931 NO. 3

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MONTENEGRO

Was Montenegro an Independent State and King Nicholas a Sovereign?
By Marcellus Donald A. R. von Redlich

They rose to where their sovran eagle sails,

They kept their faith, their freedom, on the height,
Chaste, frugal, savage, arm'd by day and night
Against the Turk; whose inroad nowhere scales
Their headlong passes, but his footstep fails,
And red with blood the Crescent reels from fight
Before their dauntless hundreds, in prone flight
By thousands down the crags and through the vales.
0 smallest among peoples! rough rock-throne
Of freedom! Warriors beating back the swarm
Of Turkish Islam for five hundred years,
Great Tzernagora! Never since thine own
Black ridges drew the cloud and brake the storm
Has breathed a race of mightier mountaineers.
"Montenegro," Lord Tennyson.

It is said that the forces of evil are
always at work and that the noise which
they make and the panoply of their
bearing is always much greater than
their position deserves. This most as
suredly has been the case in the
"Tragedy of the Balkans." The forces
of iniquity have done all in their power
to crush the last vestige of national life into exile in France in the early days of
in Montenegro. Even in this hour,
twelve years after the Armistice was
signed, the forces of viciousness are go
ing about sowing seeds of unrest and
maintaining veritable propaganda of
diabolical untruths concerning Mon
tenegro.
Many things have been said, number
less pages have been written, and mul
titudinous volumes have been printed
concerning Montenegro since the days
of 1912, and, somehow, strange to re
late, there seems to be the existing idea
that King Nicholas I surrendered his
sword, abdicated his throne, and went
1916, and that the King and the Mon
tenegrin Government lost all sovereign
rights in 1916. There are also some per
sons claiming that the King of Monten
egro was not sovereign and that Mon
tenegro was not an independent country
and was never recognized as such. That
231

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
232 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931

such is not the case, and could not be the Balkan peninsula where, through
the case will be definitely proven in thethe next few decades, it firmly rooted
course of this discussion. The purpose itself in the territory that lies between
of this article is to recite briefly the the Danube river and the Adriatic Sea.
history of this fearless little nation, de At first, the invaders formed themselves
finitely to prove that Montenegro was aninto a confederacy of states under Zup
independent country and King Nicholas ans, or feudal princes, who were nomin
I a sovereign, that there was no abdica ally the vassals of the Greek Emperor.
tion on the part of the late King Nich The cradle of the Serbian race in the
olas I, and that no negotiations for peninsula of which Scutari had first been
separate peace were ever carried on by the capital, the principality of Zeta
King Nicholas I during the World War. originally included Herzegovina, Cat
Of all the records and traditions of taro, Scutari, and Montenegro. This
wars upon this mortal plane, there have state of affairs continued until the year
been none more glorious and spectacular of 1356, which marked the end of the
than those of Montenegro; her records Nemanj a dynasty. After the death of
of glorious achievement are not excel the Serbian Tzar, Dushan, in the year
led even by the much praised patriots 1356,of his feudal lords became indepen
Marathon and Thermopylae. "A coun dent once again and the powerful Balsha
try that is set on a hill cannot be hid," family, said to be of French extraction,
so said a distinguished Montenegrin of came from Baux, of Anjou, to establish
ficer in referring to his native country. a dynasty in Zeta.
Her entire history in the annals of a In the defeat of 1389 at the battle of
long and glorious struggle against theKossova, the Montenegrins, under the
Turk, and the history of her military leadership of George Balsha, defied the
achievements is a triumph of a moun arms of Islamism and entrenched them
tain race against tremendous odds. selves in the mountains. In 1421, the
The battle of Kossovo on June 28, Balsha family became extinct and a new
1389, saw the beginning of Montenegro; dynasty was founded by Stephen Tzer
it was on the occasion of the defeat of novitch, a relation of George Balsha
the Serbians by the Turks. Of all the and sometime regent of the Principality
battles of the world, none were more of Montenegro. He established his cap
bloody; the leaders of both armies were ital on the northeast side of lake Scutari
slain. Even prior to this date, however, at a place which he named Zhabliak.
in the early centuries, during the reign With his noble kinsman, the famous
of Augustus, Montenegro was included Albanian hero Scanderbeg, he fought
in the provinces of the Roman Empire. many decisive battles against the Turks.
Montenegro went through many days of At first, he assumed the title of Voivoda
constant changes between the empires (Duke) of Zeta; within a period of
of the East and West. Its conquest by twelve years he defeated the Turks in
the Ostrogoths toward the end of the no less than sixty-three battles. With
fifth century is only the beginning ofthe conquest of Serbia in 14-59, of Bos
the record of the fortunes and misfor nia in 1463, of Herzegovina in 1476, and
tunes of the Montenegrins. In the sixth
of Albania in 1478, the "People of the
and seventh centuries there was a great
Black Mountains," the Montenegrins,
series of migrations in what is now found themselves completely segregated
known as the Balkans, and, in the lat from the rest of the world. In 1484,
ter part of the seventh century, a Serbo
they set fire to Zhabliak, the capital, to
Croat branch of the great Slavonic famprevent it from falling into enemy
ily previously entrenched in the country
hands, and retired to the fastnesses of
around the river Don descended into
the mountains, establishing their capital

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MONTENEGRO 233

at Cettinje. Here, Ivan, the Porte,

ruling
placed chief,
his Montenegrin suffragan
set up a printing press, established a in the equivocal position of seeming to
famous monastery, and founded a divide his temporal allegiance between
bishopric in order to have the spiritual his own Gospodar and the Sultan. This
as well as civil power represented in ambiguous arrangement was swept
the governmental head. away by the new arrangement under
With the extinction of the dynasty in which the bishops were elected by the
1516, the era when Montenegro was at chieftains of the clans, in place of being
its lowest ebb, George V married a arbitrarily nominated by their hierarch
Venetian lady; she, being dissatisfied ial superior, from whom they hence
with the rough and rigorous life lived in forth received the religious investiture
the Black Mountains, induced him to re only.
tire and go to Venice. Despite his defec 4. It assimilated the peoples of the
tion toward Montenegro, he had the Black Mountains with the other Chris
welfare of his native land at heart; he, tian races of the Balkans by grouping
therefore, appointed Bavylas, the Bish them around a Bishop-Prince, and so
op of Cettinje, as the Chief of the tended to make for mutual intercourse.
Tribes. The election of a bishop to this Again, it enabled Montenegro to place
high office inaugurated a long line of the great struggle in which she was en
Prince-Bishops, combined the spiritual gaged on a loftier plane than it had
with the temporal powers in a single previously occupied, and to claim that,
person, and established a system of in aiming at the emancipation of all of
government ruled over by Vladikas, or her oppressed brethren, and the libera
Prince-Bishops, which was best calcul tion of the Christian religion in the
ated to preserve Montenegrin independ Balkans, she had become the protagon
ence and sovereignty. This new system ist of a cause infinitely greater than
had four distinct advantages: that of her own individual independ
1. It established definitely a nobility ence.

class in Montenegro, and the sovereign This system was not as theocratic as
ty of the ruler was placed on a perman it might seem at first. It will readily be
ent basis. recognized that some of the attributes of
2. It brought civil discord to an end,power would hardly be consistent with
the person invested with supreme power the character and office of a prelate of
having a hereditary position, the ap the church. These in practice were as
pointment passing from uncle to nephsumed by an official known as a Civil
ew, a status which the ambitious Governor, whose duty it became to
civil chieftains never could hope to at watch over the national defense and to
tain. It precluded all likelihood of be in command of the troops in time of
treason on the part of the head of the war. This dual system worked in Mon
State, who, by reason of his holy office, tenegro over three hundred years. For
was morally certain to prove superior many years the office of Civil Governor
to all appeals to turn traitor and desert was hereditary in the noble family of
his people. Radonitch. It became extinct, however,
3. It abolished the last vestige of with the banishment of Vouko Radon
Ottoman suzerainty over Montenegro, a who had intrigued to overthrow
itch,
suzerainty more dangerous because it Vladika Peter II.
was occult and indirect. Under the old The dawn of the eighteenth century
arrangement, the Bishop of Cettinje found Turkey in controversy with her
was not only consecrated but actually enemy of the ages, Austria, as well as
nominated by the Patriarch of Ipek; the Russians. The Montenegrins, think
fact that he himself was a subject of ing
the it more prudent to have as the chief

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
234 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931
ruler of their native land "a chief who to the fact that it was under the reig
was not only the preacher of a crusade of Vladika Danilo that rights of absolu
but a veritable sovereign, possessed of a sovereignty for Montenegro had their
genuine civil and political character," foundation and inception.
decided to put into operation the The succession of the line of the
hereditary principle on the theocratic ruling house of Montenegro dates back
system. Having this very thing in mind, to 1697, and negotiations as well as an
they tendered the throne of Montenegro exchange of envoys and visitations with
to Danilo Petrovitch, of Niegosh, a other nations began long before the year
small village about equi-distant from 1717. In the Treaty of San Stefano and
Cattaro and Cettinje. Danilo Petrovitch the Congress of Berlin, in 1878, termin
descended from Herzegovina. His ating the war between Russia and Tur
father and mother had been banished key, Montenegro was treated and recog
from that land and had migrated to nized as an independent nation.
Montenegro. At first, Danilo Petrovitch Danilo was succeeded by his nephew
argued that he was too young, for, at the
Sava, who was of a retiring disposition,
very foundation of the new system, hepreferring the confines and quiet of the
was not willing to take holy orders andmonastery to the many and onerous
thus assume the vow of celibacy. This duties of the ruling prince. He made a
was to be a regular succession, as the visit to the court of Empress Catherine
crown would pass from uncle to nephew.of Russia in 1739. He delegated most of
In 1697, he was finally prevailed upon his power to his nephew Vassili, who
to accept the throne but was not con had a very great care for the progress
secrated until the year 1700. Monten of his people so that they might never
egro was thus established on a definite again return to barbarism. He made
basis as a sovereign principality. Mon three visits to Russia to obtain money
tenegro, even previous to the year 1700, and aid in the extension of educational
was a sovereign state with full sover facilities among his beloved people.
eign rights. Danilo, who was able to Peter I, the greatest of the Vladikas,
impress upon his people that he was well reigned from 1782 to 1830; he was a
qualified and capable of ruling Monten nephew of Vassili. Peter I was a man
of simple habits and of iron will. He
egro, during his tenure of forty years,
was able to do great and constructivebegan the reorganization of the intern
things for his country and people. One
al workings of his government. In 1796,
of the great outstanding events of his he promulgated a new code of laws,
reign was his capture, when he was held known as the Thirty-three Articles,
for ransom by Demir Pasha. This was and, in 1821, he established an elabor
done as a reprisal for the Massacre of ate system of police throughout the na
the Moslems in the Montenegrin prin tion. He may be credited with having
cipality on the occasion of the "Mon introduced Montenegro into the full
tenegrin Vespers," on Christmas Eve of orbit of European life. His troops took
1703. It was also marked as the begin part in the war of Austria and Russia
ning of very cordial relationships be against the Turks only to be abandoned
tween the Principality of Montenegro by his Allies. This did not cause him or
and Russia. In 1710, Milo Radonitch, his troops to quail in the least for, in
the Russian Envoy, made a visit to Vlad 1796, Peter I was able to put the Turk
ika Danilo at Cettinje. This visit was to rout in the battle of Kroussa. Be
returned by Danilo when he went to tween 1806 and 1813 he rejected the en
Russia to be the guest of Peter the ticing offer of Napoleon Bonaparte to
Great in 1715. At this point it might be become the Patriarch of Dalmatia; this
well to call the attention of the reader refusal angered the Emperor so much

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OP MONTENEGRO 235

that he cried out in revenge and pro quiesced in the proposal. But the Turk
nounced threats and slaughter, swearingish Sultan knew that the division of the
he would lay waste to Montenegro and spiritual from the temporal rule would
destroy the Black Mountains until they sever the last tie between Turkey and
would become Monte RossaRed Moun Montenegro. He refused to recognize
tains. But Waterloo came and Napol the new political status even though
eon's word became a mere murmur. Austria and Russia had given such
Peter I was succeeded by Peter II recognition. In the ensuing war, Dan
who, at the time of accession, was not ilo II defeated the Turkish troops at
yet eighteen years of age. He was a Ostrog in 1853. Austria, not desirous
giant of six feet and eight inches in of stirring up the ire of Russia, soon
stature and was the poet, scholar and re
intervened and brought this latest
former of Montenegro. His master
struggle between the Ottoman Empire
piece in poetry was Gorski Vienatz, and
and Montenegro to a close.
his historical drama, Loutclia Mikrokoz
ma (The Light of Microcosm) is to the During the Crimean War, in which
Serbian and the Slav what La Divina the English and the French were
Comedia is to the Italian, or Milton's allies of the Turks, Danilo II resisted
Paradise Lost is to the Briton. He es the strong pro-Russian feeling of his
tablished the Senate of Montenegro, subjects and was able to maintain a
stamped out the vendetta, revised the strict neutrality. This was a most wise
printing press in Montenegro, and re decision for a ruler who desired to re
pressed thieving throughout the land. tain the friendship of two liberal pow
Dying when he was only thirty-nine ers of the West. Montenegro was re
years of age, he had the distinction of warded for its neutrality at the Con
being the last of the Vladikas. His bodygress of Paris, where the Ottoman Em
was interred on the Mount of Lovtchen, pire pleaded in vain for the annexation
of Montenegro as an integral part of
"that his spirit might look out upon and
safeguard his beloved land." Turkey. Napoleon III and the Tzar of
Danilo II, who was the nephew and Russia refused to recognize such a
suzerainty. Danilo, however, was un
successor of Peter II, was obsessed with
Western ideas and was not disposed to able to persuade the Conference at Paris
take holy orders; he therefore resolvedand the Powers to grant to Montenegro
to change the order of the succession of the port of Antivari or any change of
the ruling monarchs of Montenegro. the frontier. When Danilo visited Paris
He became engaged to be married and in 1857, Napoleon extended him all the
decided to accept the temporal power of courtesy, accorded him the honor of an
the nation and reject the spiritual power independent prince, and remained ad
which had been vested as one in all his amant in his contention that Danilo's
predecessors. He was able to persuade country should not be ceded to Turkey.
the Emperor of Austria to give recogni Open rebellion broke out in 1857 and
tion to his plan by paying a visit to the again the military wits of the Monten
court at Vienna. The Montenegrin Sen egrins were matched against the Turk
ate also gave its consent and legislated ish hordes. The Turks, who descended
the necessary change in the Constitution upon the Black Mountains without even
of Montenegro. Moreover the Tzar, the the formality of a declaration of war,
ancestral Head of the Orthodox Church, received such a crushing defeat at Grah
who had invested the Niegosh family ova that they soon sued for peace. The
with the right of being the ruling princes leader of the Montenegrin forces on this
of Montenegro, and furnished the here particular occasion was Mirko, "the
ditary Bishop Primate of the land, ac sword of Montenegro," father of the

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
236 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931

that: (1) no family was to enter the

late King Nicholas I and brother of
Danilo II. Principality without a passport; (2) no
At the meeting of the European Com
war material was to be brought into the
mission at Constantinople, the frontier country by way of the port of Antivari;
of Montenegro was rectified and the pro (3) Mirko Petrovitch was to be banish
vinces of Grahova, Rudina, and Lupa ed from Montenegro for life; and (4)
were ceded to the Principality of Mon the Turks were to be allowed to occupy
tenegro. the highroad from Herzegovina to
Danilo II had not much longer to rule Scutari, between the cities of Niksitch
his people prior to his untimely death, and Spuzh. The last two of these de
but he was able to put into force an mands, being a breach and infraction
amendment to the Code of Laws, which upon the sovereignty of Montenegro,
amendment guaranteed religious free were never put into force; Mirko Petro
dom and liberty to all of his subjects. vitch continued to live in his native land,
A shot from the gun of an assassin where he died in 1867; and the occupa
terminated the useful life of Danilo on tion of the highroad was never an ac
August 11, 1860. complished fact.
The good Prince Danilo II had intend Thereafter followed fourteen years
ed to settle the Montenegrin succession of peace. During this period, Prince
upon his male heirs, but his only off Nicholas I took advantage of the times
spring was a daughter. Thus, the iron of peace to build up the army, to estab
hand of fate ruled that once again Mon lish a system of education, and to give
tenegrin succession should pass from to Montenegrins, on St. George's Day of
uncle to nephew. Prince Nicholas I suc 1868, a Constitution. The Tzar of Rus
ceeded his uncle, Prince Danilo II, onsia, Emperor Napoleon III was the first
August 13th, 1860. He was nineteen to recognize the absolute independence
years of age when he ascended the of Montenegro. This occurred after a
throne and was the seventh reigning visit to the Emperor by the Prince
sovereign belonging to the famous dy Nicholas I in 1867.
nasty of Petrovitch Niegosh, whose On July 2, 1876, Prince Nicholas I de
family had ruled the country since theclared war on the Turks, and marched
seventeenth century. into Herzegovina, where he fought side
A Serbian statesman, Jean Ristitch, by side with his men. An armistice was
had styled Montenegro a "military concluded on November 1, 1876, by
camp;" Nicholas I styled his country which hostilities were suspended until
the "eagle's nest." Nicholas I was des June, 1877, when a march was made by
tined to make of this "military camp," the Turks on Spuzh, during which the
this "eagle's nest," a modern state. Turkish army lost almost half of its
Two months after his succession, men. Prince Nicholas I was able to
Prince Nicholas I was married to Milena conquer large parts of old Zeta, co
Voukotitch, the daughter of a great ed of the districts of Plava, Gusinje,
Montenegrin Voivoda, who had been Skadaorska
the Nahia, and the seaports of
brother in arms of Mirko, the father of Dulcigno, Antivari, and Spizza, and
Nicholas I. closed the campaign on January 31,
In 1862, another war opened between1878. By the Treaty of St. Stefano, of
the Turks and the Montenegrins; this March 3, 1878, Russia stipulated the en
time, the Turks were able to get the largement of Montenegro, which would
upper hand and were able to attempt almost
to treble her area. The Treaty of
dictate the terms of peace in the Con St. Stefano was not approved by the
vention of Scutari on August 31, 1862. Berlin Conference, which cut down the
The demands made by Turkey were Montenegrin area to 3,680 square miles

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OP MONTENEGRO 237

In 1910, according to the request of

and formally recognized Montenegro's
the Skupshtina, (Montenegrin Parlia
independence. Even this was not satis
factory to all parties concerned. The ment) the Principality of Montenegro
Conference of the Powers in Constantin was made a Kingdom and Prince Nich
ople during 1880 negotiated what is olas I became King Nicholas I. He com
known as the Corti Compromise, in memorated his golden jubilee as the
which Montenegro, by relinquishing its ruler of Montenegro; on August 15,
claims on Plava and Gusinje, was to be 1910, the elevation of the Princedom of
granted the Serbian Cijevna, including Montenegro to a Kingdom was pro
Podgoritza, Fundina, Spuzh, and Zhab claimed and King Nicholas I ascended
liak, the old capital of Ivan the Black. the throne, being crowned King of Mon
Later on, this treaty was further moditenegro.
fied so as to give Montenegro the port The proclamation of the Kingdom was
of Dulcingo. The Porte, although it as immediately greeted with great enthus
sented, did not recognize this treaty un iasm and recognized by all the rulers of
til a special ambassador was sent from Europe. King George V. was the first
England to Constantinpole and the fleets to send his congratulations, being fol
of the Powers under Admiral Seymour lowed by those of M. Fullieres, President
had made a demonstration off the shore of the French Republic, King Charles of
of Dulcigno. Roumania, King Peter of Serbia, King
From 1880 to 1910 there is little to be Albert of Belgium, King Victor Em
written about Montenegro, except that manuel of Italy, and the Tzar of Russia.
it continued as an independent state un At the same time, two French battle
der the absolute sovereign rule of Princeships anchored in the port of Antivari
Nicholas I. In 188B, Prince Nicholas I to salute the freedom of the only port on
visited Sultan Abdul Hamid, at Con the Adriatic which belonged to a Slav
stantinople, after which relations be nation. Fifty years prior to this hap
tween the two nations improved very pening, the French fleet under Admiral
much. In July, 1893, the four hundredth de la Graviere had conveyed to Prince
anniversary of the establishment of Danilo I the friendly salutations of
the printing press at Obod was com France. She was the first to salute the
memorated with a great celebration Montenegrin Kingdom.
throughout the Principality of Monten Trying times were coming for Mon
egro. In 1896, Prince Nicholas I at tenegro in particular and the entire
tended the coronation of Tzar Nicholas world. It was in 1911 that the French
II of Russia. The same year, Prince made an expedition into Morocco. Dur
Nicholas I celebrated the bi-centenary ing July of that year, the Anglo-German
of the Petrovitch-Niegosh dynasty, and crisis reached its height in the "Agadir
married his fourth daughter, Princess affair," which was to be followed by the
Elena, to the Crown Prince of Italy, thewar between Turkey and Italy in Trip
present King Victor Emmanuel III. In oli. This also brought unrest to the
May, 1898, Prince Nicholas I, upon Balkans. The Balkan League was in the
formal invitation, visited Queen Vic secret process of formation, the final
toria at Windsor Castle. In December agreement being reached in 1912. Tur
of 1900, Prince Nicholas I assumed the
key began to mass her troops in Thrace;
title of Royal Highness. the sinister shadow of the God Mars be
In 1905, Prince Nicholas I granted to gan to throw itself over the Balkan ter
Montenegro a new Constitution, in ac ritory. On October 8th, the Montenegrin
cordance with which was assembled the Kingdom declared war on Turkey. Mr.
first Montenegrin Parliament in Cet Gilbert K. Chesterton, writing of this
tinje, in October, 1906. affair, says:

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
238 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931

"In October of 1912, silent and seem "The same events which have occurred
ingly uninhabited crags and chasms in in Serbia threaten Montenegro. The de
the high western regions of the Balkans signs of Providence are not known to us,
echoed and re-echoed with a single shot. but let me tell you that Montenegro will
It was fired by the hand of a king, a always remain faithful, and, following
real king, who sat listening to his peo her traditions, will always prefer death
ple in front of his own house (for it was to slavery. Among all the riches of the
hardly a palace), and who in conse world, that which we hold most dear is
quence of his listening to his people, not liberty."
unfrequently imprisoned the politicians. On December 29, 1915, Colonel Pech
. . . He fired the first shot of the war, itch, the Serbian Chief of the Monteneg
which brought down into the dust the rin General Staff, as delegate of the
ancient empire of the Grand Turk." Serbian Army Supreme Command and
We shall not dwell upon all the hap of the Serbian Prime Minister, M. Pas
penings of the trying years of the Bal chitch, urged King Nicholas to ask the
kan struggle and the World War. De Austrians for a truce. At first, King
cember of 1912 saw an armistice in the Nicholas was not favorable but, at last,
Balkans; a treaty was proposed in Lon under great pressure, consented to ask
don. The following summer saw a re the Austrians for an armistice. The
terms of the armistice proposed by A
sumption of hostilities, the breaking up
of the Balkan League, and, with it, the tria exceeded those to which King Ni
attack by the Bulgarians upon her for olas could or would consent. Again
mer allies. This second war was of a pressure was brought to bear by Serbia
short duration; and in August 1913, demanding
the that King Nicholas sue for
Treaty of Bucharest was signed. This peace. An armistice was granted, but
was a Balkan victory. the peace terms proposed by Austria on
Austria declared war on Serbia in January 2, 1916, wherein terms were
August, 1914, and Montenegro stood advanced to the effect that Montenegro
loyally by Serbia, fighting until the verywas to give up all the territory occupied
last. Because of Montenegro's loyal by the Austrians, led to the severing of
stand in helping Serbia, it became one all negotiations by King Nicholas.
of the Allies; it was so recognized by the There was nothing left for the Mon
Allied Powers. The fall of Kouk on tenegrin Government and King Nicholas
January 8th, 1915, was the death blow but flight. To have remained in the
to the Montenegrin troops, who had de country another twenty-four hours
fended their fatherland with forces that would have meant certain capture by
were scarcely one-tenth the size of the the Austrians. The cry went up that
forces of their enemies. Kouk was suc King Nicholas had betrayed the Allies,
ceeded by the fall of Mount Lovtchen, but, in reality, at that moment he was
fleeing from the capital and boarding a
"the Gibraltar of the Adriatic," in De
vessel at San Giovanni di Medua.
cember, 1915, but this only accentuated
what was already a foreseen conclusion On the morning of January 19, 1916,
of a deadly struggle. Montenegro knew the following dispatch appeared as
the fate that was awaiting her after thedated from Rome:
fall of Serbia, but she had performed "Wireless messages received this
her duty and calmly awaited the fatal morning from Cettinje announce that
hour. King Nicholas I, who now saw the white flag has been hoisted at Gra
before him the vision of exile, also fore hova, where King Nicholas surrendered
saw the disaster, for in his proclama his sword to General Hertrees. The
tion of November 12, 1915, after the fall Montenegrin officers are in tears. Gen
of Serbia, he said: erals Mislovitch and Valutovitch refus

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MONTENEGRO 239

ed to surrender and have fled France

to jointo await
the action of the Allies in
Serbians." bringing about the correction of condi
The facts are that wireless messages tions in Montenegro. It should be
could not have come from Cettinje borne in mind that not only King
(Montenegro) since wireless service Nicholas but all of the Montenegrin gov
was no longer in operation. King ernment officials took up residence at
Nicholas could not have surrendered his Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris.
sword when he was embarking on a ves After the arrival of King Nicholas
sel to Italy that was being bombarded and his officials in France, Austria
by aeroplanes and submarines. The two made an overture to the Montenegrin
generals named in this so-called wire Government. This was done in Febru
less message never existed to any one'sary, 1916, through the Spanish Ambas
knowledge. sador in Rome and Prince Furstenberg
King Nicholas had been accused of the Austrian Ambassador in Madrid.
having signed a secret pact with Even though this offer was refused, it
Austria-Hungary. Not much logic is further proof that King Nicholas did
required to see the fallacy of such a not surrender his sword prior to his
statement. If there had been a secret departure from Montenegro, nor enter
treaty in existence, then why would into any secret peace pact. This is ad
Austria have imposed such impossible ditional proof of the fact that even his
conditions in the proposal of peace? enemy admitted his sovereignty by
Why would Austria have been so anx tendering an offer of peace.
ious to humiliate Montenegro to such That France recognized the sovereign
depths as to demand the surrender even ty of King Nicholas and the independ
of the members of the royal household? ence of Montenegro even in exile is
The preposterousness of this statement evidenced by the words of M. Briand,
is obvious. then Premier and Minister of Foreign
King Nicholas, on reaching Italian Affairs, who, when speaking of the ar
territory, on January 20, 1916, in a rival of King Nicholas and his officials,
telegram to General Yanko Voukotitch, said:
Commander-in-Chief of the Monteneg "The Government of the Republic was
rin armies, recapitulated his formal glad to welcome to French soil His
orders so as to do away with any un Majesty King Nicholas and his Govern
certainty : ment, and they may rest assured of the
"1. To oppose an energetic resist hospitality in accordance with our na
ance to the enemy. tional traditions, and of the warm
sympathy of the French people."
2. To effect a retreat in the direction
of the Serbian army, towards Durazzo, In March, 1916, King Nicholas re
of which the Serbian commanders had ceived at Bordeaux, M. Islavine, the
been informed. Russian Minister, who came to present
3. Not to enter into any pourparlersto King Nicholas his credentials as
of any kind under any pretext. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
4. The Prince, as well as the Govern Plenipotentiary of Russia accredited to
ment, ordered to follow the army in itsthe Court of Montenegro, even though
retreat. it was in exile on foreign soil.
5. The French Government will The Republic of France duly appoint
make the same arrangement for the ed and accredited a diplomatic repre
transport of the Montenegrin army to sentative to the Court of Montenegro,
Corfu as it made for the Serbian army." and Great Britain continued on a de
After a short stay in Italy, King finite basis the diplomatic relations with
Nicholas went to take up his sojourn in Montenegro by duly accrediting a

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
240 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931

British diplomatic representative to the

various treaties above mentioned, that
Court of Montenegro, even while diplomatic
King
relations existed between
Nicholas was in exile. The United' Montenegro and practically all other
States Government accredited Garrett nations, and such diplomatic relations
Droppers as Envoy Extraordinary and continued to exist until January 21,
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 1921, on which date the United States
States to the Court of Montenegro; Government cancelled the exequatur of
the Montenegrin Consul General in
Montenegro was formally and officially
represented in the United States by charge of Legation in the United States,
General Antoine Gvosdenovitch as Mon which facts tend to show that the Great
tenegrin Envoy Extraordinary and Powers Min recognized the absolute sover
ister Plenipotentiary accredited to eignty
the of King Nicholas even in exile.
United States, and later by Mr. William As early as 1918, while King Nicholas
Frederick Dix, Montenegrin Consul and the Montenegrin Government were
General in charge of the Montenegrinin exile in France, the Serbians on No
Legation in the United States. Most vember 20, 1918, held a sham election
of the other governments had formally in Montenegro. The Shouptchina (Par
and officially accredited diplomatic repliament) was in the main elected, as the
resentatives to the Court of Montenegro,Serbian Government desired, in a most
while such Court was in France. At the unheard of manner, and the expected
end of 1920, the French Government result, the repudiation of King Nicholas
formally abolished its diplomatic repre and a declaration of a union with
sentation to the Court of Montenegro Serbia, was duly obtained from the As
and announced the abolition of all diplosembly of Podgoritza. The Peace Con
matic and consular agents of Monten ference at Versailles annulled this res
egro accredited to France. After France olution and declaration. In the British
had done so, Great Britain followed suit,Parliament Lord Curzon, in March, 1920
suppressing all diplomatic relations made a similar declaration against such
with Montenegro. The United States a union, which practically pronounced
Government, on January 21, 1921, the resolution of the Assembly of Pod
notified the Montenegrin Consul General goritza null and void. As above shown,
in charge of Legation that it would be diplomatic relations continued between
necessary for the United States to re the Great Powers and King Nicholas
voke his exequatur and the United even after the declaration of the As
States would no longer accord him re sembly of Podgoritza; this relationship
cognition as a diplomatic and consular between the Great Powers and King
officer of Montenegro. Thus ended theNicholas automatically nullified the de
diplomatic relations between France claration of the Assembly of Podgoritza.
and Montenegro, and Great Britain and King Nicholas of Montenegro died in
Montenegro at the end of 1920, and be exile in March, 1921. Upon his death his
tween the United States and Monteneg eldest son, Prince Danilo, in the pres
ro on January 21, 1921. ence of the remnant of the Montenegrin
The above definitely proves beyond army, formally accepted the crown, only
any doubt whatsoever, that King to resign it five days later in favor of his
Nicholas was a descendent in a direct nephew Michael.
line from Danilo I, who first took up It was not until the meeting of the
the scepter of the Montenegrins in Council of Ambassadors in Paris in
1697, that Montenegro was a duly recog 1922, that the annexation by Serbia of
nized sovereign state in the full senseMontenegro was recognized as an ac
of the word, that Montenegro had been complished fact; therefore, under inter
treated as an independent state in the national law, Montenegro can only be

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OP MONTENEGRO 241

considered as a part of Serbia since the

the coronation oath had its counterpar
date of such declaration by in anthe
obligation
Councilowed the sovereign by
of Ambassadors in Paris; up to that his subjects. Laws, depending for their
time Montenegro was an absolute inde validity solely upon the will of the sov
pendent and sovereign state. This de ereign, ended with the phrase, "Quia sic
finitely proves that King Nicholas was nobis placuit."
a sovereign ruler of Montenegro until Let us now examine what constitutes
the day of his death, and his successor independence and sovereignty under in
or successors continued so until such ternational law.
declaration of the Council of Ambassa Dr. Berthold Singer in his book en
dors in France in 1922. titled International Law, states:
Many persons without any knowledge "The state, or political society, in its
of the facts and of law, especially abroadest
Mr. sense, may be defined as an
Arrigo Fraus Ritter von Wagner, form association of human beings established
erly president of the Austrian Senate, for the attainment of certain ends by
who prides himself on being an expert certain means. For the purpose of in
on international law and genealogy, andternational law a state may be defined to
a Mr. Karl Friedrich von Frank zu be a people having a fixed abode, united
Doefering, a self-styled and solely self by common laws and customs into a
recognized expert on genealogy and on body politic, and exercising, through
Montenegrin constitutional rights, and the agency of an organized government,
others in Europe and America, have, in control over all persons and things with
gross ignorance, or in bad faith, expres in its boundaries, and possessing cer
sed the ridiculous opinion that Monten tain powers to establish or modify in
egro was not sovereign, that King ternational relations with other political
Nicholas had no sovereign power or societies."
rights, and that his acts were null and"Sovereignty is the supreme power by
void. Since the question of whether which a state is governed, and this
Montenegro was an independent coun power may be exercised internally or
try and King Nicholas a sovereign ruler externally.
is a matter of international law and not "Independence, in a negative sense,
for genealogists to decide, it is prefer signifies the absence of any control or
able to examine the law and the opinions dictation exercised by other states."
of some of the best known experts on "The state and the government, al
international law, which will prove be though commonly accepted as synony
yond any doubt whatever that the con mous terms, in reality are different con
ceptions, the existence of one being in
tention expressed in this article is cor
rect, namely; that Montenegro was an dependent of that of the other. The
absolute sovereign state, and King overthrow of the government does not
Nicholas an absolute sovereign ruler up mean concurrent termination of a state;
to the date of his death, March, 1921, on the other hand, the state can not be
and that all of his acts are legal and recognized until a stable government
fully recognized under international has been inaugurated."
law. "A state is presumed to possess
An examination of the significant rights and duties, and consequently may
passages in Bodin's De Republica af possess property and have the right to
fords little warrant for the conclusion execute certain acts necessary for pre
that the author recognized no legal, serving and developing its existence and
merely moral, limitations on the king. therewith its independence . . .
Bodin clearly recognized that any "Nations are presumed to be equal,
obligation which might be appliedirrespective
from of size and strength. The

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
242 SOCIAL SCIENCE for JULY, 1931

relative power of sovereign states for and is not itself subject to any superior
the purpose of international law is of Government." According to J. Holmes,
no significance, each state being poss "The very meaning of sovereignty is
essed of the same rights and the same that the decree of the sovereign makes
duties and being bound to observe the law." Maine's International Laic con
same obligations. The relative magni tains the further statement: "Interna
tude being immaterial it follows that tional law pays regard to sovereigns
what is lawful for one nation is consid only, it does not regard any other part
ered lawful for another " of the community any more than a Ro
Under international law, sovereignty man tribunal would regard the slaves
is established by (1) Long possession; and freedman of a Roman estate." In
(2) Legitimate acquisition; (3) A just Moore's International Laiv Digest it i
use by the ruling head of the original stated: . . That courts may take
grant confided or ceded to him. notice of existing sovereignties from the
Sovereignty is well defined by Oppen fact of their continuous existence and
heim as follows: history." In Wilson's International Law,
"Besides the sovereignty of the en we find the following, as quoted: "Re
tire nation, there is another within thecognition is, as a general rule, absolute
state, the sovereignty of the highest and irrevocable." In Moore's Interna
member, the chief, the rulers, or, sincetional Law Digest we find: "Recogni
it is most clearly seen in monarchy, thetion may be implied as when a state en
sovereignty of the prince. . . . The sovters into negotiations with the new
state, sends its diplomatic agents, re
ereignty of the state and the sovereignty
of the prince are not in contradiction. ceives such agents officially, gives exe
There does not result a division of sov quaturs to its consuls, forms with it
ereignty, as if the one half belonged conventional
to relations." In the book
the people and the other to the prince; International Law as a Substitute for
there are not two jealous powers striv Diplomacy, the following is noted: "Any
ing for supremacy. Both imply unity state possessed of full sovereignty has
and plentitude of powers but it is the right to send diplomatic representa
clear that the whole, including the head, tives to any other sovereign state ..."
is superior to the head alone." In the introduction of Vattel's Law of
Justice Story defined sovereignty in Nations it is stated: "A small republic
its largest sense, as the "supreme, ab is no less a sovereign state than the
solute, uncontrollable power; the just most powerful kingdom."
summi imperii; the absolute right to If the question should arise in the
mind of some reader as to the right of a
govern." Wheaton defines sovereignty
as follows: "... the supreme power by sovereign in exile to exercise his sov
which any citizen is governed." Hurd ereign power and rights, he can easily
says: "The supreme power in the deduce from the above quotations that a
state must necessarily be absolute, in sovereign may exercise his powers and
being subject to no judge." Leiber has rights externally as well as internally,
said: "The necessary existence of the and the recognition accorded him by
state, and that right and power which other nations by sending diplomatic rep
necessarily follow is sovereignty ..." resentatives to him through the accred
Sir Henry Maine in his International iting of his court of diplomatic repre
Laiv quotes the following: "By a sentatives is only an additional assur
sovereign government we mean a ance in a definite form that the King of
government, however constituted,Montenegro
which continued to be and was
exercises the power of making and recognized as an absolute sovereign
enforcing law within a community, king even in exile.

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MONTENEGRO 243

In international law, we find the delegated to themselves the titles of dip

question discussed regarding the right lomatic or consular representatives of
of a deposed sovereign or of a person Montenegro, or the titles of Delegate
who claims to be a sovereign de jure, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and
but is admittedly not a sovereign de others have even delegated to them
facto, to send diplomatic representa selves the coat of arms or a part of the
tives. The most thorough discussion of coat of arms of King Nicholas I without
this question occurred with relation to any right whatsoever: such persons did
the case of the Bishop of Ross, describedso without any authority for there has
by David Jayne Hill in his History of been no diplomatic or consular represen
European Diplomacy. tation in any manner or form, under any
From the above, it will be readily con title or claim whatever, since the date
ceded that King Nicholas I continued as of January 21, 1921, when the United
an absolute sovereign ruler even while States Government cancelled the exe
in exile; there can be no question re quatur of the Montenegrin Consul Gen
garding his absolute powers and rightseral, who immediately discontinued his
as a sovereign ruler, nor can Monten office and work in this connection. All
egro's absolute independence be ques those who claim thereafter to have been
tioned. It definitely appears from the delegated to act or represent Monteneg
above quotations of international law ro are making assertions without foun
that King Nicholas I was the sole and dation and should be ignored. The right
proper judge as to what he was doing. to use the coat of arms of King Nicholas
The evil of questioning the right and au I, partly or in whole, has never been giv
thority of King Nicholas I to bestow or en by King Nicholas I to any outsider;
decree a certain right or title or any certainly, to no one in the United States.
other grant to anyone he chose, is conWhatever honors, titles of nobility, or
other titles and privileges King Nicholas
trary to the law of nations and an insult
to sovereignty. It is only a matter of I granted was done by royal decree un
international law that all acts and de der the signature of King Nicholas I
crees of King Nicholas I granted or and by no other means or manner. All
such royal decrees so granted and sign
signed by him up to the day of his death
should and must be recognized uncondi ed by King Nicholas I have full recogni
tionally in all countries and by all tion under international law as acts of a
persons. sovereign; it must always be borne in
Some persons in the United States mind that "the decree of the sovereign
makes
have, after the death of King Nicholas I law."

This content downloaded from 81.213.41.122 on Sat, 22 Oct 2016 05:24:46 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms