Petar I Petrović-Njegoš facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petar I Petrović-Njegoš |
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| Prince-Bishop of Montenegro | |
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| Native name | Петар I |
| Church | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Enthroned | 1784 |
| Reign ended | 1830 |
| Predecessor | Arsenije Plamenac |
| Successor | Petar II Petrović-Njegoš |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1784 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1748 Njeguši, Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro |
| Died | 31 October 1830 (aged 82) Cetinje, Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodoxy |
| Residence | Cetinje |
| Parents | Marko Petrović and Anđelija Martinović |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | October 31 (Gregorian calendar), October 18 (Julian calendar) |
| Venerated in | Serbian Orthodox Church |
| Title as Saint | Saint Peter of Cetinje |
| Canonized | by Serbian Orthodox Church |
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (born in 1748, died October 31, 1830) was a very important leader in Montenegro. He was both a religious leader (a Metropolitan or vladika) and the ruler of the country. He was also a special representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.
Petar I was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the Petrović dynasty. During his long time in charge, he made Montenegro stronger. He did this by bringing together different groups of people (called 'tribes') who often argued. He also created the first set of laws for Montenegro, called Zakonik Petra I. His work helped Montenegro get ready for modern things like taxes, schools, and bigger businesses. Later, the Serbian Orthodox Church declared him a saint, known as Saint Peter of Cetinje.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Petar I was the son of Marko and Anđelija Petrović. He followed his family's path and became a monk. He studied in Imperial Russia for four years at a military school, from 1765 to 1769.
In 1778, Petar was a high-ranking monk (an archimandrite) and visited Russia. The previous Metropolitan, Sava Petrović, had chosen his nephew Arsenije Plamenac to take over. However, Plamenac did not have much power and was only in charge for a short time, from 1781 to 1784. The powerful Radonjić family, who had support from other countries, wanted to reduce the power of the Petrović family. But the local leaders (chieftains) wanted Petar to become the new bishop. So, in 1783, he was sent to the Habsburg Monarchy to be officially ordained.
Becoming a Leader
First Years in Office (1784–1799)
Petar was officially made a bishop on October 13, 1784, in Sremski Karlovci. After that, he went to Vienna and met important people like the Russian chancellor. However, he was asked to leave Saint Petersburg in November 1785 for reasons that are not fully clear.
While Petar was away, Montenegro faced a threat from Kara Mahmud Pasha, a powerful leader from Scutari. Mahmud Pasha attacked Montenegro in June 1785. Many Montenegrin soldiers surrendered, and Mahmud Pasha burned down some villages before returning to Scutari.
At this time, Metropolitan Petar I and guvernadur Jovan Radonjić were the two main leaders in Montenegro. Jovan wanted to rule Montenegro by himself and believed the Metropolitan should only handle religious matters. This led to disagreements between them, especially in international politics. Petar supported Russia, while Jovan supported Austria. This created two main groups in Montenegro: one that liked Russia and one that liked Austria.
In 1794, two tribes outside Montenegro, the Kuči and Rovčani, were attacked by the Ottomans. In 1796, Kara Mahmud Pasha was defeated by the Montenegrins at the Battle of Martinići. He returned later that year but was defeated and killed at the Battle of Krusi on September 22. Metropolitan Petar I led half of the Montenegrin army in this battle. The Montenegrin army, though much smaller, won a big victory. This win helped Montenegro gain more land, and the Bjelopavlići and Piperi tribes joined the Montenegrin state. Other mountain tribes also started to look more towards Montenegro for leadership.
The Njeguši tribe, to which Petar I belonged, had a very long-standing conflict with the Ceklin tribe. This conflict, known as a blood feud, lasted for 32 years. It finally ended in 1797 when Petar I brought all the tribes of Old Montenegro together for a meeting. Ending this feud was a big step in Petar I's plan to unite all of Old Montenegro. In 1799, Russia promised to support Montenegro financially and protect its interests.
Challenges and Expansion (1800–1809)
During the First Serbian Uprising, Petar I started working with Karađorđe, the leader of the Serbian rebels. Petar I was known for being ready to fight for freedom when the time was right. He even dressed in a military uniform, showing his readiness for battle. He wanted to unite with the Serbian rebels and, with Russia's help, fight against the Ottoman Empire.
In 1806, the French army, led by Napoleon, moved towards the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. The Montenegrin army, led by Petar I, along with some Russian soldiers and ships, pushed them back. However, the Russian Tsar, Alexander I, later asked Montenegrins to give control of the Bay of Kotor to Austria. After some changes, the French gained control of the Bay of Kotor through a peace treaty in 1807.
In 1807, Petar I had a plan to unite several Serb-inhabited regions into a new, larger Serbian Empire. He asked Karađorđe for help with this plan. After some battles, Karađorđe's rebel forces connected with Montenegro in 1809. However, the Serbian uprising later weakened, making it hard to keep these ties strong.
Later Years and Unification (1810–1820)
Petar I led a successful military campaign against the Bosnia Eyalet in 1819. In 1820, Montenegrin highlanders won a major battle against Ottoman forces in the north of Montenegro. Another victory against an Ottoman invasion from Albania led to Montenegro gaining control over the Piperi tribe.
Petar I successfully united the Piperi and Bjelopavlići tribes with Montenegro. When these and other mountain regions joined the Montenegrin state, the country was officially called "Black Mountain (Montenegro) and the Hills."
Vision for a Greater Serbia
In 1807, Petar I shared a plan with the Russian court to create a new "Slaveno–Serb empire." This plan involved uniting areas like Podgorica, Spuž, Žabljak, the Bay of Kotor, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dubrovnik, and Dalmatia with Montenegro. He suggested that the Russian emperor would be the emperor of this new Serbian state. However, a peace treaty between France and Russia stopped this plan.
When the French took over Dalmatia, they offered Petar I the title of "Patriarch of all of the Serb nation" if he would stop working with Russia and accept French protection. He refused this offer, fearing it would lead to control by the Pope. Petar I's influence grew in the surrounding regions, and he increasingly looked to Revolutionary Serbia as a key partner for liberation and unification.
Becoming a Saint
Petar I was declared a saint, known as Saint Peter of Cetinje, by his successor, Petar II Petrović-Njegoš. The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates him on October 31 (Gregorian calendar), which is October 18 in the Julian calendar.
His Writings
Petar I was also a writer. Some of his works include:
- The Lore in Verse
- The Sons of Ivan-bey
- Poem to Karageorge
- To Serb Christmas Eve
- Short History of Montenegro
