⭐ 100 Years Since the Passing of King Nicholas I of Montenegro

Today marks a significant milestone in the history of Montenegro, as it has been exactly 100 years since the passing of King Nicholas I of Montenegro. This remarkable monarch left an indelible mark on the country, ruling for an impressive 58 years, from 1860 until 1918. His reign was marked by significant events, including the proclamation of Montenegro as a kingdom in 1910, and his family's subsequent exile to France during World War I. King Nicholas I's life was a testament to his dedication to his country and his family. Born in 1841, he succeeded his uncle Prince Danilo after his assassination in 1860. He went on to marry Milena Vukotić, with whom he had eight children, including five daughters who married into European royal families, earning him the nickname "the Father-in-Law of Europe." His legacy continues to be celebrated and remembered, not only in Montenegro but also across Europe, where his family's connections and alliances had a lasting impact on the continent's history.

The King of Montenegro.

On 1 March 1921, His Majesty King Nicholas I of Montenegro died at Cap d’Antibes, France. The king was seventy-nine years-old. Nicholas had reigned as the sovereign of Montenegro for fifty-eight years: from 1860 until 1910 as Prince of Montenegro, and from 1910 until 1918 as King of Montenegro.

Mirko Petrović-Njegoš.

Born on 7 October 1841 at Njeguši, Montenegro, Nikola Petrović-Njegoš was the only son of Mirko Petrović-Njegoš (1820-1867) and his wife Stana Martinović (1824-1894), who married in 1840. Nikola (also known as Nicholas) had two sisters: Anastasia and Maria. In August 1860, Nicholas succeeded his uncle Prince Danilo of Montenegro after Danilo’s assassination.

Nicholas and Milena of Montenegro.

Aged nineteen, Prince Nicholas of Montenegro married the thirteen year-old Milena Vukotić on 8 November 1860 at Cetinje. Milena was the only daughter of Petar Vukotić and his wife Jelena Vojvodić. Nicholas and Milena had been betrothed to one another by their respective parents when the future groom was twelve and the future bride was six.

King Nicholas I and Queen Milena of Montenegro with their family on the occasion of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro in 1910.

Prince Nicholas and Princess Milena of Montenegro had a long and happy marriage. The couple had thirteen children: Princess Zorka (1864-1890; married the future King Peter I of Serbia), Princess Milica (1866-1951; married Grand Duke Peter Nicolaevich of Russia), Princess Anastasia (1868-1935; married 1st Duke George of Leuchtenberg; married 2nd Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaevich of Russia), Princess Marija (1869-1885), Princess Elena (1871-1952; married future King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy), Crown Prince Danilo (1872-1939; married Duchess Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), Princess Anna (1873-1971; married Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg), Princess Sofía (b. and d.1876), Prince Mirko (1879-1918; married Natalija Konstantinović), Princess Xenia (1881-1960), Princess Vjera (1887-1927), and Prince Peter (1889-1932; married Violet Wegner). Due to the advantageous marriages of five of his daughters, Nicholas of Montenegro was known as “the Father-in-Law of Europe.”

The King and Queen of Montenegro with two of the princesses in exile in France.

During World War I, King Nicholas I and Queen Milena of Montenegro were forced to leave their country for exile in France. It was not until 1989, nearly sixty-eight years after his death, that the last King of Montenegro returned home, when he, his wife, and several daughters were reburied at Cetinje, the capital of the Montenegrin kingdom.

Royal Balkan cousins: Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Crown Prince Nicholas of Montenegro. Photograph courtesy of the Royal Family of Serbia.

King Nicholas I of Montenegro is the great-grandfather of Crown Prince Nicholas of Montenegro (b.1944) and the great-great-grandfather of Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia (b.1945).

As we reflect on the life and legacy of King Nicholas I of Montenegro, we are reminded of the profound impact he had on the history of his country and the world. His remarkable reign of fifty-eight years, spanning from 1860 until 1918, was marked by significant events, including the proclamation of Montenegro as a kingdom in 1910. This milestone was celebrated with great fanfare, and the king's family was at the forefront of the festivities, as seen in the photograph of King Nicholas I and Queen Milena of Montenegro with their family on the occasion of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro in 1910.

King Nicholas I's life was a testament to his dedication to his country and his family. His marriage to Queen Milena, which took place when he was nineteen and she was thirteen, was a union that would produce eight children, including five daughters who would go on to marry into European royal families, earning him the nickname "the Father-in-Law of Europe". This distinction is a testament to the king's ability to forge strong alliances and connections across the continent. As we mark the 100th anniversary of his passing, we honor the memory of King Nicholas I, whose legacy continues to be celebrated and remembered, not only in Montenegro but also across Europe, where his family's connections and alliances had a lasting impact on the continent's history. May his story serve as a reminder of the power of diplomacy and the importance of building strong relationships between nations and families alike.