History - Montenegro - page 308

The Vladikas
In 1696 Danilo Petrović-Njegoš was elected vladika, the equivalent of a bishop within the
Orthodox church hierarchy. Ambitious and warlike, he declared himself 'Vladika of Cetin-
je and Warlord of all the Serb lands'. In so doing, Danilo presumed a role as the leader of
the Serbs, perhaps a reflection of Montenegrins dubbing themselves 'the best of the Serbs'
during their years of battles against the Turks. Beyond this, Danilo succeeded in elevating
the vladika role into that of a hereditary 'prince-bishop' - a political (and military) leader
as well as a church leader - and founded the Petrović dynasty, which would rule
Montenegro until WWI.
Petar I was not only a social and ecclesiastical leader; he is also credited with introducing the potato to
Montenegro.
In 1766 the Ottomans established the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople re-
sponsible for all of the Orthodox churches in the Ottoman domain. The Serbs later set up
their own patriarchate in Habsburg territory, beyond the reach of Ottoman authorities.
These moves effectively led to the creation of separate Montenegrin and Serbian Orthodox
churches, and while the Montenegrins retained some sense of community with the Serbs
this was another factor in the divergent experience and the evolution of a separate national
consciousness amongst the Montenegrins.
MONTENEGRO & RUSSIA'S SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
In the early 18th century a newly assertive Russia, under Peter the Great, was looking to modernise. Peter's agents
appeared in the Adriatic and encountered the Montenegrins. As well as being fellow adherents of the Orthodox
faith and fellow combatants against the Ottomans, the Russians immediately recognised the fighting abilities of
the Montenegrins. Vladika Danilo, realising his small realm needed larger allies, approached the Russian tsar for
support in the struggle against the Turks. Travelling to St Petersburg, Danilo established an alliance with Russia
that was to prove significant for Montenegro.
Subsequent vladika s, upon achieving office, made a point of visiting Russia to cement their relationships with
the tsar. In 1833 Petar II Petrović Njegoš went so far as to travel to St Petersburg to have himself consecrated by
Tsar Nicholas I. Several vladika s were educated in Russia, primarily as there were virtually no teaching institu-
tions in Monte-negro; vladika s invariably returned to Montenegro with new ideas to modernise their relatively
undeveloped state.
Throughout the Montenegrins' struggle against the Ottomans, Russia provided tactical and financial support, al-
though Montenegrin independence always took a back seat to Russia's wider strategic interests.