Serbs of Montenegro

Serbs of Montenegro
Notable Serb Montenegrins
Total population
178,110 Serb Montenegrins
28.73% of Montenegro population (2011)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Andrijevica (61.86%), Plužine (65.65%), Pljevlja (57.07%), Herceg Novi (48.89%), Žabljak (41.30%), Šavnik (42.42%), Kolašin (35.75%), Berane (42.96 %), Budva (37.71 %), Bijelo Polje (35.96%), Tivat (31,61%)
Languages

Serbian (Eastern Herzegovinian,
Zeta-South Sandžak dialects)
Religion

† Eastern Orthodoxy
(Serbian Orthodox Church)
Related ethnic groups

Montenegrins

Montenegrin Serbs (Serbian: Црногорcки Cрби[a]) compose the second largest ethnic group in Montenegro (28.73% in 2011[2]), after the Montenegrins. The presence of Serbs in Montenegro is first attested in the middle ages; since the 1910 census, when ethnicity was recorded, they formed the absolute majority of the country until the 1948 census, in which the option of the identification as a Montenegrin was allowed (see Demographic history of Montenegro).

Contents

History

Main articles: History of the Serbs and History of Montenegro

Middle Ages

Early Middle Ages

Slav raids on Eastern Roman territory are mentioned in 518, and by the 580s they had conquered large areas referred to as Sclavinia (transl. Slavdom, from Sklavenoi).[3] According to Byzantine sources, Serbs held the region during Heraclius (r. 610-641); the South Slavic areas were organized into župa (administrative division, ruled by the župan, similarly to the strategos). The Serbs were in charge in Pagania, Zachumlia, Travunia (with Konavle), Doclea, Rascia (with Bosnia). Doclea, Travunia and Rascia held the territory corresponding to present-day Montenegro, while the most important towns included Medun, Bar. The hinterlands were part of Zagorje, the maritime Pomorje.

Prince Višeslav (fl. 768-814), the first known Serbian monarch by name, ruled the hereditary lands (Županias, counties) of Neretva, Tara, Piva, Lim.[4] He managed to unite several more provinces and tribes into what would become the Serbian Principality. Višeslav was succeeded by his son Radoslav and then Prosigoj, during which time "the Serbs inhabit the greater part of Dalmatia" (Royal Frankish Annals, 822: "Sorabos, quae natio magnam Dalmatiae partem obtinere dicitur").[5][6][7] Prince Vlastimir further united Serbian tribes against the growing threat of Bulgars,[8] his realm spanned over southwestern Serbia, much of Montenegro, eastern Herzegovina and southeastern Bosnia.[9] Prince Petar Gojniković defeated Tišemir of Bosnia, annexing the valley of Bosna.[10] He then expanded along the Neretva, annexing the Narentines, where he seems to have come into conflict with Michael Višević, a Bulgarian ally and the ruler of Zahumlje (with Trebinje and most of what would later be Duklja).[11] Michael Višević heard of the possible alliance between Serbia and the Byzantines, and warned Symeon.[11] Symeon defeats Petar[12] and in the following years there is a power struggle between the Bulgars and Byzantines over Serbian overlordship.[13] Prince Časlav Klonimirović ruled over a confederacy of statelets covering an expansive area, uniting the tribes of Bosnia, Herzegovina, Old Serbia and Montenegro (incorporated Pagania, Zahumlje, Travunia,[14] Konavle, Bosnia and "Rascia" into Serbia, ι Σερβλια).[15] He took over regions previously held by Michael, who disappears from sources in 925.[14] According to some sources, Časlav's 'state' was based from the hinterland of Kotor.[16]

Balkan Wars, World War I and the creation of Yugoslavia

Later, Montenegro was declared a nation-state under the House of Petrović-Njegoš. Both Kingdoms fought together as independent states in the Balkan Wars and in the First World War. At the end of the war in 1918 tensions arose between the two states as the Montenegrin Whites with Serbian support deposed Nicholas I of Montenegro and proclaimed Montenegro's unification with Serbia as part of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed into Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929), while the Montenegrin Greens opposed it. The conflict led to the Christmas Uprising, in which the Whites with support from the Serbian army defeated the Greens.[17] During the period of the monarchic Yugoslavia, ruled by the Serbian dynasty of the House of Karađorđević, the tensions between Serbs and Croats were increasing and most of the Montenegrin politicians supported the Serbian proposed centralised state.

Socialist Yugoslavia

During the Second World War both Serbs and Montenegrins were very active in both resistance movements, the Yugoslav Partisans and the Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland known as the Chetniks. At the end of the war the socialist Yugoslavia was created and the two became republics within the Yugoslav federation.

State union between Serbia and Montenegro between 1992 and 2006

After the secession of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia in 1991 and 1992, SR Montenegro held the Montenegrin referendum in 1992 which ended with a 95.96% of votes in favour for a state union with Serbia and with the changing of the socialist political system towards a pluri-partidarian one, the country was renamed into Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In this period between 1990 and 1998 Montenegro was ruled by Momir Bulatović who had close relations with the Serbian president Slobodan Milošević and who was very supportive to keep close ties between the two republics within the state union. Montenegro was also included by the economic sanctions imposed to Serbia during the 1990s. During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia both Serbia and Montenegro suffered the attacks of the NATO forces and several targets inside Montenegro were also bombarded. All this contributed to the rise in power in Montenegro of Milo Đukanović who was known to have much less sympaties towards the Serbo-Montenegrin ties and would became an open supporter on the independence of Montenegro. In 2006, six years after the fall of Milošević in 2000, and after insistence of international diplomacy, FR Yugoslavia changed into the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. This entire process subtily lede to the separation of the two states, which was decided by the referendum on Montenegrin independence on 21 May 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the total electorate. Of them, 230,661 votes or 55.5% were in favour of independence and 185,002 votes or 44.5% were against.[18]

After the independence of Montenegro

Since the independence the Montenegrin society has been divided among many issues. The independence supporters are advocating for the creation of a separate Montenegrin language, regarded before as a dialect of the Serbian language, including the creation of a new Montenegrin Cyrillic alphabet which is basically the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet with the addition of two new latters. The Serbian population in Montenegro has been opposing this language separation, just as the separation of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church from the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Montenegrin language lacks ISO code, and the Montenegrin Orthodox church is canonically unrecognized by March 2011.

The links between the two nations remains strong, and the fact that for the last two centuries a great number of Montenegrins had emigrated to Belgrade and other parts of Serbia further strengthens the ties. The Montenegrin littoral is still the main turistic destination for most Serbian citizens, and a big number of Serb own properties in form of summer houses contributes to a summer seasonal influx of a big number of Serbs towards Montenegro. Despite the separation the economical balance between both countries and the economical relation continues to be strong.

Population

See also: Demographics of Montenegro

Municipalities of Montenegro with large concentrations of Serb communities:

Culture

Main article: Serbian culture

Language

Main article: Serbian language

Serbs in Montenegro speak the Ijekavian accent of the Serbian language ; around 43% of the population of the entire country speak it as their mother tongue (37% Montenegrins).

Serbian was the official language of Montenegro until 2007 when the new Constitution of Montenegro replaced the Constitution of 1992. Amid opposition from pro-Serbian parties,[19] Montenegrin language was made the sole official language of the country and Serbian was given the status of a recognised minority language along with Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian.[20] As per 2011 census results, 42.88% (63.49% in 2003) of the population declared their mother language as Serbian, compared to 36.97% (21.96% in 2003) who declared it Montenegrin, the latter being mainly concentrated in Old Montenegro.

Serbian is written in both Cyrillic and Latin script.

Religion

Main article: Serbian Orthodox Church

The Serbs are adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the strongest religious institution of Montenegro (with a total of 460,383 followers or 74%).[21]

The current Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral is Amfilohije Radović. One of the largest places of worship is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica.

Serbian Orthodoxy in Montenegro

The Serbian Orthodox Church has been threatened in Montenegro. The newly formed Montenegrin Orthodox Church has claimed all Serbian Orthodox churches in Montenegro and is backed by a small percentage of all Orthodox Christians in Montenegro. The government has recognized the church, however none of the Eastern Orthodox churches have. The leader is the controversial Miraš Dedeić, a former Serbian Orthodox clergyman with Serbian nationalist views that after being suspended from the Serbian Church, went to Rome and became a Greek Orthodox clergyman. He formed a Serbian municipality within the Greek Orthodox church of Rome for his personal domain and was later suspended by the SOC after committing adultery with a younger woman. In 1997 he was excommunicated by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople from the Eastern Orthodox Church. MOC's leader is anathemized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and banished from Orthodoxy.

In April 2007, President Vujanović declared he would protect the property of the main religious institution in Montenegro, the Serbian Orthodox Church during an attempt of the non-canonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church to forcibly seize its property.

The Montenegrin Orthodox instigated a fight when they came and threatened Serbian Orthodox at the Cetinje monastery in 2009, Police broke the two groups.[22]

Cuisine

Further information: Serbian cuisine and Montenegrin cuisine

Christmas

Main article: Serbian Christmas traditions

An old Christmas song from the Bay of Kotor has the following lyrics:[23]

Božić zove svrh planine, one visoke:
„Veselite se, Srbi braćo, vrijeme vi je!
Nalagajte krupna drva, ne cijepajte!
Sijecite suvo meso, ne mjerite!
Prostirite šenič' slamu mjesto trpeze,
a po slami trpežnjake, svilom kićene!
A odaje i pendžere lovoričicom!
A ikone i stolove masliničicom!
Utočite rujna vina, rujna crvena,
i rakije lozovače prve bokare!
Vi, đevojke i nevjeste, kola igrajte,
a vi, staro i nejako, Boga molite!"
Christmas calls from top of mountain, of that lofty one,
"Be rejoicing, O Serbs, brothers, it's time for you to!
Replenish the fire with large logs, do you not chop up!
Cut off slices of the dried meat, do you not measure!
Spread bundles of the wheaten straw instead of tables,
and over the straw – tablecloths, embellished with silk!
And the chambers and the windows – with the laurel twigs!
And the icons and the tables – with the olive twigs!
Fill glasses of the ruby wine, of the ruby red,
and the first pitchers of lozovača rakia!
You, girls and newly-wed women, do the kolo dance,
and you, old and infirm people, make prayers to God!"

Nationality status

On 26 January 2010, Serbian President Boris Tadic said it is unbelievable that the Serbs only have the status of national minority, stressing that he wants to build up the relations between the countries since Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo that weakened the diplomacy between Montenegro and Serbia but doesn't understand the position given to the Serbs in relation to the history and manners of Montenegro. He said he has no intentions to mix into the business of Montenegro, only showing what Serbia thinks about Podgorica's handling of the Serb people in Montenegro.[24]

Prominent individuals

Main article: List of Serbs

See also

Part of a series of articles on
Serbs

Notes

  1. ^ The correct political terms are Serbian: Црногорcки Cрби – Crnogorski Srbi, meaning "Montenegrin Serbs", and Cрби Црногорци - Srbi Crnogorci, meaning "Serbs Montenegrins". Their regional autonym is simply Црногорци – Crnogorci, literal meaning Montenegrins,[25][26] the same as the ethnic group of Montenegrins). In the early modern times, before the Kingdom of Montenegro, people [living within present-day borders] were divided by the identities of Brđani (Brda), Hercegovci (Old Herzegovina) and Crnogorci (Old Montenegro). Срби у Црној Гори - Srbi u Crnoj Gori, meaning "Serbs in Montenegro".

References

  1. ^ http://www.etf.europa.eu/pubmgmt.nsf/(getAttachment)/751A066D3DAAAF92C12571FF0044425D/$File/NOTE6UBGJX.pdf
  2. ^ Official results of the 2011 Montenegrin census
  3. ^ "Slavyane v rannem srednevekovie" Valentin V. Sedov, Archaeological institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1995, p. (Russian)
  4. ^ Count Cedomilj Mijatovic, Servia and the Servians, p. 3; John Anthony Cuddon, The companion guide to Jugoslavia, p. 454
  5. ^ Serbian studies, Volumes 2-3, p. 29
  6. ^ Eginhartus de vita et gestis Caroli Magni, p. 192: footnote J10
  7. ^ The Serbs, p. 14
  8. ^ Hupchik, p.
  9. ^ The early Medieval Balkans. John V A Fine
  10. ^ The early medieval Balkans, p. 148
  11. ^ a b Fine, 1991, p. 149
  12. ^ Fine, 1991, p. 150
  13. ^ Fine, 1991, p. 141
  14. ^ a b The entry of the Slavs into Christendom, p. 209
  15. ^ The early medieval Balkans, p. 160
  16. ^ Encyclopedia Britannica
  17. ^ Banač, Ivo (1988-03). The national question in Yugoslavia: origins, history, politics. Cornell University Press. p. 285. ISBN 9780801494932. http://books.google.com/books?id=KfqbujXqQBkC&pg=PA285. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 
  18. ^ "Montenegro vote result confirmed". BBC News. 23 May 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5007364.stm. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  19. ^ "''Pro-Serbian parties oppose Montenegro constitution''". Setimes.com. 26 October 2007. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2007/10/26/feature-02. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  20. ^ "Ustav Crne Gore". Snp.co.me. http://www.snp.co.me/strana.asp?kat=1&id=1278. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  21. ^ see: Religion in Montenegro
  22. ^ "Tuča vernika na Cetinju za Preobraženje – Mondo". Naslovi.net. 19 August 2009. http://www.naslovi.net/2009-08-19/mondo/tuca-vernika-na-cetinju-za-preobrazenje/1286882. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  23. ^ Vukmanović, Jovan (1962). "Božićni običaji u Boki Kotorskoj [Christmas traditions in the Bay of Kotor]" (in Serbian). Zbornik za narodni život i običaje Južnih Slovena (Zagreb: The Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts) 40: 491–503. http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-bo/ljudi/jvukmanovic-bozic.html. Retrieved 9 September 2009. 
  24. ^ "RTS :: Srbi nisu manjina u Crnoj Gori" (in (Serbian)). Rts.rs. 27 January 2010. http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/9/Srbija/460091/Srbi+nisu+manjina+u+Crnoj+Gori.html. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  25. ^ Charles Seignobos, Political History of Europe, since 1814, ed. S. M. Macvane, H. Holt and Company, New York, 1900, pp. 663–664; excerpt from chapter XXI The Christian Nations of The Balkans, subchapter Servia and Montenegro, passages Montenegro
  26. ^ "Projekat Rastko Cetinje – Slavenko Terzic – Ideoloski korijeni crnogorske nacije i crnogorskog separatizma". Rastko.rs. http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-cg/povijest/terzic-ideoloski_korijeni.html. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
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