The history of Montenegro is vibrant, reflecting its strategic location in the Balkan region. In the ancient times, the region was inherited by Illyrian tribes and then its parts were incorporated into the Roman Empire. Nowadays you can visit the remains of a Roman villa with unique mosaics in Risan. Also, there are the remains of an ancient town (called Doclea and then Duklja) on the territory of the modern capital of Montenegro – Podgorica.
In the Early Middle Ages, several migration waves led to the formation of several Slavic states. The most known state within present-day Montenegro was Duklja, occupying the territory between the Kotor Bay, the river Bojana and the rivers Zeta and Morača. This state is mentioned in Byzantine chronicles of the 10-11 centuries when it had the most power. By the late 12th century, the region came under the influence of the Nemanjić dynasty of Serbia.
During the 14th century, the region, then known as Zeta, was governed by several noble families. The most known of them was the Crnojević dynasty. This dynasty played a great role in preserving Montenegrin autonomy against the Ottoman Empire. Ivan Crnojević established Cetinje as the capital in the late 15th century. Still, the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice controlled some parts of Montenegro in the 15th-19th centuries.
In the 16th century, the Prince-Bishopric (Vladika) system was established, where the ruler was both the secular and religious leader, was. This theocratic governance existed until the mid-19th century. The most known Vladika in Montenegrin history was Petar II Petrović-Njegoš (1813-1851) who was also a famous poet and philosopher. You can visit his Mausoleum located at the top of Mount Lovćen.
In 1852, under the leadership of Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš, Montenegro transitioned from a theocracy to a secular principality. Danilo’s reforms modernized the state’s structures, paving the way for further advancements under his successor, Nikola I. Nikola I led Montenegro through significant territorial expansions during the Balkan Wars and declared it a kingdom in 1910.
During World War I, despite initial resistance, Montenegro was occupied by Austro-Hungarian forces in 1916. After the war, in 1918 Montenegro became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia), resulting in the loss of Montenegrin sovereignty.
During World War II, Montenegro was occupied by Italian and later German forces. The region became a hub of partisan resistance, contributing significantly to the broader Yugoslav struggle against Axis powers. Post-war, Montenegro became a republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Podgorica became the capital of Montenegro (it was called Titograd in honor of Josip Broz Tito, the communist leader of Yugoslavia).
The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s presented Montenegro with new challenges. Initially, it remained in a federation with Serbia until 2006. In the result of the referendum in 2006, the independent status of Montenegro was restored. It became the 192nd member of the United Nations on June 28, 2006, and joined the Council of Europe in 2007. Nowadays Montenegro is a candidate for joining the European Union.