This educational and practical article is for any traveler planning a vacation here. Understanding the history of Montenegro will provide deeper insight into past events and reveal how the country came into existence. While Montenegro as a state is relatively young, the history of these lands dates back to ancient times. Below, I will briefly highlight the key moments and events.

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history of montenegro
The historic centers of coastal towns almost always look like this. The history of Montenegro spans over 3,000 years.

The Name “Montenegro”: Origins and Etymology

A bit of background to better understand the origin of the name “Montenegro.”

  • More than 80% of the country’s territory is mountainous—difficult-to-navigate mountains, at that. Just 100–200 years ago, before the construction of modern roads, traveling through these areas was nearly impossible.
  • The only relatively flat land is along the coastline, which is where people historically settled.
    • For more on Montenegro’s mountains, its highest peak, and must-visit sights, see a separate article at the provided link.
  • By the 14th century, the Venetians dominated the entire Adriatic. They had a powerful fleet, well-known throughout the Mediterranean, and preferred to travel by sea rather than on foot. Naturally, they reached what is now Montenegro only via maritime routes.
  • It was the Venetians who first gave this land its name.

Interesting to know:

In the Venetian language, this region was called “Montenegro.” The word comes from mons (mountain) and negro (black), meaning “Black Mountain.”

As they approached Montenegro by sea, they saw mountain ranges stretching along the coastline all the way to the horizon, with Lovćen—the most prominent peak on the coast—towering above. Though not the highest mountain in Montenegro, Lovćen is the most noticeable from the sea. Today, this area is home to Lovćen National Park, with numerous attractions for visitors.

In reality, both Lovćen and Montenegro’s other mountains are lush and green, covered with dense forests. The name “Black Mountain” does not refer to the color of the peaks but rather to their rugged and inaccessible nature. The difficult terrain made trade and agriculture nearly impossible, making survival here extremely challenging.

name of ancient montenegro
Typical Montenegrin mountains—not black at all, just green! This photo was taken in November, so the colors may appear different. Notice the abundance of vegetation.
  • Following the Venetians, other nations adapted the name to their own languages:
    • Serbs, Montenegrins, and Croats: Crna Gora (also meaning “Black Mountain”)
    • Greeks: Μαυροβούνιο
    • Albanians: Mali i Zi

A Brief History of Montenegro: From Ancient Illyrian Tribes to Yugoslavia

I won’t rewrite a 500-page history textbook, but if you’re interested in details, Wikipedia has an excellent article on Montenegro’s history. What follows is a concise summary for general understanding.

  • The first evidence of human settlements in what is now Montenegro dates back 40,000 years BCE—the era of Neanderthals.
  • During antiquity, the first structured society in Montenegro was formed by Illyrian tribes, long before our era.
  • By the 3rd century BCE, Greek settlers began establishing coastal cities. However, they did not venture inland due to the mountainous terrain, leaving the interior largely untouched.
  • In the 1st century CE, the Roman Empire conquered these lands, just as it did with most of Europe.
  • After the fall of Rome, Montenegro came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, which maintained control for a staggering five centuries—an exceptionally long period for such turbulent times.
montenegro origin name
Montenegro, situated on the empire’s frontier, was constantly exposed to invasions from neighboring forces.
  • By 1035, the first anti-Byzantine uprisings began in Montenegro. Though often brutally suppressed, these rebellions signaled the region’s growing resistance. By the late 11th century, the Byzantine Empire was weakening and could no longer maintain strong control over its distant territories.
  • Starting in the 12th century, the first signs of an independent Montenegrin state emerged.
  • Initially, the region was part of the Duklja (Dioclea) Principality, which encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.
  • Subsequent wars, uprisings, and power struggles led to the disintegration of Duklja, giving rise to the Zeta Principality, followed later by the Serbian Despotate. However, Montenegro’s attempts to establish full independence were continually thwarted.
  • By 1499, the entire territory of modern Montenegro was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, remaining under Turkish rule for the next 300 years.

For a detailed guide to monasteries of Montenegro and religious sites, see the provided link.

  • It wasn’t until 1796 that Montenegro finally liberated itself from Ottoman rule, regaining independence as a Serbian state.

In 1918, a new independent entity emerged on the world map: Yugoslavia, a union of six Balkan nations.

Modern History of Montenegro: The War, the Dissolution of Yugoslavia, and the Union with Serbia

Now, let’s focus on Montenegro’s modern history.

  • After its founding, Yugoslavia adopted a communist system and aligned closely with the Soviet Union.
  • During World War II, fascist Italy occupied the entire region.
  • In 1945, the Yugoslav Partisan resistance movement successfully fought to liberate the country from Italian occupation.
  • By the 1990s, Yugoslavia began to break apart into six independent Balkan states. Ethnic conflicts erupted, and the dissolution was not fully completed until 2008.
  • In 1999, in response to the mass killing of Albanians by the Yugoslav army in the village of Račak, NATO forces launched airstrikes on Belgrade and other major cities in Serbia. At that time, Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia, which still included Montenegro.

Good to know:

For three months, NATO bombed major Yugoslav cities. These strikes targeted not only military facilities but also civilian infrastructure, including bridges, factories, and television towers. Thousands of civilians, including many children, lost their lives.
war in montenegro yugoslavia
A bridge in the Serbian city of Novi Sad after another NATO airstrike in 1999

By 2003, Yugoslavia ceased to exist as a political entity. All former republics became fully independent, while Serbia and Montenegro formed a new union, known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

  • In 2006, a national referendum was held in Montenegro. 55% of voters chose independence, and Serbia formally recognized Montenegro’s right to self-determination.

Important:

The country of Montenegro has appeared on the world map since 2006. The history of Montenegro has never known complete independence without any external influence or control. This happened for the first time in 3,000 years of the country’s history.
  • Many in the 40+ generation still remember the NATO bombings vividly. Almost every family lost relatives or friends. This is one reason why Serbia refuses to join NATO, while Montenegro, despite becoming a NATO member, still sees over 60% of its population opposed to the decision (according to public opinion polls).

For an interesting article on religion in Montenegro, follow the link.

In conclusion: Like the rest of Europe, Montenegro’s history is filled with wars, uprisings, and territorial conflicts. Europe has fought for thousands of years. But since 2006, Montenegro has begun a new chapter as a young and independent nation—the land of the Black Mountains.

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro

  • WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
  • Car rental in Montenegro:
    • LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
    • DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
  • Hotels and apartments all over the country:
    • Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
    • TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
  • Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
    • Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
  • Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel