Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/doi.org/10.52328/t.9.1.4
The realization of political and territorial objectives of Montenegro's on the eve of and during the First Balkan War: from short-term successes to tragic consequences
Wojciech Szczepański
; Komisija za balkanske studije Poljske akademije znanosti (podružnica u Poznanju)
Sažetak
The paper examines the position of Montenegro and the political and territorial goals it formulated immediately before and during the First Balkan War. As the smallest of the Balkan states at the beginning of the 20th century, Montenegro was particularly interested in creating
an anti-Turkish alliance. Montenegro's most important partner was Serbia. Montenegro did not rule out unification with Serbia into a single state, but its ruler, Nikola I. Petrović-Njegoš, feared subordination to Serbia and the unequal status of Montenegro and Montenegrins, and was also concerned about the uncertainty of the future of the Montenegrin dynasty. Finding itself in such a complex situation, Montenegro saw the upcoming First Balkan War as an opportunity to improve its position and strengthen its potential in relations with Serbia. In Cetinje, on the eve of the war, ambitious political and territorial goals were set to ensure this. Montenegro wanted, above all, to annex the fertile lands of the Novi Pazar Sandžak and Metohija, as well as the strategically important city of Shkodra and its surroundings. Ultimately, as a result of the First Balkan War, it achieved the first two of the three territorial goals mentioned here, although their implementation was partial, as it had to share these areas with Serbia. Montenegro failed to gain control over Shkodra and the surrounding area, inhabited predominantly by Albanians. There were several reasons why Montenegro failed to achieve its territorial and political aspirations: from the poor financial and military situation to the wrong decisions of King Nikola I. The author particularly warns against underestimating the importance of the Albanian issue, which has not been sufficiently emphasized in previous studies analyzing the situation in Montenegro on the eve of and during the First World War, as well as Montenegro's relationship with Serbia. However, proper use of the potential that Montenegrins could have gained by strengthening relations with the northern Albanian communities and ensuring more effective influence in this area could have placed Montenegro in a better position. This, in turn, would have been significant for Montenegro's position in relations with its allies and
neighbors in the following years, during which the First World War and the process of Serbian-Montenegrin, and then all-Yugoslav unification took place.
Ključne riječi
Montenegro; First Balkan War; political and territorial goals; Serbia; Albanians
Hrčak ID:
347384
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.5.2026.
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