The historical interest that attaches to Montenegro is utterly out of proportion to the space that country occupies on the surface of the earth. With the exception of the politically insignificant republics of San Marino and Andorra, and of the principalities of Monaco and Liechtenstein, it is the smallest unit in the aggregate of European states; and yet it is able to exhibit in the pages of its annals a record of persistent heroism to which not one of them can furnish a parallel. For nearly five centuries its hardy mountaineers have carried on a struggle for existence against an enemy many times superior to them in point of numbers; and, whilst the remaining Slavs of the Balkan peninsula have been compelled, during the greater part, at least, of that period to submit to an alien domination, the Montenegrins alone have succeeded in preserving intact their national independence..

Comparatively little is well known about Europe's newest and one of its smallest independent states: the small mountain fastness Montenegro. In a book written for specialists and general readers alike, Elizabeth Roberts traces its history from pre-Slavic times, including its part in the 1389 battle of Kosovo and its prominent role in resisting the Ottomans. She recounts Montenegro's development under its Prince-Bishops toward the independence achieved at the Congress of Berlin and lost after the Versailles Conference when the Podgorica Assembly voted to join the new Kingdom of Yugoslavia. When Slobodan Milosevic spoke of Montenegro and Serbia as "two eyes in the same head," he encapsulated a view that has deep roots in both nations. But not all Montenegrins agreed, and many chafed at being forced to play the role of Serbia's junior partner. Indeed, Montenegro's complex and shifting cultural and political identity is the main theme of Roberts's witty and dispassionate book, which culminates in Montenegro's defining referendum and subsequent international recognition in the summer of 2006.The history of Montenegro is at once a colorful, often bloodily violent story and instructive about how land, religion, and politics (both domestic and international) have intersected over centuries to shape and reshape cultural identities in Southeastern Europe. Students of national identity have much to learn from the Montenegrin case, and general readers will be enthralled by the dramatic tale that unfolds in Realm of the Black Mountain.

Excerpt from A History of Montenegro It is impossible to grasp the full significance of the forces now at work Without reference to the past. The movements in the Balkan peninsula in the course of the nineteenth century and at the present time, now to all appearance within measurable distance of success, represent a concerted effort to resume, under new conditions, the threads of national life and history at the point at which they were interrupted by the Turkish conquests. In the case of Montenegro the threads are unbroken, and supply the connecting link between the epoch which came to an end with Kodssovo in 1389 and the new epoch of which 1912 has heralded the dawn. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

In May 2006, following a closely and bitterly fought referendum, Montenegro finally regained the status of an independent nation that it had lost in 1918 - the most recent chapter in a highly turbulent history. The tiny Balkan republica??s declaration of independence from Serbia represented - barring the final resolution of Kosovoa??s status - the final stage in the disintegration of what was once Yugoslavia. But how did the Balkans forge this tiny republic? What sets it apart from the other dominant powers in the region? And what will be its future role on the worlda??s stage? 'Montenegro: A Modern History' charts the countrya??s contemporary history in accessible and comprehensive form. Kenneth Morrison explores the forces that have shaped the republic of Montenegro and questions where this will lead in the future, examining the fundamental issues of Montenegrin identity and statehood in a wider European as well as a Balkan context. This full and authoritative modern history is essential reading for everyone interested in the political and social dynamics of one of Europea??s youngest states.

Excerpt from A History of Montenegro The present account of Montenegrin history, written about twenty-eight years ago, and not hitherto published, was based mainly on materials to be found in the "Monumenta Slavica," the "Monumenta Serbica," and the "Monumenta historico-juridica Slavorum Meridionalium," as well as in the writings of Jirecek, Bogisic, Gopcević, and other authorities mentioned in the notes. It was then put on one side owing to the pressure of other occupations, and left untouched until the present time, when the events now in progress in the Balkans have given to the subject an increased interest and actuality. In view of the existing situation the book will be published as it was written, with only a few verbal alterations and the addition of a supplementary chapter bringing the story down to date. The materials quoted were consulted carefully at the time, and are not just now within the writer's reach. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.