The Role of Prince (Knez) in Old Montenegro

Old Montenegro in the Middle Ages consisted of several provinces, i.e. in the Turkish language "Nahiyah", of which Katun nahiya had the most inhabitants about 65,000, which was approximately half the inhabitants of Montenegro, and the largest part of Katun Nahija was ruled by the Ozrinići tribe. In the process of creating the tribe, "Knežina" (Principality) developed, (like an integral part of nahiya) i.e. nahija as a territory inhabited by several tribes. Thus, the Prince ( Knez on Serbian) also played a significant role and he was the head of the Principality as part of a Nahiya (source Vidak Vujačić, Character of fraternal-tribal structure and organization, Subject and method of study of the patriarchal community in Yugoslavia, p.167).

Every letter from Peter I, ruler of Montenegro begins with an address to the Serdars, Dukes, or Princes.

The Princely title was hereditary and lifelong and could be transferred to another brotherhood (source P. A.Rovinski, Crna Gora u prošlosti I sadašnjosti II, p.128)

In the origin of the tribe, an important role was played by the role of the Prince and sometimes the Duke. All Turkish sources from the 15th and 16th centuries distinguish the duty of the Prince from others. The Prince's authority is higher than the others. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the duty of Prince and Duke was hereditary (source author Branislav Đurđev ,, Razvitak Brdskih, Crnogorskih I Hercegovačkih Plemena ", Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, Titograd, 1984).

 During Ottomans, Old Montenegro was an integral part of Skadar Sanjak, divided into nahiyas, and these were divided into smaller districts called knežina (Principality ). The nahiyas were rulled by nahiya Princes and knežinas were rulled by common-rank princes. The title Knez-Prince continued to enjoy a high rank in the aristocratic hierarchy and tribal branches (source author Milan Jovićević book Montenegrian State and Dynastic Emblems, National Museum Montenegro, Cetinje,2001).

 Just as the title Duke was a hereditary honor, so was an honor of Baryaktar and Knez (Prince), (source author J. Milović,, The Russian Court advisor Aleksandar von Reutz on a visit to Montenegro from 26 to 30 May, pp.77-78).

 Each Nahiya has a Serdar, and each tribe has a Duke, Prince, and flag bearer (source Vuk Karadžić, Montenegro and Boka Kotorska", Belgrade, 1922, p.41)

Metropolitan Vasilije states in the History of Montenegro that Montenegro is divided into nahiyas, and that nahiya is divided into Principalities governed by Princes. ( source Historical Lexicon of Montenegro, K-Per, Daily Press, 2006, p.764).

 Every tribe had either a prince or a duke from its earliest days, and some had both (source, from the records of the famous historian and Archimandrite Nicifor Dučić, 1832-1900). Princely authority in Montenegrin (Zeta) parts called katuns has long remained in the same families, as confirmed by the Turkish drafters (source Archive records 1-2015, State Archives of Montenegro, Cetinje, 2016, p.16).

 In medieval charters we find that some katuns were inscribed as principalities with elders as Princes, "Comes Catuni". This Prince at the head of the Principality was the ruler over all the katuns in the principality. (source K. Jireček, History of Serbs, II, 97.)

Metropolitan Vasilije states that Montenegro is divided into Nahija and those into districts governed by the Princes.

The function of the Prince was to resolve disputes or mediate them to be resolved, to lead affairs of common interest, and to communicate with representatives of other fraternities or tribes. The title of Prince was also recognized by the Ottoman-Turkish rule. The Princes collected taxes for the Turks and were exempt from paying taxes themselves. They were mediators between Montenegrins and Ottoman authorities (source Historical Lexicon of Montenegro, K-per, Vijesti, 2006, p.765).

The importance of the Princes is best illustrated by the fact that the Princes at the Assembly confirmed the election of the Montenegrin Bishop, so in 1694 the Princes and the Montenegrin Choir reported to the Kotor Proveditore that they had elected Bishop Savatije to the post of the late Bishop of Cetinje Visarion. "By our will, we also place and confirm by order of His Grace Archbishop Arsenije Crnojević (Čarnoević) Patriarch of Serbia." (source "Starine", Book X, JAZU, Zagreb, 1878)

In earlier times, a recognized head of a brotherhood or tribe, called a Duke, Prince, or Baryaktar, exercised power in agreement with the fraternal leaders and other chieftains as his assistants or advisors. Distinguished chiefs had the right to transfer their profession to another. ( source Vešović "Tribe Vasojevići" State Printing House Sarajevo, 1935, pp.324-325)

From the thirties of the 18th century, the Princely title of Ozrinić was constantly held by Nikolić and Đukanović brotherhood (source: Petar Pejović, Ozrinići tribe of old Montenegro, Belgrade 2004, p.173).

Besides the title of Prince and Duke, several historical sources are proving that Governor ruling title ( Guvernadur in Serbian, Governatore in Italian) was given by the Republic of Venice to the Ozrinić tribe which they passed to another tribe in 1730 :

During the domination of the Republic of Venice, the Ozrinićs held the title of Governor until they left it to the tribe of Njeguši. 1717 Duke Vukota Ozrinić was the governor (source G. Stanojević, Montenegro at the time of Bishop Danilo, Cetinje 1955). 1727 His son Vukadin Vukotić. In 1730, the Ozrinićs gave up the title to Njeguši.

Bishop Vasilije Petrovic in a famous letter to the Russian Vice-Chancellor Vorontsov in 1758 writes: "In 1711, the Governor in Montenegro was Vukota Ozrinić." Vukota Ozrinić was the Governor of 1711. source to Risto Dragicevic, Montenegrin Governorates, Cetinje and Montenegro, 1927, p. 96-117.

The governor's competence" says Viala de Somière, "consisted in the general management of the political and military life of the country." Somijer goes on to say: "It should not even be thought that this ruler lives in a luxurious palace, having a guard and a splendid court. None of this is necessary for the people to respect him; He rules with his fairness and a demeanor that everyone appreciates. There is no difference between this simple government and the rule of great emperors. (source author Radovan Radonjić, Crnogorska predmoderna vlast, Matica Crnogorska, No.69, 2017)

Ban (title equal to Prince)Nenoje Ozrinić is mentioned in the archives of the City of Dubrovnik in 1335 and historians mention him as Prefect of Čevo, but for some, he is Ozro's son, and for others, he is the grandson (source Branislav G. Nikolić, Chronicle of the Brotherhood of Nikolić, Poeta, Belgrade, 2013, p.80). That Čevo had the status of a Parish at that time is mentioned in the work "Chronicle" of the priest of Dukljanin. The Prefect represents the nobility who had land and relatives in their administrative area (A. Sovoljev,,,Liber omnimum reformationum", Serbian Academy of Sciences, Third Department, VI, Belgrade, 1936). According to the Dubrovnik archives, they had their own small castle staff (Slavomir confalonarius Tuerdici, 8 August 1284), but there is a distinction between royal clerks and Parish administrators.