Nicholas I of Montenegro

Nikola was a leader in Montenegro.

He became a prince when he was young. Later, he became a king. He helped his land grow. He made new rules for his people.

Nikola also liked to write. He wrote songs and plays.

Many of his children married other kings. People called him a father to many kings. He had a very big family.

He lived a long time ago. His story is still remembered today.

Nikola I was a leader of Montenegro.

He was born in a village called Njeguši. His family had ruled for a long time. Nikola became a prince in 1860. He was only 19 years old then. He married a woman named Milena. Later, in 1910, he became the first king of Montenegro.

Nikola worked to change his country. He helped build schools and better roads. He even made a new type of money called the perper. He gave his people a constitution. A constitution is a set of rules for a country. He also helped his people gain more freedom.

Nikola was a writer too. He wrote songs and plays about his land.

He had a very large family. Many of his daughters married kings and princes. Because of this, people called him "the father-in-law of Europe."

During a big war, Montenegro was taken by others. Nikola had to leave his home. He lived in France until he died in 1921. Many years later, his family was moved back to Montenegro.

Nikola I was a very important leader of Montenegro.

He ruled as a prince from 1860 to 1910. Later, he became the first and only king from 1910 to 1918. Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši. His family, the House of Petrović, had a long history of ruling. Before his time, leaders were often called vladikas, or prince-bishops. These leaders were part of the clergy and could not marry. However, a leader named Danilo I changed this. He made Montenegro a secular principality so the throne could pass to male heirs.

Nikola spent his early years learning many different things. He practiced martial arts and athletics when he was young. He even spent time in Trieste at the home of his aunt. Later, he went to study at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. Even though he studied in France, he loved his home country. He was a very patriotic person. He joined a group called the United Serbian Youth. He also helped start the Association for Serb Liberation and Unification in 1871.

As a ruler, Nikola worked to make his country stronger. He carried out many military and educational reforms. He met many famous leaders, like Emperor Napoleon III and Queen Victoria. He also had a very close relationship with Russia. The Russian tsar, Alexander II, sent money and supplies to help Montenegro. This help was used for schools and other important things. In 1876, Nikola declared war against Turkey. This war helped Montenegro grow much larger. It even gave the country a coastline on the Adriatic Sea.

Nikola also helped change how the government worked. In 1905, he gave the people a constitution. This was a set of rules for the country. He also brought in new laws and press freedom. In 1906, he introduced a new type of money called the perper. When he became king in 1910, he was also a field-marshal in the Russian army. This was a very rare honor for a foreigner. He was a very busy leader who wanted to see his people succeed.

Nikola was famous for his large and royal family. He married Milena, the daughter of Petar Vukotić. They had many children together. Five of his six daughters married into royal families. This earned him the nickname "the father-in-law of Europe." His grandchildren became kings in places like Italy and Yugoslavia. During the Great War, Montenegro was conquered by Austria-Hungary. Nikola had to live in exile in France. He died in 1921 and was buried in Italy.

Nicholas I was the last monarch to rule the nation of Montenegro.

He served as the country's prince from 1860 until 1910. In 1910, he became the first and only king of Montenegro. His reign spanned several major shifts in European politics and borders. He was a member of the House of Petrović, which had ruled for a long time. Before his era, leaders were often called vladikas, or prince-bishops. These religious leaders belonged to the black clergy, which meant they could not marry. A previous leader, Danilo I, changed this by making Montenegro a secular principality. This allowed the throne to pass down through the direct male line of the family.

Nikola's early life included training in both martial and athletic exercises. He spent time in Trieste at the home of his aunt, Princess Darinka. Because of her influence, he attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. Although he studied in France, he did not adopt many French habits. He remained a deeply patriotic highlander who wanted to return home. During his youth, he was a member of the United Serbian Youth. After that group was prohibited, he helped establish the Association for Serb Liberation and Unification in 1871. He was also a talented writer and poet. He wrote patriotic songs like "Onamo, 'namo!" and the drama "The Balkan Empress."

Nikola succeeded his uncle, Danilo I, as prince in 1860. At age 19, he married Milena, the daughter of Petar Vukotić. As a ruler, he introduced many military, administrative, and educational reforms. He worked to build strong connections with other powerful European nations. He met Emperor Napoleon III of France and visited the courts of Berlin and Vienna. He also had a very strong relationship with the Russian Empire. The Russian tsar, Alexander II, provided many subsidies for education. Russia also sent military supplies, such as arms and ammunition, to Cetinje. In 1871, a special mission from the tsar even distributed large sums of money to the Montenegrin people.

Between 1862 and 1878, Montenegro fought several wars with the Ottoman Empire. In 1876, Nikola declared war against Turkey to seek revenge for the Battle of Kosovo. This conflict led to the capture of Nikšić, Bar, and Ulcinj. These victories allowed Montenegro to expand its borders significantly. Most importantly, the country gained a coastline on the Adriatic Sea. The Congress of Berlin in 1878 officially recognized Montenegro as an independent nation. Following this, the country entered a period of stability and prosperity. During these decades, the army, communications, and schools all grew much larger.

In 1905, Nikola gave the people their first constitution. This was a response to the population's desire for more freedom. He also introduced new criminal law codes and press freedom. In 1906, he established the perper as the national currency. On August 28, 1910, he assumed the title of king. At this time, he was also named a field-marshal in the Russian army. This was a rare honor, as no other foreigner had received it except the Duke of Wellington. He remained an active leader during the Balkan Wars of 1912. He successfully captured Scutari after a difficult siege.

Nikola was famous for his many royal connections. He had twelve children with Queen Milena. Five of his six daughters married into various royal families. This earned him the nickname "the father-in-law of Europe." His grandchildren included King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and King Umberto II of Italy. His daughter Elena became the Queen of Italy. His daughter Milena's children included the King of Serbia. These marriages linked the House of Petrović to the most powerful thrones in the world. This web of family ties made Montenegro a central part of European royal society.

The end of Nikola's reign came during the Great War. In 1914, he went to aid Serbia against Austro-Hungarian forces. However, in 1916, Austria-Hungary conquered Montenegro. The King was forced to flee to Italy and then to France. While in exile, his government operated out of Bordeaux. After the war ended, a meeting in Podgorica decided to depose him. Montenegro was then annexed to Serbia. This led to the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later became Yugoslavia. Nikola continued to claim his throne until he died in 1918. He passed away in Antibes in 1921 and was buried in Italy. In 1989, his remains and those of his family were moved back to Montenegro.