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Nicholas I of Montenegro

1841–1921

Born
7 Oct 1841, Njeguši
Country of birth
Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro, today Montenegro
Died
1 Mar 1921, Antibes
facts
6
sources
1
images and files
0

Facts and their sources

Tap a fact to see where it comes from.

  • Birth7 Oct 1841, NjegušiProbable1 source
  • Death1 Mar 1921, AntibesProbable1 source
  • TitlekingConfirmed1 source

A life in time

  1. Born · Njeguši

    Birth, Njeguši

  2. Child born: Princess Zorka of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  3. Child born: Princess Milica of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  4. Child born: Princess Anastasia of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  5. Child born: Princess Marica of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  6. Child born: Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  7. Child born: Elena of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  8. Child born: Princess Anna of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  9. Child born: Princess Sofia of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  10. Child born: Prince Mirko of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  11. Child born: Princess Xenia of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  12. Child born: Princess Vjera of Montenegro

    Birth, Rijeka

  13. Child born: Prince Peter of Montenegro

    Birth, Cetinje

  14. Died · Antibes

    Death, Antibes

What was it like?

The world around Njeguši, 1841: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

Nicholas was born the same year as Antonín Dvořák, Giovanni Sgambati, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Known for

Titles held

  • king
Born the same year

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Czech composer (1841–1904)

  • Giovanni Sgambati

    Italian musician (1841–1914)

  • Pierre-Auguste Renoir

    French painter and sculptor (1841–1919)

  • Edward VII

    King of the United Kingdom from 1901 to 1910

  • Georges Clemenceau

    Prime Minister of France, 1906–1909 and 1917–1920 (1841–1929)

  • Gustave Le Bon

    French psychologist (1841-1931)

Fashion

The Versatile Struka Garment

Men wore a long, thick woolen cloth called a struka, which served as an all-purpose garment, a bedroll, and protection against both rain and extreme temperatures.

Weapons as Essential Daily Attire

Montenegrin men considered weapons an essential part of their attire, often carrying a brace of pistols, a yataghan knife, and a long rifle. A man without his weapons was considered naked and effectively incomplete.

Music

Traditional Gusle Music

The gusle, a simple one-string instrument, was the primary instrument used to accompany traditional epic songs that recounted tales of battle and history.

Unaccompanied Circle Dances

In most of Montenegro, traditional circle dances like the kolo were performed without musical accompaniment, relying instead on the rhythm of the dancers' footsteps and improvised songs.

Getting around

Steamship Access After 1838

Steamship travel to the region became more accessible after a line between Trieste and Kotor was established in 1838.

Travel by Foot and Pack Horse

Travel within the region was primarily on foot or by horse over rugged mountain paths. Travelers often hired locals to transport their baggage because the terrain was too difficult for carriages.

Daily life

Limited Schooling and Recycled Printing Press

After Njegoš established the first elementary schools in 1834, most of the population remained illiterate, and his printing press type was eventually melted down to make bullets.

Shared Living Quarters in Stone Homes

Stone homes typically consisted of only one or two rooms where humans and livestock lived together, filled with smoke from the hearth.

Food

Borrowed kitchenware and sacred hospitality

Because kitchenware was very expensive and scarce, families often had to borrow dishes for cooking and serving. Hospitality was a sacred duty, and hosts would reserve their highest quality food and beverages specifically for visitors.

Bread and dairy as dietary staples

Bread was the primary foodstuff and so precious it was the subject of oaths, typically made from rye, barley, wheat, buckwheat, or corn. Families consumed milk and dairy products in large quantities, often keeping cheese salted so it weighed more and lasted longer.

Prices and wages

Luxury status and meat consumption

Wealthy individuals in Montenegro were defined as those with an annual income of 400 gulden. Meat was considered a luxury food item consumed primarily by this wealthier group.

Potatoes as vital sustenance

Potatoes became a staple crop and a major trade item at the market in Cattaro, often transported from the mountains on the backs of people. Their introduction helped reduce food shortages and the high cost of living.

Work

Gender-based division of labor and tasks

In this patriarchal society, women performed almost all domestic and field labor, including building houses, transporting goods on their backs over mountains, and carrying water. Men largely focused on warfare, smoking tobacco, and maintaining their status as warriors, often leaving household and agricultural tasks to their female relatives.

Innovative food preservation using mountain ice

To preserve food during summer, women would carry ice and snow from frozen pits in the mountains to the city. During winter, they would gather this snow and ice to ensure they had cold supplies for the warmer months.

During their lifetime

  1. 1847

    Severe famine in 1847

    The year 1847 was recorded as one of the hardest and hungriest periods in the first half of the century, causing widespread suffering.

  2. 1848

    Abolition of slavery in 1848

    The 1848 decree abolishing slavery throughout French colonies fundamentally changed the lives of enslaved people.

  3. 1851

    Montenegro became a secular Principality

    Prince Danilo I transformed Montenegro into a secular Principality, ending the traditional theocratic government.

  4. 1855

    First household census organized

    Prince Danilo I organized the first household census, which recorded a population of 80,000 people.

  5. 1860

    Petroleum lamps replaced candles for lighting

    Starting in 1860, petroleum lamps replaced candles and tallow lights in German households, significantly improving home lighting.

  6. 1870

    First telegraphic connection established

    The first telegraphic connection between Montenegro and the rest of the world was established in Kotor.

Family

Spouses

Children

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.