Royal Family of Montenegro--past and present

[boyar]

Picture made on the proclamation day of Montenegro as Kingdom, 15. (28) VIII, 1910

Stand (from left to right): Grand-prince Peter Nicholojievich, Prince Francis Joseph von Battenberg, Princess Vjera Petrovic Njegos, Princess Ksenija Petrovic Njegos, Crowned-prince Danilo Petrovic Njegos, Prince Mirko Petrovic Njegos, Prince Petar Petrovic Njegos.

Sit (from left to right): Princess Milica-Jutta von Mecklenburg, Princess Ana von Battenberg, Italian Queen Jelena, Queen Milena Petrovic Njegos, King Nikola Petrovic Njegos, Grand-princess Milica Nicholojievich, Italian King Victor Emmanuel, Princess Natalija Konstantinovic.

Sit on the carpet (from left to right): princess Jelena Karadjordjevic, daughter of Grand-prince Peter Nicholojievich Princess Golycin, Crowned-prince of Serbia Aleksandar Karadjordjevic.

[Gretchen]

Those children resemble so much to Elena's children, don't you think?

All grandchildren of Nikola and Milena looked very much alike, IMO.

[BarefootContessa]

However, there was an incident at a dance in 1890 over who would dance with Jelena  that led a Finnish Count and one of the Youssopov's to fight a duel over Jelena. Because of the duel and the bad publicity that it brought Jelena was later expelled from the school and was no longer thought to be an appropriate bride for the Tsarevitch.

Hello all.  Does anyone know more information about this incident? Where (and when) did the ball take place, and who were the two men involved in the duel? Am I right that one of the men was the brother of Zorka's husband?

Thanks!
BC

[POLN]

who were the two men involved in the duel?

The two pretendants were Prince Arsen Karadjordjevic and Finnish Count Carl Gustaf Mannerheim.
Mannerheim was very seriously wounded during the duel.
Frightened for the reputation of his daughter, King Nikola withdrew her from the Smolny Institute, and she returned back definitively to Montenegro. Prince Nikola considered one moment to put her into the convent.

PO

[amelia]

Didn't Elena later married the king of Italy?

Amelia

[Marc]

Yes,she did!Also Carl Gustaf Emil von Mannerheim didn't forget Elena and throughout his life he was sending her her favorite flowers-roses every year for the Saint-Helene's day!

[BarefootContessa]

Oh how sweet!  I found nothing mentioned about the duel at all on any Mannerheim websites.  Thank you for this information!

Does anyone know if either of these books has more information on this duel? 
THE MONTENEGRIN ROYAL MARRIAGES by Milan Jovicevic
PRINCEZE DI MONTENEGRO by Isidora Bjelica

I'm interested in the balls of this time period in general (late 80's- early 90's) but I find these sisters so fascinating!

[Marlene]

I have a copy of Montenegrin Royal Marriages, which was published by the museum in Cetinje some years ago now ... lots of photos from the archives in Cetinje.  English text

[Teddy]

Oh how sweet!  I found nothing mentioned about the duel at all on any Mannerheim websites.  Thank you for this information!

Does anyone know if either of these books has more information on this duel? 
THE MONTENEGRIN ROYAL MARRIAGES by Milan Jovicevic
PRINCEZE DI MONTENEGRO by Isidora Bjelica

I'm interested in the balls of this time period in general (late 80's- early 90's) but I find these sisters so fascinating!

WHAT KIND OF BOOKS ARE THEY? And what are their ISBN numbers?

[Marc]

The books are in Serbian...I read about the duel in Queen Elena's biography by Renato Barneschi(maybe my spelling is not good)!

[Marlene]

I am familiar only with Montenegrin royal marriages.  It was published in 1988 in Cetinje  from the royal palace albums. No ISBN.  Presumably not a major print run.  Author is Milan Jovicevic.    English text and lots of photos.

[alixaannencova]

I find the Montenegrin RF terribly romantic! I think King Nicholas was an extraordinary man too! I read the novel Montenegro a few years ago and have been enthralled by Europe's most recently re-instituted sovereign state!

I found 'Nicholas and Milena' a superb book too! Full of lovely piccies! I read on one website Armageddon 150 years or some such name, that the King as Prince of Montenegro had £8,000 a year in income!!! That sounds absurd to me...but then I was thinking that maybe he had the treasury literally in his pocket until 1905 at least, which meant the £8,000 was merely for the upkeep of the Royal Palace in Cetinje or something like that!

I mean £8,000 a year in 1900 ish times was only £1,200 more than my great great uncle was receiving from a mere 13,000 odd acres in land! It doesn't make sense! Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! 

[BarefootContessa]

I have another question about the daughters of Nikola and Milena.  I read in LITTLE MOTHER OF RUSSIA that Alexander and Minny were sponsoring the princesses while they attended Smolni, and helped to arrange Militza's marriage to GD Peter, and Stana's first marriage to George of Leuchtenberg.  The princesses would have been 23 and 21 in Aug 1889 when they married, and I am wondering where they lived between leaving Smolni and marrying their husbands?  If they were sponsored by the Tsar, would they have been staying at one of the palaces?  Did they move back to Montenegro in the years between school and marriage?

[alixaannencova]

I wish I knew about Stana and Militsa's residency prior to their marriages BarefootCountessa! I shall look in 'Nicolai and Milena' for any hints!

I was astonished to note today on Google that the compiler of Prince Nicolai's most recent bio, is evidently convinced that he will be restored in due course!! I do hope so, as I think he is such an interesting and colourful man of evident talents. His whole take on Montenegro's transition towards independence was done with such élan and style! I think his enthusiasm for re - igniting pride in Montenegrin culture and the arts is wonderful......'Nationalism' re-asserted through poetry and art so to speak!! His great grand father would be very proud no doubt! As I am in the process  of buying a house in the land of the Black Mountain, I hope one day as a 'resident' to be amongst those who vote to restore HRH as HM!

[amelia]

Has Montenegro joined the EU?This is a place I want to see sometime in the near future.

Amelia