Royal Family of Montenegro--past and present

[Marc]

In fact they both descended from King George III(didn't know and had to check out) of Great Britain and Hannover and Queen Charlotte Sophia,born Duchess von Mecklenburg-Strelitz!

[Alex_for_King]

>their daughter Zorka, who became Queen of Serbia (her husband annexed the country of his father in law!)

Danjel, Zorka died before Peter was crowned as King. So, she was Serbian Princess, not Queen. Had she lived longer, she would have been Queen.

Her husband did not annex anything. The Parliament in Podgorica, the capital of Montebnegro, decided in 1918 to join the new South Slav state, later known as Yugoslavia.

About King Nikola of Montenegro, his daughters were well married. Anastasia-Stana and Militza were greatly involved in spiritualism, the paranormal and stuff like that. They even had some sort of affair with Rasputin. They, however unwillingly, contributed to the fall of Imperial Russia and rise of communism.

Serbian author, Mrs. Isidora Bjelica, has written a book titled "Princeze di Montenegro". Very interesting reading.  

[LisaDavidson]

>their daughter Zorka, who became Queen of Serbia (her husband annexed the country of his father in law!)

Danjel, Zorka died before Peter was crowned as King. So, she was Serbian Princess, not Queen. Had she lived longer, she would have been Queen.

Her husband did not annex anything. The Parliament in Podgorica, the capital of Montebnegro, decided in 1918 to join the new South Slav state, later known as Yugoslavia.

About King Nikola of Montenegro, his daughters were well married. Anastasia-Stana and Militza were greatly involved in spiritualism, the paranormal and stuff like that. They even had some sort of affair with Rasputin. They, however unwillingly, contributed to the fall of Imperial Russia and rise of communism.

Serbian author, Mrs. Isidora Bjelica, has written a book titled "Princeze di Montenegro". Very interesting reading.  

To clarify, there is not a shred of evidence that Anastasia or Militza of Montenegro ever had an affair of any kind with Rasputin. What they did do is promote Father Gregory in Petersberg socieity and were entirely responsible for his introduction to Nicholas and Alexandra. They later came to mistrust him and thus their friendship with the sovereigns became very strained.

[Marc]

[Marc]

Crown Prince Nicholas and Crown Princess Francine of Montenegro!

[Marc]

[Marc]

Crown Princess Francine of Montenegro(it seems in London)!

[Gorm]

Hello: I just came upon this site. I was interested in the posted replies and wanted to add that Nikolai used his daughters as much as he could to gain Montenegro more clout on the European stage--thus he sent  his eldest daughters to the Smolny Institute in Russia for education.
Zorka was married off to Peter I of Serbia, who was 25 years her senior. After they married Serbia provided greater assistance to Montenegro. But Zorka died prematurely, and just a few weeks later their son (Andrei) died and Peter returned to Serbia. Later, he insisted on having both Zorka and Andrei remains to be re-interred in Serbia, causing a rift between the two nations.

While at the Smolny Institute   Jelena danced with the Tsarevich (later Nicholas II) and there was discussion of Jelena as a suitable bride for him. 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. It was at this time that Nikolai began construction of an island monestary to put his wayward or unmarriable daughters in.
However, at the same time, the Italian Royal Family was looking for a bride for Victor Emmanuel, but wanted someone who would be able to bring in some 'fresh blood' to the Italian Royal House. and Nikolai jumped at the chance of marrying off Jelena  to the Crown Prince of a potential ally. However,   problems arose when King Umberto insisted that Jelena would have to convert to Catholicism. This caused a great deal of dissent, especially from Milena, who refused to attend the wedding.
Both Milicia & Anastasia married Russian Grand Dukes, and Anastasia became a confidant of Empress Alexandra's, and she introduced Rasputin to her.  Again, these marriages were managed by Nikolai in order to solidify his on again/off again alliance with Russia. Many have noted the 'Montenegrian influence' the two attempted to bring into the court at St. Petersburg.
In an attempt to cover all of his bases, Nikolai married his daughter Ana off to Prince Franz-Joseph of Battenberg in 1897. Although the Prince died prematurely, Ana remained in mourning for the rest of her life.
Because of the incident at the Institute in 1890, Nikolai was forbidden to have his 2 youngest surviving daughters (Ksjena & Vjera) attend Smolny--therefore neither had any formal schooling, and neither married.

[Marc]

[Marc]

Portrait od Danilo I,first reigning Prince of Montenegro!

[Marc]

[Marc]

And one more of him!

[Marc]

[Marc]

His wife Princess Darinka of Montenegro!She played a very importrant role during first years of Montenegrian indeoendance!After the death of her husband Prince Danilo I,she was even a lover for a brief time of her nephew in law Prince Nicholas(later King Nicholas I of Montenegro) to esablish again her power in the country!After breaking up ''good relations'' with him she took all valuable things from Montenegrian court and went to exile...

[Marc]