Royal Family of Montenegro--past and present

[LastoftheLine]

Dear all, I need to find out as much as possible about Militza and Stana, the Black Peril sisters who were daughters of Nikola and Milena and who would become Russian Grand Duchesses. All information (particularly books which mention them in any language) very gratefully received. Also does anyone know if their diaries / letters have been published? many thanks!

[Svetabel]

Dear all, I need to find out as much as possible about Militza and Stana, the Black Peril sisters who were daughters of Nikola and Milena and who would become Russian Grand Duchesses. All information (particularly books which mention them in any language) very gratefully received. Also does anyone know if their diaries / letters have been published? many thanks!

One of the best photobooks is  THE MONTENEGRIN ROYAL MARRIAGES by Milan Jovicevic, 1988, Cetinje. The book has interesting English text.

Also there are many mentions of both Princesses in various books on the Romanovs in Russian.

[Marc]

Apart from that book that Svetabel mentioned,you also have quite good and very big books in Palace Museum in Cetinje,Montenegro with a lot of photos,portraits,text etc.

[Marc]

As King Nicholas had many daughters who were educated abroad,he didn't think that they would have such luck in marriages and he started to think what will he do with them as they were "too much costing" the small budget of Montenegro and on the other side,they were already "grand ladies" for local men and the "home marriage" was out of question also for political reasons...So,he made his mind and decided them to become abbesses of the monastery on Skadar Lake that was connected with an old fortress which he stared to renovate for them...

The castle Lesendro was once of residence Petrovich-Njogosh family,in particular of Peter Petrovich II,Prince-Bishop of Montenegro who rebuilt it for himself.The castle was later taken by the Turks who returned it damaged and ruined after Berlin Congress in 1878...

Fortunately for them this fortress didn't become a destined home for Princesses of Montenegro:

[Marc]

Dear all, I need to find out as much as possible about Militza and Stana, the Black Peril sisters who were daughters of Nikola and Milena and who would become Russian Grand Duchesses. All information (particularly books which mention them in any language) very gratefully received. Also does anyone know if their diaries / letters have been published? many thanks!

There is also one book about Anastasia in Serbian...literal translation in English would be:"Anastasia in Russian Court"

http://www.dereta.co.rs/knjiga.jsp;jsessionid=C4A01E72093442813B5AD4A331109175?id=9740

[allanraymond]

Well,I am not so much an expert...I was in Montenegro last time few years ago...I have seen palace in Bar but it wasn't in that good state at that time...unfortunatly not in Niksic...first time I have heard about King's residence there..he had summer residence in Rijeka Crnojevica city which is near Cetinje on the Skadar lake..,later it was used as a fabric...

I mean Princess Alice of Montenegro...she was Austrian born wife of Prince Peter of Montenegro...and this may be confusing because in Serbia and in Montenegro the wives of Princes were always known by their name...so,she was Princess Alice of Montenegro instead Princess Peter of Montenegro which you can find in some other countries...

Marc

In a later posting you indicated you meant to write Violet rather than Alice. Just one other minor amendment, Violet Wender wife of Peter of Montenegro was actually born in London, England.

[Marc]

You are so right...I am an idiot ;-) yes Violet...don't know why I mixed her up with the name of Alice...Yep,it's her ;-) thank you for pointing to my errors!!!

Yes I did,it was lapsus calami :-) I mixed those two names for...whatever reason :-(

Yes,I don't know much about her except that she was born in London(1887),that her father's name was William,that her Orthodox name was Ljubica/Ljubitza,that she was an "Swedish" actress before she married and that she died in Monte Carlo(1960)...since her marriage to Peter was in 1924 when the family was already in exile there is not much known about her...I only know that she was a fried of many aristocrats who spent their time in the Riviera...

Wegner family name is a German one and they originated from Silesia..here is their family crest:





Here are some more pictures of her:

[Marc]

I saw an interesting claim about Princess Olga of Montenegro(1859-1896),daughter of Prince Danilo I of Montenegro...

It is said that she was married(and left issue) in La Valletta(1875) to George Mallia Tabone(1855-1943),son of Odoardo Mallia Tabone and Giovanna Fontani dei Conti di Senia...his father Odoardo Mallia Tabone(1821-1894) in turn was a son of Odoardo Mallia Tabone(2nd marriage) with Stefana dei Conti Fournier...and this Odoardo Mallia Tabone was son of first marquis Salvatore Mallia Tabone who got this title from Grand Master of Malta-Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc...

Anyone heard something about this fact or this family?

[Marc]

Meanwhile,here is a portrait of Princess Natalia of Montenegro's grandfather Aleksandar Opujic(1825-1888) from Trieste:

[Marc]

Véronique Haillot Canas de Silva is the daughter of an ingeneer. That's what i know.

Princess Véronique is an architect...She spoke in an interview that she comes from an old family from Portugal to which tradition is very important...she actually comes from da Silva family but changed it when Ligorio Silvestre da Silva married Mariana da Soledade Canas and their descendants have Canas da Silva family name!She is also descendant of de Mesquita family...

[Rani]

The Royal House of Petrović-Njegoš under the headship of Crown Prince Nicholas II of Montenegro has been restored to a prominent position within the political and cultural life of the newly independent Republic of Montenegro.

http://www.royalinsight.net/other-monarchies/montenegro-set-restore-monarchy

[Marc]

Portrait of young Queen Milena in Montenegrin national costume:

[Marc]

I just found an interesting story about Jana Petrovich-Njegosh,sister of Prince Danilo I and aunt of King Nicholas...

At one point Prince Danilo I wanted to celebrate one of the victories with his soldiers...In order to impress them he ordered 30 girls(from an area in which his brother in law,Risto Boskovic,husband of Jana,was Duke and Bishop)to dance with his soldiers...In the morning there have been some rumors spread about those soldiers and the girls...Jana immediately went to her husband and asked him to intervene to Prince Danilo and ask for an apology and punish the ones that have spread that kind of rumors...Prince Danilo denied this and thought that it was a joke.His brother in law replied to this:

"If you think so,my Lord,than my family has no place in your country until we defend our dignity with blood."

At that moment his brother in law formed a group of soldiers who would seek justice.Prince Danilo I managed to escape,but later came back with several thousand soldiers and in the name of state confiscated all their properties...As her husband took refuge,he ordered Jana,his sister,to give up her husband and marry another Bishop.

To that order she replied with dignity:

"I will never give up my husband as he did what every honest Montenegrian would do,defend honor...I am very proud of him and will never give him up,as he is no traitor,but those who serve you and whom you protect...I say this in front of God and nothing will make me change my mind."

Prince Danilo replied:"You will do what I say,or I will kill your two sons!"

Than Jana replied:"Hit,kill,burn and cut,but I WILL NEVER GIVE UP my husband dead or alive.If you want to kill them,kill me too."

Prince was furious and ordered her two sons to be poisoned.Day later they died in the horrible agony,while her life was spared...

Here is a portrait of Jana Petorvich-Njegosh:



What is most interesting is that her husband Risto,returned home after assassination of Prince Danilo I and that Jana gave birth to another son at the age of 55 which was at time considered a miracle!

This is one of the stories that just show what kind of pride some women of Montenegro had at that time and that they were not afraid of death,even allowed their children and loved ones to be killed just for the sense of pride and honor,just like in Sparta...

[Robert_Hall]

Interesting story, Marc. Where did you find it, I would like to read more ?

[Marc]

Interesting story, Marc. Where did you find it, I would like to read more ?

Here is a link to the whole story:

http://www.vesti-online.com/Stampano-izdanje/22-09-2011/Feljton/166165/Ni-sestrice-nije-postedeo-/print

Unfortunately,it's not in English,but try using google translate or babelfish ;P