Stamps of Montenegro: The 1910 Coronation Issue

This article was written by L. Harald Kjellstedt and first published in “Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News” Mar 4, 1911 Volume XXV, Number 9, Whole Issue Number 1053.

As the first supply of this issue arrived in this country during the latter part of November many collectors have already had an opportunity of admiring the exceedingly handsome designs and the beautiful engraving which make these stamps an ornamentation to any album.

In the Schweizer Briefmarken Zeitung Dr. O. Weber furnishes an article, which sets forth the historical meaning of the dates found on these stamps, and as Montenegro is a country so comparatively little known in this hemisphere a review of the article referred to will serve an educational purpose. The courage and bravery, and intense patriotism of the people of Montenegro displayed during a struggle for independence covering 400 years have secured them the respect and admiration of every liberty-loving nation in Europe.

The former principality, and present kingdom of Montenegro is located between Austria-Hungary and Turkey with an outlet to the Adriatic Sea. Its area is only 3,630 square miles, a little more than the area of our two smallest states, Rhode Island and Delaware, combined, and nearly exactly the same as that of Porto Rico. The country consists of a series of high ridges with lofty mountain peaks. Its main industry is the raising of live stock. The population is 228,000 and furnishes no standing army but every able bodied inhabitant is a trained soldier and liable to service. The education of the children is free and compulsory.

The name Tschernagora (Montenegro or black mountain) appears first in the 15th century and referred to the territory between Cattaro and Scutari. After the decline of Servia which followed the defeat at the hands of the Turks in the battle of Kossowo, 1389, a number of families with the help of the Venetians maintained their independence of Turkey. Their chief adviser was the bishop of Cetigne. In the beginning of the 18th century, the metropolitan Danilo of the Njegosch family entered into negotiations with czar Peter the Great of Russia and attacked Turkey in 1711. From that time up to 1796 the litle country was constantly on the warpath. The latter year, Prince Peter I defeated the Turkish commander, Karamahmud Pascha in the battle of Krusi and as a result the Brda territory in the east was added to Montenegro During Peter II, who ruled from 1830 to 1851, began the time of reforms which included the establishment of a cabinet, a senate, a government printery, schools etc. Heretofore the princely authority had been exercised in conjunction with the Bishopric authority and Danilo I, who ruled from 1851 to 1860, was the first to assume the independent title and authority of Prince of Montenegro and Brda. He did so with the consent of his own people and was recognized by Austria and Russia.
Turkey, on the other hand, protested, and sent an army into the little country but as this was done without any consultation with Austria, Turkey was prevented from continuing the war. During the Crimean war, Montenegro remained quietly engaged in domestic reforms. At the Congress of Paris, in 1858, Ali Pascha, succeeded, notwithstanding the opposition of France, in having the European powers declare, that Montenegro formed an integrant part of the Ottoman Empire, and in order to prove their sovereignty, the Turks attacked Montenegro without any previous declaration of war. May 13, 1858, Prince Mirko Petrovitsch, brother of Prince Danilo and father of the present King Nicholas, defeated the Turkish general Hussein Pascha and his army of 20,000 at the battle of Grahovo. The sultan now declared himself willing to have the boundaries adjusted through an International commission. Before this was accomplished, Prince Danilo was assassinated in Cattaro, August 11, 1860.

It should be mentioned that the succession to the principality of Montenegro always went to a nephew of the ruling prince. Thus, on the death of Prince Danilo, he was succeeded by his nephew, Nikola I, the present King Nicholas.

King Nicholas was born October 7, 1841 and was educated at Trieste and at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. The 1 para stamp of the coronation issue shows a portrait of the 14 year old prince while he was a student at the French college. At the time his uncle was assassinated Nicholas spent his vacation in his own country and was immediately proclaimed as successor. October 27 of the same year he married the princess Milena to whom he had been engaged since his earliest youth. The 2 para stamp shows the fine faces of the young couple.

In 1861, the Herzegovinians, who are of the same race and religion as the people of Montenegro, started a rebellion against Turkey, unofficially supported by Montenegro. This caused the Turkish commander, Dervisch Pascha, to march on Cetigne, the capital of Montenegro, with an army of 60,000 men. Through international pressure, the Turks were prevented from availing themselves of the advantages gained through their victory at the battle of Ricka; and peace was declared in 1862 with heavy restrictions on Montenegro, which the latter afterwards ignored.

Now followed 14 years of internal development until the Herzegovinian revolution in July 1876 when Montenegro and Servia united, declared war against Turkey. The 15 para stamp shows us the features of the Prince at that time. The proclamation that the young Prince issued to his people on this occasion was indicative of his high spirits.

“Montenegrins!

I do not order you to be brave because bravery is a characteristic which was given you, in the cradle with your mother’s milk. I see the light in your falcon eyes and the heaving of your bosoms. The defeat of Kossowo shall be avenged. I march against the Turks. I do not need to urge you to fight because I know I could not hold you back even if I tried to do so. You, like me, have only one desire: The destruction of our hereditary enemy. Forward, then you falcons of Tschernagora!

During Amurat I, the Servian land was laid low, during Murat V it shall rise again. This is my and your hope, and the will of the God whom my family has served and worshipped for centuries.”

Right in the beginning of the war, the brave Montenegrins won the bloody battles of Padgoritza, July 23, and Vutschidol, July 28, 1876. The Turks suffered enormous losses and the forts of Medun fell into the hands of Prince Nicholas. The Turkish general Hamdi Pascha, was recalled and Mahmud Pascha took his place. After a time of temporary peace, the war broke out again in 1877, with Russia on the side of Montenegro and Servia. In June, Suleiman Pascha joined his forces with those of Ali Saib Pascha in order to operate against Cetigne. Prince Nicholas repulsed them and afterwards laid siege to the forts of Niksitsch which he took after 7 weeks by the aid of heavy Russian artillery. Five days later, Nicholas stood before Antivari which held out until January 10, 1878. On that day the Turkish commander Ibrahim Bey hoisted the white flag and requested an interview with Nicholas which took place in the residence of the Bishop of Antivari. The Montenegrins showed the Turks all military honors and Nicholas greeted Ibrahim Bey heartily and asked him to be seated, but with tears in his eyes and shaking voice Ibrahim announced the unconditional surrender of the forts. Nicholas comforted him by saying that even heroism has its limitations when left unsupported, and gave orders for the protection of civilians, women and children in the surrendered town. Two hours later the army of Montenegro occupied the forts which had been shot to ruins.

Eight days later Dulcigno surrendered and this ended the war. According to the treaty of San Stefano, Montenegro was permitted to keep all it had taken, which would bring its territory near to the Servian frontier, but in the following Berlin congress, through the diplomacy of Bismark, about one third of the territory was restored to Turkey. Nevertheless Montenegro secured an outlet to the sea and had its independence recognized by all the powers. This glorious aera in the history of Montenegro is referred to on the 15 para stamp with the dates 1876 – 1878. Since that time Montenegro has progressed peacefully under its wise ruler.

Nicholas has also shown his gifts as an author in a drama from his pen entitled “The Empress of the Balkans,” and in the dialog entitled “The Poet and the Fairy.”

From his marriage with Milena, the golden anniversary of which is indicated on the 20 para stamp. Nicholas has three sons, of whom the Crown Prince Danilo Alexander, was born in June, 1871, and seven daughters. Two of the latter are married to Russian Grand Dukes, one is the present queen of Servia, and another is Queen Helena of Italy.

The elevation of Montenegro to a kingdom and the coronation of King Nicholas took place August 28, 1910, followed by a week’s celebration by the people. The 5 perpera stamp shows the latest king on horseback in his royal uniform. It is refreshing to contemplate the active and patriotic life of this rugged mountain king, standing out so brilliantly from the background of indolency and luxury of modern royalty.

Nicholas has also shown his gifts as an author in a drama from his pen entitled “The Empress of the Balkans,” and in the dialog entitled “The Poet and the Fairy.”

From his marriage with Milena, the golden anniversary of which is indicated on the 20 para stamp. Nicholas has three sons, of whom the Crown Prince Danilo Alexander, was born in June, 1871, and seven daughters. Two of the latter are married to Russian Grand Dukes, one is the present queen of Servia, and another is Queen Helena of Italy.

The elevation of Montenegro to a kingdom and the coronation of King Nicholas took place August 28, 1910, followed by a week’s celebration by the people. The 5 perpera stamp shows the latest king on horseback in his royal uniform. It is refreshing to contemplate the active and patriotic life of this rugged mountain king, standing out so brilliantly from the background of indolency and luxury of modern royalty.