• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

History of Montenegro

Modern Montenegrin history begins in the 400 and 500s when the Slavs entered the region, but for most of the next 500 years remained under the rule of, first Rome, then Byzantium.

In 1042 present-day Montenegro gained independence from the Byzantium Empire, but from the late 1100s it became a Serbian possession on and off until 1499 when the entire region was overrun by the Turks. In the 1600s the Montenegrins rebelled against the Turks and as the Ottoman Empire slowly shrank, Montenegro gained its freedom until around 1800 when the Austrians took over. In 1878 Montenegro again gained independence and worked well with their neighbors, including the Turks to keep the peace.

In 1912 and 1913 the Balkan Wars broke out to finally end Ottoman Turkish domination over the Balkan Peninsula. The first of these wars united Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece against the Turks, which ended with a Turkish defeat. War however broke out the following year with the new Turkish government, and again the Balkan countries won this war to finally end Turkish dominance in the region.

At the outbreak of World War I Montenegro sided with Serbia against the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and after the war Montenegro continued to side with Serbia as one country. In 1922 this union grew as it added Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, and numerous other territories to form Yugoslavia.

After Yugoslavia fell apart in 1992, Montenegro decided to remain tied to Serbia as one country, although opinions throughout the nation were divided. As neighboring Croatia separated itself from Yugoslavia, Montenegro joined Serbia to fight this, while also trying to expand their borders.

Following the war, opinions for independence were again divided until 2006 when the people of Montenegro decided to seek independence and Serbia immediately recognized this act. Despite this friendly division, tensions have not always been perfect and with each year Montenegro seems to lean more to the European Union (EU) and away from Serbia.

This page was last updated: March, 2013