Montenegro

Where the name comes from

Montenegro means “black mountain” in Venetian, after Mount Lovćen’s dark forests; the local name Crna Gora means the same.

First people

Illyrian tribes lived here in ancient times, and mountain communities developed in medieval Zeta.¹

Known for

Montenegro is known for the Bay of Kotor, a deep winding bay ringed by mountains and old walled towns.²

Outside contact

Ottoman rule began in 1496, while highland clans gained more self-rule.¹

The modern country

Its independence was recognized internationally in 1878. After decades in a larger South Slav state, Montenegro voted for independence again in May 2006.^3,4