History of Montenegro in Timeline
Montenegro is a Southeastern European country located on the Balkan Peninsula. It spans 13,812 km2 and has a population of 633,158 distributed across 25 municipalities. Bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Croatia, and the Adriatic Sea, its capital and largest city is Podgorica. Cetinje holds historical significance as the Old Royal Capital and cultural hub.
1905: Draft Constitution Created
A draft constitution for Montenegro was created in 1905.
1906: Port of Bar Construction
The Port of Bar, Montenegro's main seaport, was initially constructed in 1906.
1909: Deposition of Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II was deposed in 1909, ending a period of peace between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire.
1914: World War I Begins
World War I began in 1914, and Montenegro joined the Allied Powers.
January 1916: Battle of Mojkovac
Montenegrins won the Battle of Mojkovac against Austria-Hungary in January 1916.
October 1918: Austro-Hungarian Occupation Ends
Austria-Hungary's occupation of Montenegro ended in October 1918.
1918: Church Buildings and Estates Built Before 1918
The Law on Religion specifically targeted church buildings and estates constructed prior to 1918.
1922: Montenegro Becomes Oblast of Cetinje
Montenegro became the Oblast of Cetinje within the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1922.
1929: Montenegro Incorporated into Zeta Banate
Montenegro became part of the Zeta Banate of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
April 1941: Axis Occupation of Montenegro
Axis forces occupied Montenegro in April 1941 and established a puppet kingdom.
July 1941: Uprising in Montenegro
An armed uprising began in Montenegro in July 1941 against the Nazi occupation.
1942: Fighting between Partisans and Chetniks
Fighting broke out between Partisans and Chetniks in 1942, with Chetniks controlling most of the country from mid-1942 to April 1943.
April 1943: Chetnik Control Weakened
By April 1943, Chetnik control in Montenegro weakened after the Battle of Neretva.
June 1943: German Disarmament of Chetniks
During Operation Schwartz in June 1943, Germans disarmed many Chetniks.
September 1943: Brief Partisan Control, German Occupation
After Italy's capitulation in September 1943, Partisans briefly controlled Montenegro before German forces occupied it.
November 1943: Federal State of Montenegro Founded
The Federal State of Montenegro was founded on 15 November 1943 within the Yugoslav Federation.
December 1944: Montenegro Liberated
Montenegro was liberated by Partisans in December 1944.
November 1945: People's Republic of Montenegro Established
The People's Republic of Montenegro was established in November 1945.
1950: Port of Bar Reconstruction
Reconstruction of the Port of Bar, which was almost completely destroyed during World War II, began in 1950.
1963: Renamed to Socialist Republic of Montenegro
In 1963, the People's Republic of Montenegro was renamed the Socialist Republic of Montenegro.
1974: New Constitution Ratified
The Socialist Republic of Montenegro ratified a new constitution in 1974.
1991: Montenegrin Involvement in the Bosnian and Croatian Wars
In 1991, during the Bosnian and Croatian Wars, Montenegrin forces, under President Momir Bulatovic and Interior Minister Pavle Bulatovic, joined Serbian troops in attacks on Dubrovnik, Croatia, leading to human rights violations.
1991: Beginning of Djukanovic's Political Dominance
Milo Djukanovic's influence on Montenegrin politics began in 1991, marking the start of his long career in leadership positions.
1991: DPS in Power Since 1991
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has held power in Montenegro since 1991.
April 1992: Republic of Montenegro Renamed
The Socialist Republic of Montenegro was renamed to the Republic of Montenegro on 27 April 1992 within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
1992: Referendum on Remaining in Yugoslavia
A referendum was held in 1992, where the majority voted to remain in a federation with Serbia.
1993: Montenegrin Orthodox Church Established
A schismatic church, the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, separated from the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1993.
1995: End of Montenegrin Involvement in the Bosnian War
By 1995, Montenegro's participation in the Bosnian War alongside Serbian forces concluded.
1996: Montenegro Severes Ties with Serbia
In 1996, the Montenegrin government, led by Milo Đukanović, broke ties with Serbia under Slobodan Milošević, establishing its own economic policies and adopting the Deutsche Mark, later the euro.
1999: NATO Bombing of Montenegro
During Operation Allied Force in 1999, NATO briefly bombed targets in Montenegro.
2002: Serbia and Montenegro Cooperation Agreement
In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro reached a new agreement for continued cooperation, beginning negotiations on the future of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
2003: Formation of Serbia and Montenegro
Following the Belgrade Agreement in 2003, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia transformed into the decentralized state union of Serbia and Montenegro, delaying any independence referendum for Montenegro for at least three years.
2003: Catholic Population Census
The 2003 census recorded 8,126 Catholics among the Albanian population in Montenegro.
May 2006: Montenegrin Independence Referendum
On 21 May 2006, Montenegro held an independence referendum. The result, with 55.5% voting in favor, narrowly surpassed the required 55% threshold, leading to international recognition of Montenegro's independence.
June 2006: Montenegro Declares Independence
Following the referendum, the Montenegrin Parliament formally declared the independence of Montenegro on 3 June 2006.
June 2006: Montenegro Joins the United Nations
Montenegro became the 192nd member state of the United Nations on 28 June 2006.
2006: Football and Basketball Federations Join International Bodies
Following independence in 2006, Montenegro's national football team was founded and its basketball federation joined FIBA.
2006: Coalition Governments
Since 2006, all Montenegrin governments have been formed as coalitions of three or more political parties.
2006: International Monitoring of the Independence Referendum
The 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum was monitored by international observers, including the OSCE, which deemed the process compliant with international standards.
October 2007: Constitution Ratified and Proclaimed
Montenegro's Constitution was ratified on October 19, 2007, and officially proclaimed on October 22, 2007.
October 2007: Country Name Officially Changed to Montenegro
On 22 October 2007, the country's official name became Montenegro.
2007: Central European Free Trade Agreement
In 2007, Montenegro joined the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).
2007: New Constitution
Montenegro established its current codified constitution in 2007, defining itself as a civic, democratic, ecological state based on social justice and the rule of law.
2008: Milo Djukanovic as Prime Minister
Milo Djukanovic served as Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2008 to 2010.
2008: Water Polo European Championship Victory
Montenegro's men's national water polo team won the gold medal at the 2008 European Water Polo Championship in Málaga, Spain.
2009: Water Polo World League and LEN Euroleague Victories
In 2009, Montenegro's men's national water polo team won the FINA Men's Water Polo World League in Podgorica, and PVK Primorac from Kotor won the LEN Euroleague in Rijeka, Croatia.
January 2010: Ulcinj South Coast Recognition
In January 2010, The New York Times included Montenegro's Ulcinj South Coast region in its list of "Top 31 Places to Go in 2010".
2010: End of Djukanovic's Term
Milo Djukanovic's term as Prime Minister ended in 2010.
July 2011: Rehabilitation of the Royal House of Montenegro
In July 2011, the Parliament of Montenegro passed a law rehabilitating the Royal House of Montenegro and granting it limited symbolic roles within the republic.
2012: Islam Recognized as Official Religion
In 2012, Islam was officially recognized as a religion in Montenegro, granting certain rights to Muslims, such as halal food in public institutions and the right to wear headscarves.
2012: Montenegro applies for EU Membership
In 2012, Montenegro began the process of joining the European Union.
2012: European Free Trade Association Agreement
In 2012, Montenegro signed a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
2012: Djukanovic Returns as Prime Minister
Milo Djukanovic returned to the position of Prime Minister in 2012.
2012: EU Accession Negotiations Begin
Montenegro started negotiations for EU membership in 2012.
2012: Handball Olympic and European Championship Success
Montenegro's women's national handball team won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and won the 2012 European Championship.
2012: Nikšić-Podgorica Railway Reopens
The Nikšić-Podgorica railway line in Montenegro, previously a freight-only line, reopened for passenger traffic in 2012 following reconstruction and electrification.
2015: Milo Đukanović Named "Person of the Year in Organized Crime"
In 2015, investigative journalists named Milo Đukanović "Person of the Year in Organized Crime," sparking protests and calls for his removal.
October 2016: Attempted Coup d'état in Montenegro
An attempted coup d'état involving opposition leaders, Serbian nationals, and Russian agents was thwarted in October 2016 during the parliamentary election.
2016: End of Djukanovic's Second Term
Milo Djukanovic's second term as Prime Minister concluded in 2016.
2016: Water Polo Olympic Performance
Montenegro's men's water polo team finished fourth at the 2016 Olympic Games.
June 2017: Montenegro Joins NATO
Montenegro officially became a member of NATO on June 5, 2017.
2017: Indictments for Coup Attempt
In 2017, fourteen individuals, including Russian and Montenegrin opposition figures, were indicted for their alleged roles in the 2016 coup attempt.
April 2018: Milo Djukanovic Wins Presidential Election
Milo Djukanovic, leader of the DPS, won the Montenegrin presidential election in April 2018, marking his continued dominance in the country's politics.
2018: Milo Đukanović's Dominance and Allegations of Corruption
By 2018, Milo Đukanović had dominated Montenegrin politics, facing accusations of authoritarianism, clientelism, and corruption related to privatizations during his time in power, leading to significant social and economic disparities.
2018: Montenegrin GDP per capita
In 2018, Montenegro's GDP per capita was 48% of the EU average, according to Eurostat.
2018: Discovery of Montenegro's Highest Peak
In 2018, new triangulation measurements revealed that Zla Kolata in the Prokletije mountains, at 2,534 meters (8,310 feet), surpassed Bobotov Kuk as Montenegro's highest peak.
2018: EU Accession Goal Revised
The initial target for Montenegro's EU accession was revised to 2025 in 2018.
February 2019: Anti-corruption Protests Begin
Anti-corruption protests against Đukanović and the DPS government started in February 2019.
December 2019: Law on Religion Sparks Protests
The newly adopted Law on Religion in late December 2019, which transferred ownership of certain church properties to the state, triggered widespread protests and road blockades.
2019: Montenegro as a Hybrid Regime
In 2019, Freedom House classified Montenegro as a hybrid regime due to concerns about state capture, abuse of power, and strongman tactics employed by Milo Djukanovic.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index
In 2019, Montenegro scored 6.41 out of 10 on the Forest Landscape Integrity Index, ranking 73rd globally.
2019: Montenegrin GDP
The International Monetary Fund reported Montenegro's nominal GDP as $5.424 billion and GDP PPP as $12.516 billion ($20,083 per capita) in 2019.
March 2020: Protests Continue into 2020
Demonstrations related to the Law on Religion continued into March 2020, primarily organized by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
May 2020: Montenegro Designated as a Hybrid Regime
In May 2020, Freedom House classified Montenegro as a hybrid regime due to declining governance and freedoms.
2020: End of DPS Rule
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), led by Milo Djukanovic, lost its 30-year hold on power in the 2020 parliamentary election.
July 2021: Same-Sex Life Partnerships
As of July 15, 2021, same-sex couples in Montenegro gained the right to register their relationships as Life Partnerships.
2021: Montenegro as a Flawed Democracy
The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index categorized Montenegro as a "flawed democracy" in 2021.
February 2022: Vote of No-Confidence Ousts Government
Montenegro's government was removed through a vote of no-confidence in February 2022, a historic event in the country's politics.
April 2022: New Minority Government
A new minority government led by Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, comprising pro-European and pro-Serb parties, was formed in April 2022.
September 2022: Spy Investigation and Diplomat Expulsion
In September 2022, Montenegro expelled six Russian diplomats following an investigation linking them to twenty-eight Russian citizens and two Montenegrin locals in a spy ring. The Russian citizens involved were subsequently banned from entering Montenegro, while the two local citizens, including a former diplomat, faced charges related to illegal weapons possession, organizing a criminal organization, and espionage.
2022: European Women's Handball Championship
Montenegro co-hosted and finished third in the 2022 European Women's Handball Championship.
2022: Original EU Accession Target
Montenegro originally aimed to join the EU by 2022 but revised it later.
2022: Tourist Visits
Montenegro received 2.1 million visitors who spent 12.4 million nights in the country in 2022.
March 2023: Presidential Election
In March 2023, Jakov Milatovic, representing the pro-Western Europe Now movement, won the presidential election runoff against the incumbent Milo Djukanovic.
May 2023: New President
Jakov Milatović assumed the presidency of Montenegro in May 2023.
June 2023: EU Membership Goal
Newly elected President Milatovic expressed his expectation for Montenegro to join the European Union by 2027 or 2028.
June 2023: Parliamentary Election
The Europe Now! party, led by Milojko Spajic, secured the most seats in the parliamentary election held on June 11, 2023.
July 2023: EU Frontex Agreement
Starting in July 2023, an agreement allowed EU Frontex border management personnel to operate within Montenegro to assist local border police on non-EU borders.
October 2023: Spajic Becomes Prime Minister
Milojko Spajic became Prime Minister in October 2023, leading a minority government supported by the ZBCG coalition.
October 2023: New Prime Minister
On October 31, 2023, Milojko Spajic of the Europe Now Movement became Montenegro's new prime minister, leading a coalition government.
2023: Montenegro Remains a Flawed Democracy
As of 2023, Montenegro continued to be classified as a "flawed democracy" by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index.
2023: LNG Terminal Planned for Bar
In 2023, plans were announced to install an LNG terminal at the Port of Bar to facilitate gas imports.
2023: Census Results
The 2023 census reported a population of 623,633 in Montenegro, a multiethnic state with no ethnic majority.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
Montenegro's ranking in the Global Innovation Index improved to 65th in 2024, up from 75th in 2023.
2025: Revised EU Accession Target
The target year for Montenegro to potentially join the EU is set at 2025.
2027: Potential EU Membership
Montenegro aims to potentially join the European Union in 2027.
2028: Potential EU Membership
Montenegro aims to potentially join the European Union in 2028.
