Elena of Montenegro
| Elena of Montenegro | |||||
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Elena in 1900
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| Queen consort of Italy | |||||
| Tenure | 29 July 1900 – 9 May 1946 | ||||
| Empress consort of Ethiopia | |||||
| Tenure | 9 May 1936 – 5 May 1941 | ||||
| Queen consort of the Albanians | |||||
| Tenure | 16 April 1939 – 8 September 1943 | ||||
| Born |
8 January 1873 Cetinje, Montenegro |
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| Died | 28 November 1952 (aged 79) Montpellier, France |
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| Burial | Montpellier Municipal Cemetery, France | ||||
| Spouse | Victor Emmanuel III of Italy | ||||
| Issue |
Princess Yolanda, Countess di Bergolo Mafalda, Landgravine of Hesse Umberto II of Italy Giovanna, Queen Mother of Bulgaria Princess Maria Francesca |
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| House | Petrović-Njegoš | ||||
| Father | Nicholas I of Montenegro | ||||
| Mother | Milena Vukotić | ||||
| Religion |
Roman Catholic prev. Eastern Orthodox |
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| Signature |  |
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| Full name | |
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| Jelena Petrović-Njegoš |
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Styles of Queen Elena |
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| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
Princess Elena Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro (8 January 1873 – 28 November 1952) nicknamed "Jela" was the daughter of King Nicholas I of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić. As wife of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, she was Queen of Italy from 1900 until 1946 and Queen consort of the Albanians from 1939 until 1943.
She was born in Cetinje as daughter of Montenegrin Prince and future King Nicholas I and his wife Milena. At the age of 10 she went to the Institute for young ladies in Sankt Petersburg (Russia). She was very talented at painting and architecture. She designed the monument for Prince-Bishop Danilo I.
As the result of Elena's marriage to King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy on 24 October 1896, she converted to Catholicism and became Queen of Italy when her husband acceded to the throne in 1900. Her mother was so distressed with the fact that Elena had changed her religion that she refused to come to the wedding ceremony in Rome.
Due to the Fascist conquest of Ethiopia in 1936 and Albania in 1939, Queen Elena briefly used the claimed titles of Empress of Ethiopia and Queen of Albania; both titles were dropped when her husband formally renounced them in 1943.
She influenced her husband to lobby Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy, for the creation of the independent Kingdom of Montenegro in 1941. In 1943 she subsequently obtained the release from a German prison of her nephew, Prince Michael of Montenegro, and his wife, Geneviève. Prince Michael had been imprisoned after refusing to become King of Montenegro under the protection of Italy.
On 29 July 1900, following his father's assassination, Victor Emmanuel ascended the Italian throne. Officially, Elena assumed her husband's whole titles: she became Queen of Italy, and with the birth of the Italian Colonial Empire she became Queen of Albania and Empress of Ethiopia.
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