Petar I Petrović Njegoš
| Petar I Petrović-Njegoš | |
|---|---|
| Prince-Bishop of Montenegro | |
 |
|
| Native name | Петар I |
| Installed | 1784 |
| Term ended | 1830 |
| Predecessor | Arsenije Plamenac |
| Successor | Peter II |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1784 by Mojsije Putnik |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1748 Njeguši, Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | October 31, 1830 (aged 82) Cetinje, Montenegro |
| Denomination | Serbian Orthodox Christian |
| Residence | Cetinje |
| Parents | Marko Petrović and Anđelija Martinović |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | October 31 (Gregorian calendar), October 18 (Julian calendar) |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Title as Saint | Saint Peter of Cetinje |
| Canonized | by Serbian Orthodox Church |
Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian Cyrillic: Петар I Петровић Његош; 1748–31 October 1830) was the ruler of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro as the Metropolitan (vladika) of Cetinje, and Exarch (legate) of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne. He was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the Petrović dynasty. During his long rule, Petar strengthened the state by uniting the often quarreling tribes, consolidating his control over Montenegrin lands, introducing the first laws in Montenegro (Zakonik Petra I) and a program of liberation and unification of Serbs. His rule prepared Montenegro for the subsequent introduction of modern institutions of the state: taxes, schools and larger commercial enterprises. He was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church as "St. Peter of Cetinje" (Свети Петар Цетињски).
He was described as "a man of uncommon size, handsome features, considerable talent, and a highly respected character" by Therese Albertine Luise Robinson.
The son of Marko and Anđelija (née Martinović), Petar followed the footsteps of his relatives, becoming a monk and a deacon. He spent four years in Imperial Russia, finishing the Military School (1765–69). In 1778, archimandrite Petar was in Russia with guvernadur Jovan Radonjić and serdar Ivan Petrović. Metropolitan Sava Petrović (s. 1735–1781), who died in 1781, chose his nephew and co-adjutor Arsenije Plamenac the successor, which was met with opposition from the Montenegrin tribes at the beginning, later switching in favour after Sava gained the support of Šćepan Mali, the false tsar and ruler of Montenegro. Plamenac was inactive and had little power, serving as metropolitan between 1781 and his death in 1784. The guvernadur family of Radonjić, which had Venetian support and then Austrian, increased their power and sought to push aside the Petrović metropolitans. The chieftains had suggested Petar the bishop seat already in 1783, and he was then sent to the Habsburg Monarchy to be ordained.
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