| |
| 1878, July 13 |
| |
| TREATY OF BERLIN (See June 13–July 13) recognized the complete independence of Montenegro, which doubled in size. Fearing Russian use of the new Montenegrin coast, however, Austria-Hungary was given a type of naval protectorate in the region. | 1 |
| |
| 1879 |
| |
| Nicholas reorganized his state. He created a state council that acted as a legislative body, although it was appointed, and he established a council of ministers and a high court. He also divided the country into 12 provinces, further divided into districts headed by captains with administrative and judicial power. | 2 |
| |
| 1888 |
| |
| A new law code was introduced, and the army was reorganized along the Russian model. | 3 |
| |
| 1905, Dec. 19 |
| |
| Nicholas finally granted a constitution with an assembly elected by universal suffrage. He did this mainly to give his nation a modern air and thereby more easily acquire foreign loans. | 4 |
| After the advent of the Karageorgevich dynasty in Serbia (1903), there was growing rivalry for leadership of the southern Slavs, resulting in conspiracy against the life of Nicholas. | 5 |
| |
| 1909 |
| |
| An Italian company built the only rail line in the country, from Bar to Virpazar. | 6 |
| |
| 1910, Aug. 28 |
| |
| NICHOLAS proclaimed himself king. | 7 |
| |
| 1912, Oct. 18 |
| |
| First Balkan War (See Oct. 18). Montenegro, though not bound to the other states by formal alliance, was the first power to declare war. | 8 |
| |
| 1913, April 10 |
| |
| The European great powers blockaded the Montenegrin coast to raise the siege of Scutari. Nicholas took Scutari (April 22), but was forced by Austrian threats to evacuate it (May 5). | 9 |
| |
| 1914, Aug. 5 |
| |
| Montenegro declared war on Austria. (See Yugoslavia) | 10 |
| |
| |
