Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle | Page 7

From which gifts, say the people, they
receive no benefit. Since 1779 no Russian money has been received.
The feelings of the country have consequently grown cold. People here
obey only so long as they gain by so doing."
We now come upon the first notice of the development of the Great
Serbian Idea, as a definite political plan in Montenegro. The Austrian
Envoy writes:
"The following which was told me by a Montenegrin monk is worthy
of further consideration. A little while after the Russian war was ended
in 1773 a plan was made by the Metropolitan and some monks to
reconstruct the old Serbian Kingdom and to include in it besides
Bulgaria, Serbia, Upper Albania, Dalmatia and Bosnia, also the Banat
of Karlstadt and Slavonia. The Turks in all the provinces were to be
fallen upon at a given moment by the Schismatics, and it was also
resolved that all foreign officers should be cleared out of all lands
within the Imperial frontiers. The late Orthodox Bishop Jaksitch of
Karlstadt is said to have agreed and carried on a correspondence with
the Metropolitan of Montenegro by means of priests. . . . Though the
carrying out of such a plan is very difficult, yet the project should not
be left out of consideration."
The Petrovitch ambition to form and rule over Great Serbia was thus,
we see, actually elaborated long before Serbia had obtained
independence and before the Karageorgevitches had even been heard of.
This explains much that has since happened.
Further the Envoy replies to the question: Whether or not Montenegro
can be considered independent?--thus:

"From the frontier drawn by the Venetians with the Turks it follows
that Montenegro belongs to the Turks. The nation does not deny that it
has been twice conquered by the Turks, who, each time, destroyed
Cetinje and the Monastery, where some Turks even settled, but were
driven out. In 1768 they were forced to pay tribute by the Vezir of
Bosnia. The Montenegrins on the plains, in fact, pay tribute. The
Katunska and Rijeka nahias alone have paid no tribute since 1768.
These facts show Montenegro belongs to the Porte.
"The Montenegrins on the contrary maintain that they have never
recognized Turkish rule, and never paid tribute save when forced by
overpowering numbers; that they do not recognize the assigning of
their nahias to the Pashas of Spuzh and Scutari; that they have chosen a
Gubernator whose title has not been disputed; that they rule themselves
without Turkish interference. In truth, however, the apparent
independence of the land depends as much on its mountainous
character as on the courage of the inhabitants. The difficulties of the
land make it more trouble than it is worth."
The country is described as completely lawless. Blood feuds rage
between rival families and in seven months a hundred men have been
killed in vengeance. Over this wild group of tribes Russia and Austria
now struggled for influence. In 1782 Ivan Radonitch went for seven
months to Vienna. Montenegro could not (and cannot) possibly exist
without foreign aid. And he sought it.
But the Emperor Joseph II decided that to organize Montenegro as an
Ally "would, in peace, be costly and in war of insufficient use." He
withdrew the Mission but, to retain Montenegro's goodwill, allotted a
small annual subsidy of which 500 ducats were to go to Radonitch, and
but 150 to Vladika Plamenatz.
Russia, however, would not let Montenegro slip from her grasp. In May,
1788, a Russian Envoy arrived and began countermining Austria.
Austria retorted by sending another Envoy, who reports complete
anarchy and ceaseless inter-tribal fighting:
"Some were with us; some sought to destroy us; some fought the Turks;

some were in alliance with them. They have a Bishop, Governor and
Serdar, but these are mere names. People obey only if they can gain by
so doing. We even heard a common man say to the Bishop's face: 'Holy
Bishop, you lie like a hound! I will cut out your heart on the point of
my knife.' Except that they keep the fasts they have no religion. They
rob, steal, and have many wives. Some sell women and girls to the
Turks and commit other crimes as one hears daily. All is done with the
animal impulse of desire, or hatred, or selfishness. The inhabitants are
used to raid neighbourlands for cattle, etc., and are even led by their
priests on these expeditions which they think heroic."
This vivid account will be recognized as the truth by all who have lived
in native huts and listened to local tradition. It describes the life of the
Balkan Christian up till recent days. My Montenegrin guide used to
lament the good old times when a second wife could be taken and no
fuss made; and when