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Milena of Montenegro

Queen Milena
Queen of Montenegro.jpg
Princess consort of Montenegro
Tenure 8 November 1860 – 28 August 1910
Queen consort of Montenegro
Tenure 28 August 1910 – 26 November 1918
Born (1847-05-04)4 May 1847
Čevo, Cetinje, Principality of Montenegro
Died 16 March 1923(1923-03-16) (aged 75)
Cap d'Antibes, France
Burial Ćipur Chapel, Cetinje
Spouse King Nicholas I of Montenegro
(m. 1860 - 1921; his death)
Issue
Full name
Milena Vukotić
Father Petar Vukotić
Mother Jelena Vojvodić
Religion Eastern Orthodox Church
Signature Queen Milena's signature
Full name
Milena Vukotić

Milena Vukotić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милена Вукотић; 4 May 1847 – 16 March 1923) was the only Queen consort of Montenegro as the wife of King Nicholas I of Montenegro (28 August 1910 – 26 November 1918).

Born in the Montenegrin village of Čevo, Milena was a daughter of Vojvoda Petar Vukotić and Jelena Vojvodić born in the village of Viš-Danilovgrad Montenegro. Her father was one of the greatest landowners in Montenegro and a close friend of Vojvoda Mirko Petrović-Njegoš with whom he had fought in the wars of the 1850s. The two friends decided to consolidate their alliance with the union of their children. In 1853, Milena, age only six, was betrothed to Mirkos's only son, Nikola, age twelve. Nikola was the nephew and heir of the childless reigning prince of Montenegro Danilo I. In 1856, after the death of her mother, Milena was sent to Cetinje, to be raised in the household of her future in laws. Having grown up according to the rudimentary customs of Montenegro at that time even in prominent families, Milena was illiterate. Between 1856 and 1860 she grew up in the household of Mirko Njegoš, her soon to be father in law, raised alongside Mirko's daughter, Anastasia. During those four years she became close to her new family: "My father and mother loved her as their own daughter" wrote later King Nikola. "My late uncle (Prince Danilo), also loved her greatly and treated her as his own child, and she showed him her love and respect in every way. She was very beautiful, sweet, kind, gentle and devout." In those years Milena seldom saw her future husband. Six years her senior, Nikola meanwhile was educated first in Trieste and later in Paris.

The assassination of Prince Danilo, on 12 August 1860, unexpectedly made Nikola the reigning prince of Montenegro at age eighteen. Shortly after, Nikola was close to death ill with pneumonia. When he recovered, it was decided to arrange his marriage as soon as possible in order to provide Montenegro with an heir. Milena's father traveled to St Petersburg and informed Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Montenegro's greatest ally and supporter, of the marriage. On 8 November 1860, at the age of 13, Milena married Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro age 19, who became King in 1910. The wedding was a simple affair and was held in the Vlach Church in Lovćen valley. The marriage was political: her family had played an important role in Montenegin politics and was befriended with the House of Petrović-Njegoš, her husband's family.


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