Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Mirko Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian Cyrillic: Мирко Петровић-Његош; 19 August 1820 – 1 August 1867), was a Montenegrin military commander, diplomat and poet, belonging to the House of Petrović-Njegoš. He was given the title of veliki vojvoda (Grand Duke) of Grahovo, and is thus also known as Vojvoda Mirko (Duke Mirko). He was the father of Nikola, the future ruler of Montenegro.
Life
Mirko was born on 19 August 1820, in Njeguši, the son of Stanko Petrović-Njegoš and Krstinja Vrbica. He was the older brother of Prince Danilo I, while his uncle was Petar II Petrović-Njegoš. He is famous for winning the Battle of Grahovac on 1 May 1858, leading the Montenegrin army against the Ottoman Empire.
In 1862, after the Convention of Scutari, he was deported because he had fought against the Ottomans.
His epic corpus Junački spomenik (Heroic Monument), published in the Montenegrin capital of Cetinje in 1864, glorifies Montenegro and Montenegrins, and tells of the great victories over the Ottoman Empire.
He was married in Njeguši on November 7 [O.S. October 26] 1840 to Stana Martinović (Bajice, June 27 [O.S. June 15] 1824 – Cetinje, December 23 [O.S. January 12] 1894).
They had three children:
- Nikola (October 7 [O.S. September 25] 1841 – March 1, 1921)
- Princess Anastasia (d. March 29, 1879), married to Sava Plamenac
- Princess Maria, married to Capt. Y. Gopcević.
Work
His writings include this book of poetry owned by the Library of Congress in Washington, DC:
- Junački spomenik (1951; 185 pages) LCCN: 55037918 Call number: PG1418.P53 J8