Islam in Montenegro
Encyclopedia
Muslims in Montenegro
form the largest minority religion in the country. According to the 2011 census, Montenegro's 118,477 Muslims make up c. 19.1% of the total population. They are divided into these main groups: Slavic Muslims
split among Bosnian
-speaking Bosniaks
, Slavic Muslims
, Montenegrin
-speaking Montenegrins, and ethnic Albanians
. Albanians
are a separate ethnic group, speaking their own language, Albanian
(4.91%) and living mostly in the south-east, especially in Ulcinj
, where they form the vast majority of the both municipality's and town's population. Bosniaks are Slavic Muslims speaking the Bosnian language and living mostly in the northeast. Montenegro's Muslims belong to the Sunni branch.
unable to maintain war on both fronts Ottoman Empire
had conquered much of Montenegro's territory and introduced Islam
. Ivan's third son Staniša Crnojević was the first prominent Montenegrin of the Muslim faith, and since then Islam
was not an uncommon religion to the Crnojević Montenegrin ruling dynasty.
Staniša Crnojević took up the name Skenderbeg Crnojević and ruled from his capital at Cetinje
. He is well known as one of the most prominent Muslim administrators in the northern reaches of the Ottoman Empire of Slavic origins during the reign of Sultan
Selim I
. Staniša Crnojević is known to have commanded an army of approximately 3000 Akıncı
he also maintained correspondence with neighboring contemporaries such as Gazi Husrev-beg
.
In 1704 the Montenegrin Christians conducted a massacre of Muslims known as the "Inquisition of the Turks" on Christmas Eve.
region in Montenegro
. The Bosniaks have virtually the same ethnic background with the Montenegrin Muslims, but differ in ideology of what ethnicity they belong to.
:
Of the total 110,034 Muslims:
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
form the largest minority religion in the country. According to the 2011 census, Montenegro's 118,477 Muslims make up c. 19.1% of the total population. They are divided into these main groups: Slavic Muslims
Slavic Muslims
Slavic Muslims are ethnic groups or sub-ethnic groups of Slavs who observe the Islamic faith, such as:* Bosniaks * Gorani * Pomaks * Torbeš See also: Muslims by nationality...
split among Bosnian
Bosnian language
Bosnian is a South Slavic language, spoken by Bosniaks. As a standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect, it is one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
-speaking Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
, Slavic Muslims
Muslims by nationality
Muslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
-speaking Montenegrins, and ethnic Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
. Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
are a separate ethnic group, speaking their own language, Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
(4.91%) and living mostly in the south-east, especially in Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
, where they form the vast majority of the both municipality's and town's population. Bosniaks are Slavic Muslims speaking the Bosnian language and living mostly in the northeast. Montenegro's Muslims belong to the Sunni branch.
History
In the 15th century the Montenegrin king Ivan (1465–1490) was at war with the infiltrating VenetiansRepublic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
unable to maintain war on both fronts Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
had conquered much of Montenegro's territory and introduced Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Ivan's third son Staniša Crnojević was the first prominent Montenegrin of the Muslim faith, and since then Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was not an uncommon religion to the Crnojević Montenegrin ruling dynasty.
Staniša Crnojević took up the name Skenderbeg Crnojević and ruled from his capital at Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
. He is well known as one of the most prominent Muslim administrators in the northern reaches of the Ottoman Empire of Slavic origins during the reign of Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Selim I
Selim I
Selim I, Yavuz Sultân Selim Khan, Hâdim-ül Haramain-ish Sharifain , nicknamed Yavuz "the Stern" or "the Steadfast", but often rendered in English as "the Grim" , was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to...
. Staniša Crnojević is known to have commanded an army of approximately 3000 Akıncı
Akinci
Akıncı were irregular light cavalry,scout divisions and advance troops of the Ottoman Empire's military. When the pre-existing Turkish ghazis were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire's military they became known as "akıncı." They were one of the first divisions to face the opposing military and...
he also maintained correspondence with neighboring contemporaries such as Gazi Husrev-beg
Gazi Husrev-beg
Gazi Husrev-beg was a Bosniak bey in the Ottoman Empire during the first half of the 16th century...
.
In 1704 the Montenegrin Christians conducted a massacre of Muslims known as the "Inquisition of the Turks" on Christmas Eve.
Twenty-first century
The Muslims of Montenegro are mostly Montenegrin and Bosniak by ethinicity but also some are declared Muslims by nationality (basically the same as the first mentioned ethnic Montenegrin Muslims). The Muslims can be mostly found in the SandžakSandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...
region in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. The Bosniaks have virtually the same ethnic background with the Montenegrin Muslims, but differ in ideology of what ethnicity they belong to.
Demographics
Ethnic composition according to the 2003 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
:
Of the total 110,034 Muslims:
- 48,184 BosniaksBosniaksThe Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
(43.79%) - 24,625 Slavic MuslimsMuslims by nationalityMuslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(22.38%) - 22,834 AlbaniansAlbaniansAlbanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
(20.75%) - 11,710 Montenegrins (10.64%)
- 2,681 others (mostly Romany and TurksTurkish peopleTurkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
) (2.44%)
External links
- http://www.monteislam.com/
- http://www.seher-tuzi.org/
- http://www.almanah.co.me/