PREČANI PRESS ON PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF MONTENEGRO

Abstract

Proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro was in the spotlight of Prečani press. The most influential newspapers Zastava, Srbobran and Branik wrote about the event for several weeks in each issue. The newspapers of Novi Sad radicals and Zagreb independents were leading in their criticism of the rule of King Nikola. They characterized him as an autocrat and a tyrant who suppressed political freedom and hindered the development of Montenegro. From a political point of view, they felt that such a move of the ruler of Montenegro was only an attempt to satisfy personal vanity, which caused a great damage to the Serbian idea. Unlike Zastava and Srbobran, the newspapers of Prečani Liberals, Branik, wrote about the rule of Nikola Petrović with reverence. There was glorified his role in the overall fight for the Serbian idea and emphasized s need for unity of the two Serbian Kingdoms.