Olga Petrović Njegoš: Difference between revisions

 

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In the early months of 1867, Alexander Semenovich Ionin (1836-1900), the [[Consul (representative)|Russian consul]] in [[Dubrovnik]], reported to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire]], that [[Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia]], who was persistently intent on replacing his wife [[Júlia Hunyady de Kéthely|Julia]], had, through the mediation of officer Lj. Ivanović, pledged himself in marriage to Olga’s mother, Princess Darinka. The envisioned union, however, was not merely personal; its deeper intention and purpose was the political consolidation of Serbia and Montenegro under a single sovereign authority.<ref>Др Димо Вујовић (1968). Књегиња Даринка – политичка активност: прилог историjи Црне Горе 1855 – 1867 (page=150)</ref>

In the early months of 1867, Alexander Semenovich Ionin (1836-1900), the [[Consul (representative)|Russian consul]] in [[Dubrovnik]], reported to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire]], that [[Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia]], who was persistently intent on replacing his wife [[Júlia Hunyady de Kéthely|Julia]], had, through the mediation of officer Lj. Ivanović, pledged himself in marriage to Olga’s mother, Princess Darinka. The envisioned union, however, was not merely personal; its deeper intention and purpose was the political consolidation of Serbia and Montenegro under a single sovereign authority.<ref>Др Димо Вујовић (1968). Књегиња Даринка – политичка активност: прилог историjи Црне Горе 1855 – 1867 (page=150)</ref>

Based on the report of Franz Philippovich, Freiherr von Philippsberg (1820–1903), [[Kingdom of Dalmatia#Governors|Austrian Governor of the Kingdom of Dalmatia]], dated 20 January 1867, Princess Olga had become engaged to her cousin, Marko Petrović-Njegoš (b. 25 March 1858), member of the cadet branch of the [[Petrović-Njegoš dynasty]], the younger son of Drago Petrović-Njegoš (1818–1872) and his wife, Marija ”Mare” Daković. Because Marko’s elder brother, [[Božo Petrović-Njegoš]], had already been named [[Heir apparent|heir apparent]] to the throne should Prince Nicholas die without a male successor, whispers emerged that Princess Darinka was maneuvering to alter the line of succession so that Marko—then only nine years old and supposedly promised to Olga—might one day become the Prince of Montenegro.<ref>Др Димо Вујовић (1968). Књегиња Даринка – политичка активност: прилог историjи Црне Горе 1855 – 1867 (page=151)</ref>

Based on the report of Franz Philippovich, Freiherr von Philippsberg (1820–1903), [[Kingdom of Dalmatia#Governors|Austrian Governor of the Kingdom of Dalmatia]], dated 20 January 1867, Princess Olga had become engaged to her cousin, Marko Petrović-Njegoš (b. 25 March 1858), member of the cadet branch of the [[Petrović-Njegoš dynasty]], the younger son of Drago Petrović-Njegoš (1818–1872) and his wife, Marija ”Mare” Daković. Because Marko’s elder brother, [[Božo Petrović-Njegoš]], had already been named [[Heir apparent|heir apparent]] to the throne should Prince Nicholas die without a male successor, whispers emerged that Princess Darinka was maneuvering to alter the line of succession so that Marko—then only nine years old and supposedly promised to Olga—might one day become the Prince of Montenegro.<ref>Др Димо Вујовић (1968). Књегиња Даринка – политичка активност: прилог историjи Црне Горе 1855 – 1867 (page=151)</ref>

Though of royal birth, Olga possessed no substantial property and lived in constant financial uncertainty. Expected to marry within royalty, she nevertheless remained unmarried, as her limited dynastic significance and lack of personal wealth reduced her prospects in the royal marriage market. She excelled in languages, mastering them with ease, though each was tinged with a subtle foreign accent. After the death of her mother, she continued living in Venice, surrounded by her maternal cousins, but she frequently visited [[Russian Empire|Russia]], sometimes in the company of her cousin, [[Nicholas I of Montenegro|Prince Nicholas]].<ref name=”:0″ />

Though of royal birth, Olga possessed no substantial property and lived in constant financial uncertainty. Expected to marry within royalty, she nevertheless remained unmarried, as her limited dynastic significance and lack of personal wealth reduced her prospects in the royal marriage market. She excelled in languages, mastering them with ease, though each was tinged with a subtle foreign accent. After the death of her mother, she continued living in Venice, surrounded by her maternal cousins, but she frequently visited [[Russian Empire|Russia]], sometimes in the company of her cousin, [[Nicholas I of Montenegro|Prince Nicholas]].<ref name=”:0″ />

Montenegrin princess (1859–1896)

Olga Petrović-Njegoš (Cetinje, 19 March 1859 — Venice, 21 September 1896), was a Montenegrin princess.

Olga was born on 19 March 1859 in Cetinje, as a member of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, ruling family of the small Principality of Montenegro since 1697.^[1] She was an only child of Danilo I, Prince of Montenegro and his wife, Princess Darinka of Montenegro. Alexander II of Russia and Eugénie, Empress of the French acted as Olga’s godparents, a choice that illustrated the strong dynastic ties linking their courts with Montenegro.^[2]

In 1860, her father died, and was succeeded by Nicholas I.^[3] After her father’s death, for political reasons, she left Montenegro with her mother and settled in Venice. In accordance with the will of her father, Olga was placed under the guardianship of her mother until she reached the age of eighteen, and after that she was to come in to the inheritance and lands of her father. However, Nicholas I did not give permission to her or her mother to permanently return to Montenegro again once they had left, so she was never able to take control of her inheritance.

Upon their departure, the Montenegrin court agreed to set aside 5,000 francs a year for Princess Olga and to give her a dowry of 250,000 francs upon her marriage. Initially dissatisfied with the this arrangement, her mother requested an increase, and Prince Nicholas agreed to contribute an additional 5,000 francs annually from his own funds, bringing Olga’s total support to 10,000 francs a year.^[4] He and his father, Olga’s uncle, Mirko Petrović-Njegoš, then serving as president of the Montenegrin Senate, consistently expressed their readiness to oversee and support her education and upbringing.^[5]

During her visit to the Russian Empire, Princess Darinka secured from Emperor Alexander II an annual pension of 4,000 silver rubles to provide for both her own support and her daughter Olga’s education.^[6]

After the fall of Napoleon III and the French Third Empire, the temporarily loss of their French pension—combined with the misfortunes of the once-very wealthy Kvekic family of Trieste, whom she had long supported—left the princess and her daughter in a precarious financial state. The severity of their difficulties is evident in a letter from Olga to Prince Nicholas, in which she asked that 12,000 francs be advanced from the dowry that had been promised to her. Seeking broader relief, mother and daughter appealed to the prince himself, who provided 106,000 francs to settle their debts on the condition that ten and a half of the princess’s annual Russian pensions be assigned to him. A formal contract to that effect was drawn up in 1875 and personally approved and signed by the Russian emperor.

Even this assistance proved insufficient. A few years later the Montenegrin government guaranteed another loan of 40,000 francs in the names of Princess Darinka and her daugher, Princess Olga.

Despite these ongoing financial troubles, they continued to visit Montenegro, namely in 1881, 1884, 1886, and 1889. During these visits, Olga and her mother have taken part in public life and court functions, continuing to formally receive members of the diplomatic corps, a privilege reserved only for the members of the ruling family, but their role within the Principality of Montenegro remained purely ceremonial, and they were regarded only as an honored guests.^[7]

Princess Olga was described as quite pretty, and as a timid and sweet tempered personality. Even as a young girl, her future marriage was considered a matter of significant importance, frequently discussed and negotiated among family and political circles.

According to the claims of the Serbian statesman Milan Piroćanac, her mother, Princess Darinka, hoped to see her daughter married to Milan Obrenović, member of the Obrenović dynasty and heir apparent to Prince Mihailo and the Serbian throne, citing provisions of the secret Serbian-Montenegrin treaty as justification. By then, however, relations between the two dynasties had cooled, and Prince Nicholas had no intention of supporting such a match.^[8]

In the early months of 1867, Alexander Semenovich Ionin (1836-1900), the Russian consul in Dubrovnik, reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, that Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia, who was persistently intent on replacing his wife Julia, had, through the mediation of officer Lj. Ivanović, pledged himself in marriage to Olga’s mother, Princess Darinka. The envisioned union, however, was not merely personal; its deeper intention and purpose was the political consolidation of Serbia and Montenegro under a single sovereign authority.^[9]

Based on the report of Franz Philippovich, Freiherr von Philippsberg (1820–1903), the Austrian Governor of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, dated 20 January 1867, Princess Olga had become engaged to her cousin, Marko Petrović-Njegoš (b. 25 March 1858), member of the cadet branch of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty, the younger son of Drago Petrović-Njegoš (1818–1872) and his wife, Marija Mare Daković. Because Marko’s elder brother, Božo Petrović-Njegoš, had already been named heir apparent to the throne should Prince Nicholas die without a male successor, whispers emerged that Princess Darinka was maneuvering to alter the line of succession so that Marko—then only nine years old and supposedly promised to Olga—might one day become the Prince of Montenegro.^[10]

Though of royal birth, Olga possessed no substantial property and lived in constant financial uncertainty. Expected to marry within royalty, she nevertheless remained unmarried, as her limited dynastic significance and lack of personal wealth reduced her prospects in the royal marriage market. She excelled in languages, mastering them with ease, though each was tinged with a subtle foreign accent. After the death of her mother, she continued living in Venice, surrounded by her maternal cousins, but she frequently visited Russia, sometimes in the company of her cousin, Prince Nicholas.^[11]

With the Russian and French pension, granted to her and her mother previously by Alexander II and Napoleon III, she lived her life in Venice surrounded by her maternal Kvekić family, where she died unmarried and childless.

During the last days of her long illness, Prince Tommaso, Duke of Genoa was telegraphed on a daily basis about her health, while Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Count of Turin visited her frequently when he returned from his military maneuvers in Germany.

She died in Venice on 21 September 1896, aged 37. Her coffin was transferred first from Venice to Cattaro, at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then to Montenegro, where her remains were buried next to her mother and father, in the Monastery of Cetinje.^[12]

Princess Olga’s funeral was attended by every member of the Montenegrin royal family and the whole diplomatic corps. Special wreath of fresh flowers was sent by Queen Margherita, soon to be mother-in-law of her paternal cousin, Elena of Montenegro, who was at that time already engaged to the future Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy.^[11]