Montenegrins

The Montenegrins for a long time remained divided into tribes (Katunians, Tsermiches, Kuchi, Vasoyevichs, and others), which quite sharply differed from each other in language, reprimand, stress, manners, clothing and character. The same thing, but on a smaller scale, was also noticeable in the smaller tribal groups belonging to the same tribe: among the Katuns, for example, Negushi, Ozrinichi, Tsutsitsa, Tseklichi, and Belitsy stood out with their peculiarities. By virtue of tradition, members of one tribe were considered to be relatives, and until the end of the 19th century they could not enter into marriages. The common origin of the families included in the tribe was also expressed in the celebration of the memory of one saint, as a patron of the whole tribe, in the inalienability of land and real estate belonging to the borders of the tribe.

The tribe was divided into fraternities, that is, as it were, also tribes, but to a lesser extent and able to explain their origin and their ancestor with almost historical accuracy, from which each of them leads its kind and its patronymic nickname. Such are the brotherhoods of Petrovich, Radonich, Bogdanovich and Luchich in Negushi, in Cetinje - Martinovich, Ivanishevichi, Shpadiery, Ivanovich. In the brotherhood, clans were distinguished, differing from fraternities only in that the fraternity should have several generations and therefore have more members, and the clan is younger in age and has fewer members; but both units are based on blood consanguinity of members. Finally, the clan was divided into families (pedigree, family name) or home (kuћa). Just as each tribe had its own definite borders, so each brotherhood owned certain lands, which, in turn, were distributed between clans and families.

The chief person in the tribe was the voivode (leader), who was primarily a military leader, and therefore he could only become a man known for military prowess. Although often the voivode of one or another tribe came out of one kind or house, there was no definite continuity; always required the election, or at least the approval of the people, who sometimes even eliminated the old governor and put a new one in his place. But the governor had only the most powerful tribes, while others obeyed them in wartime. Below were the serdars, whose duties were to repair the court and reprisal in a narrower circle, where there were no governors, although serdars are also found at governors. Although the Serdars acted in a peaceful position, they had to take part in military affairs, since otherwise they would not have enjoyed any authority among the people. The kerzez was followed by the knesez, like the foremen of a village or brotherhood. Their significance was limited to a small community to which they belonged by birth, but in this community the knight was the most influential person: a village or a brotherhood never listened to anyone (even the governor and serdar) as their knesz.

At the heart of the entire clan and tribal structure was the family (famel, pedigree), identified among the Montenegrins with the house (kuћa). The head of the family was the eldest by birth (father, grandfather, great-grandfather) landlord (home, kuћevni starjeshin), who is not only the leader of the family, but also its representative in public affairs, at the gatherings of the brotherhood or tribe, the person responsible for his house throughout . The father or the eldest man in the family - domachin - belonged to power, leadership and representation, but the main spring in the home mechanism was the housekeeper: she was in charge of housekeeping, managed her daughters, daughters-in-law and small children, she kept the whole household, and her mind and ability depended on well-being at home, and order, and even morality of the family.

At the age of 6-8 years, the boy received pants and girded with a long belt, which meant his adolescence; at the age of 12-14 he received weapons and became an adult and a warrior. When the Montenegrins went for prey to the borders of their neighbors - enemies (they honored), together with their fathers or other warriors, teenagers of 14-16 years old went to readings, and at 18 years old everyone was already obliged to be honored: otherwise he would be the last person, and not a single Montenegrin girl would marry him.

From a young age, girls were taught to work, so that later it would not be difficult for them in a strange family. The girl had herself to prepare a dowry - her "djevojachku skryu".

Like many southerners, Montenegrins are a rather leisurely people. So tourists need to be prepared for the fact that buses do not always arrive on schedule, and when buying goods on the market, the seller can start a long conversation with you. ^[9]

• Yugoslavs
• Montenegrins blood feud

• Montenegrins // Great Russian Encyclopedia : [in 35 vols.] / Ch. ed. Yu.S. Osipov . - M .: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2004—2017.
• Montenegrins // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• A brief extract about the Montenegrin people // Russian Archive, 1876. - Book. 2. - Vol. 7. - S. 261-267.