MONTENEGRO - Crna Gora / Црна Гора

Montenegro (Montenegrin: Crna Gora / Црна Гора,) is a country of South and Southeast Europe on the coast of the Balkans. It borders Bosnia-Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the southeast, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, and Croatia to the west. Montenegro has an area of 13,812 square kilometres and a population of 620,079 (2011 census). Its capital, Podgorica, is one of the twenty-three municipalities in the country. Cetinje is designated as the Old Royal Capital. During the Early Medieval period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro: Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half; Travunia, the west; and Rascia proper, the north. In 1042, archon Stefan Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja from the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of the Vojislavljević dynasty. After being ruled by the Nemanjić dynasty for two centuries, the independent Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries, ruled by the House of Balšić between 1356 and 1421, and by the House of Crnojević between 1431 and 1498, when the name Montenegro started being used for the country. After falling under Ottoman rule, Montenegro regained de facto independence in 1697 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, first under the theocratic rule of prince-bishops, before being transformed into a secular principality in 1852. Montenegro's de jure independence was recognised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, following the Montenegrin–Ottoman War. In 1905, the country became a kingdom. After World War I, it became part of Yugoslavia. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the republics of Serbia and Montenegro together established a federation known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was renamed to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. On the basis of an independence referendum held in May 2006, Montenegro declared independence and the federation peacefully dissolved on 3 June of that year, ending a nearly 88-year union between the two states.

The country's English name derives from Venetian and translates as "Black Mountain", deriving from the appearance of Mount Lovćen when covered in dense evergreen forests. The diversity of the geological base, landscape, climate, and soil, and the position of Montenegro on the Balkan Peninsula and Adriatic Sea, created the conditions for high biological diversity, putting Montenegro among the "hot-spots" of European and world biodiversity. The number of species per area unit index in Montenegro is 0.837, which is the highest index recorded in any European country. 

In 1854 an Austrian Post Office, operated by Österreichischer Lloyd, was opened in Antivari, then in the Ottoman Empire, now known as Bar; this office was closed in 1878 when the town was returned to Montenegro. The stamps used during this period were the issues for Austrian post offices in the Ottoman Empire. The first stamps to be issued by Montenegro were in 1874 which coincided with the opening of the first post office for public use. The design of the stamps had a bust of Prince Nicholas. n 1893 seven different values of the existing stamps were overprinted to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of introduction of printing into Montenegro. In 1896 a range of 12 stamps were issued for the bicentenary of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty. 1902 saw the introduction of new currency and new stamps with a new design and a new bust of Prince Nicholas. Montenegro was one of the few European countries to issue a stamp for the Avis de réception service. 

In 1905 a new Constitution was passed in Montenegro and this resulted in existing stamps being overprinted to commemorate the event. Another change in currency in 1907 produced new stamps with another design incorporating the bust of Prince Nicholas. On the 50th anniversary of the reign of Prince Nicholas, in 1910, he was crowned King of Montenegro and the principality was proclaimed a kingdom. This resulted in a new range of stamps being issued to commemorate this event. In 1912 a new set of definitive stamps incorporating the bust of King Nicholas was issued. Austria-Hungary occupied Montenegro in 1915. Austro-Hungarian military stamps were overprinted Montenegro and issued in 1917. Only 2 stamps were officially issued by Austria-hungary during World War I on 1 March 1917: 10 heller and 15 heller Feldpostmarken with a double vertical overprint K.u.K. Milit.-Verwaltung Montenegro. The general public, however, used stamps of Austria during the occupation. Stamps with horizontal Montenegro overprint are not official nicht verausgabte, and were printed for the first anniversary of Austrian troops occupation.

On 13 November 1918 Montenegro was united with Serbia. In 1922 it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Then in 1929 this became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Montenegro was occupied by Italy in 1941. The Protectorate of Montenegro was established and issued stamps until 1943. After the withdrawal of Italy from the war, the territory of Montenegro was occupied by Germany in September 1943. In April 1941, Kotor and the adjacent territories of the Montenegrin coast were annexed and incorporated into Italy as the Province of Cattaro of the Governorate of Dalmatia. After Italy surrendered to the Allies, the territory of the province of Cattaro was occupied by German troops in September 1943. Stamps were issued under the German military administration for Kotor in 1944. After 1944 Montenegro became part of the federal republic of Yugoslavia and then the Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Stamps for Montenegro again resumed issuing in 2005. Montenegro declared independence on 3 June 2006.