Petar I Petrović-Njegoš

Petar I Petrović-Njegoš
Prince-Bishop of Montenegro
ChurchEastern Orthodox Church
Installed1784
Term ended1830
PredecessorArsenije Plamenac
SuccessorPetar II Petrović-Njegoš
Orders
Ordination1784
by Mojsije Putnik
Personal details
Born1748
Died31 October 1830(1830-10-31) (aged 81–82)
Cetinje, Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro
DenominationEastern Orthodoxy
ResidenceCetinje
ParentsMarko Petrović
Anđelija Martinović
Coat of arms
Sainthood
Feast dayOctober 31 (Gregorian calendar), October 18 (Julian calendar)
Venerated inSerbian Orthodox Church
Title as SaintSaint Peter of Cetinje
Canonizedby Petar II Petrović Njegoš

Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (Serbian: Петар I Петровић Његош; 1748 – 31 October 1830) was the Prince-Bishop of Montenegro from 1784 to 1830 and Exarch (legate) of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. He was the most popular spiritual and military leader from the Petrović dynasty. During his long rule, Petar strengthened the state by uniting the often quarreling tribes, consolidating his control over Montenegrin lands, introducing the first laws in Montenegro in 1798. His rule prepared Montenegro for the subsequent introduction of modern institutions of the state: taxes, schools and larger commercial enterprises. He was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church as Saint Peter of Cetinje (Serbian: Sveti Petar Cetinjski / Свети Петар Цетињски).