Danilo I

Danilo I (Danilo Petrović-Njegoš) (dänē`lō), 1670?–1735, last elected prince-bishop (vladika) of Montenegro (1696–1735) and founder of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty. After coordinating defense operations and settling, at least partially, tribal (family) disputes among his people, Danilo launched a struggle against the Ottomans in 1711. During his rule political ties between Russia and Montenegro were first established. In 1715, Danilo visited Czar Peter I at St. Petersburg and secured his alliance against the Ottomans—a journey that became traditional among his successors. He subsequently recovered Zeta from the Ottomans and restored the monastery at Cetinje. Empowered to choose his successor, Danilo designated his nephew. This became the usual order of succession, the prince-bishops being bound to celibacy.