The entire tradition of Montenegro is based on Kosovo myth, glorification of medieval Serb Empire of the Nemanjics and identification with heroism of Milos Obilic, the Serb hero who killed Turkish Sultan during the Kosovo battle in 1389. Therefore, the symbols of Montenegrin state were based on such tradition of medieval Serb state.

Double-headed eagle, the coat of arms of medieval Serb Empire, was accepted by the Crnojevics, the rulers of Zeta, the last free Serb medieval state, which fell under the Turks in 1499.
 

Nemanjic Dynasty

Crnojevic Dynasty

Petrovic Njegos Dynasty

Double-headed eagle was always, even under the Turkish and Austro-Hungarian slavery, the symbol of Serb nation. It was natural that Nemanjics' coat of arms should be the Serb state symbol, the coat of arms of modern Serb states, Serbia and Montenegro.

The Lion on the medieval Serb coin

One of the symbols used by Serb Emperor, Uros Nemanjic, was - the lion. The lion was also, very often, used by Serb medieval landed gentry as well as on the Serb coins.

In modern time, the lion found the place on the stamps of Serb bishops. The combination of double-headed eagle and lion could be seen on the tombstone of Serb Patriarch, Arsenije IV Sakabenta, in Krusedol (Vojvodina).

The State or People's flag of Montenegro was Serb tricolor, red-blue-white, the colors of Serb nation. It was regulated by the constitution of Principality of Montenegro and later by the constitution of Kingdom of Montenegro. In paragraph 39 it is said that "The people's colors are red, blue and white". This tricolor flag was hoisted on state institutions and public places during the holidays. The people's flag was used without applications. The coffin of king Nikola I Petrovic Njegos was covered with tricolor flag. The Serb tricolor of Montenegro, was used in 1858 for the first time as a flag by prince Danilo Petrovic Njegos and hoisted on his residency in Cetinje, the Montenegrin capital.

Royal flag of Montenegro click here to enlarge

Royal flag of Montenegro click here to enlarge

The Royal flag was based on the same tradition - double-headed eagle with spread and high lifted wings, and the lion, on Serb tricolor. The flag was hoisted on palace, residencies of royal family and objects where the King resided during his visits.

The anthem of Montenegro was king Nikola's Serb patriotic song, "OHAMO 'HAMO" (There, Over There). Nikola's patriotic idea and the patriotic idea of all Montenegrins is contended in this song. The patriotic idea was the re-establishing of the Empire of Dusan Nemanjic or state of all Serbs with Prizren as its capital. On the occasion of Nikola's visit to Russia, in 1868, Russian Emperor Alexander II gave him a saber of Serb king Milutin Nemanjic and said: "I have saber of your ancestors. It will find better place in your hand than in arsenal of mine".

Montenegro got its currency in 1906. Since then the foreign currencies were in circulation, especially Austrian currency. The name of Montenegrin currency was - Perper. Perper was the currency of Serb Emperor Dusan Nemanic and the name of Montenegrin currency is given with full sense of patriotism, heritage and identification with Serb Empire.

Perper, the currency of king Nikola Petrovic
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The Medal of Obilic
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When King Nikola died, the saber of the Nemanjics, the symbol of Serb glory, was put on his catafalque. His coffin was covered with Serb tricolor flag of Montenegro.

If we add that the most important Montenegrin medal, introduced by Petar II Petrovic Njegos in 1847, was "The Medal of Obilic", awarded only for brilliant accomplishment of heroism, we can make a conclusion:

Montenegro considered itself as a direct descendent of Serb medieval Empire, more direct than its sister Serbia.