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Selection of Šćepan Mali as Tsar of Montenegro

When
1766–1768
Where
Montenegro; Cetinje
Episodes
4

Šćepan Mali, an impostor claiming to be the dead Russian emperor Peter III, was proclaimed ruler of Montenegro in 1767; the break in Petrovic rule was formalized in February 1768, when Prince-Bishop Sava was sidelined and Šćepan became the country's first and only "tsar".

Episodes

  1. 1766–1767 · MontenegroArrival and the Peter III Rumour

    Šćepan arrived in Montenegro in autumn 1766 and spread hints he was the dead Russian emperor Peter III.

  2. 1767 · MontenegroProclamation as Ruler of Montenegro

    In 1767 Šćepan was proclaimed Montenegro's ruler, effectively ending the leaderless interregnum after Vasilije's death.

  3. 3 October 1767 · CetinjeCetinje Armistice and Šćepan's Rejection

    Chiefs meeting at Cetinje on 3 October 1767 agreed a temporary armistice; Šćepan demanded perpetual peace instead.

  4. February 1768 · MontenegroAssumption of Absolute Monarchy

    In February 1768 Sava was sidelined and confined to his monastery; Šćepan became Montenegro's first and only "tsar".

Background and detail

Background. Prince-Bishop Sava had co-ruled with his more respected cousin Vasilije, whose death on 10 March 1766 left Montenegro more or less leaderless. Šćepan arrived in the village of Maine in the autumn of 1766, and throughout 1767 offered vague hints that he was the deposed Russian emperor Peter III, who had died years earlier.

Proclamation as Ruler. By August 1767 the rumour of his supposed identity had become widespread among the Montenegrins, though Šćepan never formally proclaimed himself to be Peter. In 1767 he was proclaimed the country's ruler, effectively becoming Montenegro's sovereign.

Consolidation and Aftermath. After a gathering of chiefs at Cetinje agreed only a temporary armistice, Šćepan demanded perpetual peace, deepening belief in his imperial identity. In February 1768 Prince-Bishop Sava was sidelined and confined to his monastery, and Šćepan assumed the powers of an absolute monarch, becoming Montenegro's first and only "tsar".

People involved

  • Šćepan Mali · Impostor proclaimed ruler of Montenegro, later its first and only "tsar"
  • Sava · Prince-Bishop of Montenegro, sidelined in February 1768
  • Vasilije · Prince-Bishop whose death on 10 March 1766 left Montenegro leaderless

Sources

  1. Šćepan Mali Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-23

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.