TheMontenegrin cap(Serbian:Црногорска капа,romanized:Crnogorska kapa) is acaptraditionally worn inMontenegroby theMontenegrinsandSerbs of Montenegro.It was introduced by Prince BishopPetar II Petrović-Njegošin the mid-1840s as a replacement for the then-popularfez.[1]
 A Montenegrin cap with the initialsN.I.of KingNicholas I of Montenegro |
Design and symbolism
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The cap is originally in the shape of a flatcylinder,having a red upper surface (calledtepelak) not dissimilar to theHerzegovinaandLika caps.Prince-BishopPetar II Petrović-Njegošwore it with ablackrim (calledderevija),[2]and the definition given was as a sign of grief of occupiedKosovo.TheKosovo Mythwas very popular in Montenegro. The enforcement of the cap upon the Montenegrin chieftains by Prince-Bishop Petar II was a mark of expression of then's dominatingSerbian national identity.[3]
The national telling recorded the most often version of the cap as following: the black wrapper was a sign of grief for theironce great Serbian Empire,the red the symbol of spilled blood at theBattle of Kosovo[4]and the five small stripes on the top represent the remaining remains of the once great Serbian realm,[5]which became increasingly popular amongst the common folk during the reign of PrinceDanilo I Petrović-Njegoš.Within the stripes is angled a six star, representing the last free part, Montenegro, shining upon the fallen and conquered.[6]
During theCommunist erain the second half of the 20th century instead of theSerb crossthe CommunistRed Starwas implanted between the golden stripes, although it was not spread amongst the people and never accepted. Several years ago a new version appeared with a large modern (2004)Coat of Arms of Montenegrospread across the cap's red top, that is becoming increasingly popular as a sign of the Montenegrin nation's independence and sovereignty. A female version of the cap was introduced, so far worn almost exclusively by men.[citation needed]
History
editThe Montenegrin cap has a three-hundred-year history. A 1754 portrait of a Montenegrin fromPaštrovićiis the oldest representation of the Montenegrin cap, with the Paštrovići variant of the cap being all-black in color. The first representation of the cap in its modern, two-colour variety (black and red) is found on an aquarelle from 1782.[7]Josef Holeček,on his journey through Montenegro in 1876, described a Montenegrin cap and its eagle motif.[8]
Gallery
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A MontenegrinOrthodoxPriest before battle wearing his cap, 1876 -
Montenegrin man, 19th Century -
Officers of theRoyal Montenegrin Armywearing their caps, 1904 -
Montenegrin cap with theSerbian cross -
These richly adorned caps were worn by KingNikola I(right) and his queen,Milena Vukotić
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Victor Roudometof (2001).Nationalism, Globalization, and Orthodoxy: The Social Origins of Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans.Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 128.ISBN978-0-313-31949-5.
- ^Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1837),Crna Gora i Crnogorci,Rastko
- ^Miodrag Vlahović (1953), "O najstarijoj kapi kod jugoslovena s obzirom na zbirku kapa etnografskog muzeja u Beogradu",Glasnik Etnografskog muzeja u Beogradu,Belgrade: Etnografski Muzej
- ^Andrija Jovićević (1903),Crna Gora, Narodni život i običaji
- ^Zorica Radulović (1976), "Crnogorska muška kapa",Glasnik Cetinjskih muzeja IX,Cetinje
- ^Jovan Vukmanović (1963), "Fizicki lik i izgled Njegosa",Glasnik Etnografskog muzeja na Cetinju,Cetinje
- ^Slobodan B. Medojević, Crnogorska Kapa,https://issuu.com/vijececg/docs/cg_glasnik_84#page=52-53
- ^Mladen Zadrima, 2019, Crnogorska narodna nošnja kroz opise stranih putopisacahttp://www.maticacrnogorska.me/files/78/21%20mladen%20zadrima%2078.pdf#page=389