Petrović Njegoš
Dynasty of the rulers of Montenegro
- Bearer
- Petrović Njegoš dynasty
- Titles
- Metropolitan (prince-bishop), prince, king
- Period
- 1696–1918.
- Seat
- Cetinje
The Petrović Njegoš dynasty ruled Montenegro from 1696 — first as Metropolitans of Cetinje, from 1852 as princes, and from 1910 as kings — until the unification of 1918. The greater arms of the House are shown in a modern drawing.
Blazon
A shield quartered diagonally: the upper and lower fields striped horizontally silver and blue, each with a silver eagle's head with a gold beak — the upper turned upwards, the lower downwards; in the side, red fields a silver eagle's wing each, so that together the fields build an eagle displayed. In the centre a small red shield with a silver double-headed eagle.
A gold lion passant, and above it a silver double-headed eagle with a sceptre and orb in its talons.
A closed red and gold crown adorned with pearls, with an orb and cross on top.
A red mantle lined with ermine, with golden tassels and cords.
Symbolism and meaning
The double-headed eagle and the lion passant are the basic devices of Montenegrin state heraldry, which the House of Petrović developed as heir to the Serbian medieval tradition. The eagle expresses the link with the Nemanjić heritage and Orthodoxy, and the lion passant the strength and independence of the country.
