"Zakonik Danila Prvog" and Religious Identity: Orthodox Christianity in Montenegrin Legal Thought
"Zakonik Danila Prvog" and Religious Identity: Orthodox Christianity in Montenegrin Legal Thought
Author(s): Srđan Mladenov JovanovićSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Cultural history, Comparative history, Ethnohistory, Modern Age, Special Historiographies:, Theology and Religion, 19th Century, The Ottoman Empire
Published by: БАЛКАНИСТИЧЕН ФОРУМ - МЕЖДУНАРОДЕН УНИВЕРСИТЕТСКИ СЕМИНАР ЗА ПРОУЧВАНИЯ И СПЕЦИАЛИЗАЦИИ
Keywords: Zakonik Danila Prvog; Orthodox Christianity; Montenegrin national identity; Balkan legal history; Church-State relations
Summary/Abstract: This article explores the Zakonik Danila Prvog (Code of Danilo I) as a foundational legal document that shaped Montenegrin governance and national identity by integrating Orthodox Christian values into the state’s legal framework. Established in 1855, the Zakonik reflected the influence of Orthodox Christianity on justice, morality, and public life, while also serving as a tool for asserting Montenegrin sovereignty against Ottoman and Catholic influences. The analysis investigates the deep interconnection between law, religion, and national identity, comparing the Zakonik with Eastern Orthodox canon law and highlighting its role in regulating religious life, family law, and public morality. Additionally, the article discusses the tensions between customary tribal laws and Christian doctrine and explores how non-Orthodox communities were governed under this legal framework. The broader implications of the Zakonik for Balkan legal and religious history are also examined.
Journal: Balkanistic Worlds
- Issue Year: 1/2025
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 48-68
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF
