Emperor, which they saw as a proof of honour and protection from the Austrian side. Term during Metropolitan Petar I Conflict with Petar I The Metropolitan and Jovan were the two head chiefs of Montenegro, one by title, the other according to actual position. Jovan sought to rule Montenegro by himself; he appropriated secular rights for himself, and wanted the Metropolitan to exerice only his spiritual leadership; that the guvernadur was the master of the people and the Metropolitan the master of the church. The two clashed in international politics: the Metropolitan held to Russia, while Jovan relied on Austria. Hence, there were two parties in the land, one "Russophile" and the other "Austrophile", led by the Metropolitan and Jovan, respectively. On the question whether to support Austria or not, the two sides conflicted during the Austro-Turkish War (1787–91) and Russo-Turkish War (1787–92). During this period, Montenegro was divided into the following districts: Katunska nahija, Riječka nahija, Crmnička nahija, Lješanska nahija and Pješivačka nahija. These were governed by the officials, Jovan Radonjić and the Metropolitan, with the help of 5 serdars, 9 vojvodas and 34 knezes (a synthesis of secular and theocratic government which will cause strife and struggle for supremacy until 1832–1833). Kara Mahmud Pasha's offensive (1785) When Kara Mahmud Pasha's large army advanced towards Montenegro, the Montenegrin army of 8,000 was reduced by 3,000 Crmničani, and they were followed by many more surrenders. When Jovan saw Mahmud Pasha's army across Bjelica, he set his own house on fire and fled to Venetian territory. Mahmud Pasha went to burn down the Njeguši tribe, but the Nikšići asked him to preserve it, because they had trading relations with them. Mahmud Pasha settled the promised war gift; he gave Milić and knez Martinović two flasks filled with Ottoman copper coins, and 10 ducats each for the service they had done for him. Mahmud Pasha then crossed with his army through Paštrovići to return to Scutari. When the Pasha crossed Paštrovići at the Kašćela height near the church, Rade Andrović and his two friends approached and failed to assassinate him. Letters to Russia (1788–89) In July 1788, he sent a letter to Queen Catherine II: "Now all of us, Serb Montenegrins, ask Your Imperial Grace to send Sofronije Jugović to us". This Sofronije Marković (self-styled Jugović), was promised by Jovan the throne of Montenegro; Jovan sought to bring him to the land