Before the arrival of the Slav peoples in the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, the area now known as Montenegro was inhabited principally by people known as Illyrians. During the Early Medieval period, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro: Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half; Travunia, the west; and Rascia proper, the north. The Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries. From the late 14th century to the late 18th century, large parts of southern Montenegro were ruled by the Venetian Republic and incorporated into Venetian Albania. The name Montenegro was first used to refer to the country in the late 15th century. After falling under Ottoman Empire rule, Montenegro gained semi-autonomy in 1696 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, first as a theocracy and later as a secular principality. Montenegro's independence was recognised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin in 1878.
Before the arrival of the Slav peoples in the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries CE the area now known as Montenegro was inhabited principally by people known as Illyrians During the Early Medieval period three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro Duklja roughly corresponding to the southern half; Travunia the west; and Rascia proper the north The Principality of Zeta emerged in the 14th and 15th centuries From the late 14th century to the late 18th century large parts of southern Montenegro were ruled by the Venetian Republic and incorporated into Venetian Albania The name Montenegro was first used to refer to the country in the late 15th century After falling under Ottoman Empire rule Montenegro gained semi-autonomy in 1696 under the rule of the House of Petrović-Njegoš first as a theocracy and later as a secular principality Montenegro's independence was recognised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin in 1878