Cattaro and Montenegro's Political Importance

Cattaro is only important because it is the port of Montenegro, a small principality in the Balkans. This port has caused a lot of disagreement between European countries. It is also the end point of the road to Cetinje, which is Montenegro’s capital. Although Cattaro is close to Montenegro, it does not belong to the country. This is because England and Austria are worried that Prince Nicholas, the ruler of Montenegro, would give the port to Russia if he had control over it.

Montenegro is officially independent, and it is protected by the great European powers. However, the ruling family of Montenegro has a very close relationship with the Russian royal family, and many believe there is a secret treaty of alliance between them. Like other Balkan states, Montenegro was a province of Turkey until 1878, when the Treaty of Berlin gave it independence. Although Montenegro has a small population of only 228,000 people—which is smaller than the population of Washington D.C.—its political importance is much greater.

Two daughters of Prince Nicholas, the ruler of Montenegro, have married cousins of the Russian Czar. Another daughter is married to the King of Italy, and a fourth is the Duchess of Leuchtenburg, whose husband is close to being a king. These royal connections show the strong influence of Montenegro in European politics.

The Historic Town of Ragusa

Ragusa, another coastal town, is an old and charming place with a rich history. In the Middle Ages, Ragusa was almost as powerful as Venice, Naples, or Genoa, and it managed to defend itself against the Turks. One of the most famous events in Ragusa’s history is when Richard the Lionheart landed here after returning from the Crusades Sightseeing Sofia.

During a dangerous storm at sea, Richard made a vow that if he survived, he would build a church to honor his patron saint at the place where he landed safely. After surviving, he first landed on the small island of La Croma. However, he then went to Ragusa, where the people treated him so well that he decided to ask the Pope for permission to build the church there, instead of on the small island. The Pope, however, did not grant Richard’s request, and Richard, a respectful man, decided to build churches in both places. The church in Ragusa was destroyed by an earthquake in the seventeenth century, but the church on the island of La Croma still stands today.