Ivan I Crnojević
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Ivan I Crnojević (Serbian Cyrillic: Иван Црноjeвић) was the Montenegrin ruler of the medieval country of Zeta (1465-1490). He was known as Ivan the Black.
[edit] Bio
He joined Venice in their fight against the Ottoman Turks and thus exposed Independent Principality of Zeta to the Turkish attacks. In spite of his tight relations with Venice, he was forced to surrender by the Turks in 1478. He immigrated to Italy and stayed there until 1481 when he came back. He later renovated his country. Its center was at Obod above the Crnojević River. Wishing to preserve the Kingdom of Zeta and it's independence from the Turks, Ivan I moved it's capital deep into the hills and at the foot of Mount Lovcen. He had his court built in the field of Cetinje in 1482. Two years later the monastery was built as well. It was known as the Monastery of Crnojević. The new capital Cetinje was founded. During his long-lasting reign, Ivan I he tried, in order to consolidate his country, to maintain good relations with the Venetians and Turks. That way, he found favor with those two powerful countries for his successor. He brought a range of legislative acts that was later of great importance for the legal and cultural history of a future Montenegro.
Ivan was the father of Đurađ IV Crnojević.
