Princess Zorka of Montenegro

Princess Zorka Karađorđević (Serbian Cyrillic: Кнегиња црногорска Зорка; 23 December [ O.S. 11 December] 1864 – 16 March [ O.S. 4 March] 1890), born Princess Ljubica of Montenegro, was the eldest child of Prince Nicholas I and Princess Milena of Montenegro, who later became the country's king and queen consort. At her baptism, her godfather gave her the name Zorka, dawn. In 1883, Ljubica married Prince Peter Karađorđević and she changed her surname to Karađorđević). She died in childbirth while giving birth to Prince Andrija on 16 March 1890. Prince Andrija died shortly thereafter. Zorka's husband later became king of Serbia as Peter I.

Life

Born in Cetinje, Montenegro, at the time when her father was already the reigning Prince of Montenegro (his uncle Danilo II Petrović-Njegoš having died in 1860). Although born as Princess Ljubica, her name was changed to Zorka (Serbian name meaning the dawn) by her godfather, Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia, on her christening day, with an intention that symbolizes "the dawn of new time". She had eight younger sisters and three younger brothers. Zorka was educated in Russia before returning to Montenegro to be engaged to Petar Karađorđević. She spent her childhood up to the age of 11 in Cetinje, where she was educated by Cetinje teachers and a Swiss governess, Luisa Neukomm von Hallau (1845 - 1932). In 1875, Princess Zorka was sent to Russia to continue her education at the Smolny Institute (attended by the girls from the most prominent Russian aristocratic families). After graduation, she returned to Cetinje. At the beginning of 1883, Prince Petar Karađorđević came to Cetinje. His intention was to marry in Cetinje, get closer to the Montenegrins and move there to live with his family. He asked for the hand of the young and beautiful Princess. The arrival of Petar Karađorđević in Cetinje and his engagement with Kneginja Zorka Petrović-Njegoš were disapproved by the opponents of these two dynasties, but the act was gladly accepted by the Serbian and Montenegrin people, who saw it as the confirmation of their future bond. The wedding of Princess Zorka (19 at the time) and Petar Karađorđević (39) took place at the Cetinje Monastery on 30 July 1883. The wedding party, like the engagement before it, was organized according to folk tradition, with many guests who could barely accommodate themselves in the small space of Cetinje.

Zorka's sister Elena married the future King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.

Marriage and children Described as "exuberant" by one commentator, Zorka married Peter in Cetinje on 11 August 1883 in an Orthodox ceremony.

They had five children: Princess Helen of Serbia (4 November 1884 – 16 October 1962). Princess Milena of Serbia (28 April 1886 – 21 December 1887). George, Crown Prince of Serbia (8 September 1887 – 17 October 1972). Alexander I of Yugoslavia (16 December 1888 – 9 October 1934). Prince Andrew of Serbia (born and died 16 March 1890).

Death Zorka died aged 25 on 16 March 1890 in Cetinje during childbirth. At first, she was buried in the Cetinje Monastery until 1912, afterwards her remains were transmitted to the St. George's Church, Topola, Kingdom of Serbia.

On her deathbed, Zorka reportedly told her husband: He will become King! (Biće kralj!). This statement became prophetic 13 years later when her husband ascended to the Serbian throne following the May Coup (Serbia).

Monument The first monument for a woman in Serbia was erected for Zorka on 3 June 1926. The monument, a work of sculptor Stamenko Đurđević, was funded by the Duchess Zorka Society and was located on the Big Kalemegdan. The monument was removed and probably destroyed after World War II. The gypsum model of the monument has survived and is housed in the History Museum of Serbia.