ized Stefan as ruler. He reigned five more years and was
murdered in 1774 by, it was said, an agent of the Pasha of Scutari.
He is believed to have been of humble Bosnia origin and was one of
the few successful impostors of history.

Sava had perforce to return to the world, and owing to his
incapacity the post of Civil Governor of Montenegro now became
important. The office, till now held always by a Vukotitch, had
meant little save the leadership of tribal Soviets or councils. The
Vukotitches exchanged the office with the Radonitches for that of
Serdar, and under the title of Gubernator the first Radonitch rose
to power.

This is a very important period for now for the first time Austria
appears on the scene and the long diplomatic struggle with Russia
for power in Montenegro begins.

In 1779 an appeal to the Emperor of Austria was sent, signed by Ivan
Radonitch, Gubernator; Ivan Petrovitch, Serdar; and lastly by Petar
Petrovitch, Archimandrite and Deputy-Metropolitan. From which we
must conclude that Sava had definitely retired from power. From this
date for several years Ivan Radonitch always signed first. He had
just returned from a fruitless trip to Russia, and was seeking help
from Austria. Sava died in 1783 and was succeeded by Vladika
Plamenatz, a fact which, though well known in Montenegro, is rigidly
excluded from her official history by the Petrovitches, whose
version, the only "authorized" one, is constructed with more regard
to the glory of their dynasty than historic truth.

On Sava's death the Radonitch party at once welcomed the first
Austrian Mission to Montenegro and accommodated it in Sava's
monastery. One of the Envoys has left a vivid picture of Montenegro
in those days.

"The nation has no police, no laws. A kind of equality reigns. The
headmen have only a certain authority for managing ordinary business
and settling blood-feuds. The father of Radonitch was the first to
whom the nation gave the title Gubernator in order to gain the
respect of the Venetians and Turks. The Gubernator summons the
Serdars, Voyvodas and Knezhes. They meet in the open air. The
General Assembly takes place at the village of Cetinje. . . . The
Vladika, or at least a couple of monks, are present. The Serdars
similarly call local meetings of headmen and thus arrange peace
between two families or villages. Their power consists only of
persuasion. In practice murder is usually avenged by murder. The
land has one Metro