Tesla and Montenegro: a forgotten connection

In an era of rapid technological development, we rarely stop to consider where the foundations of the modern world actually come from. Behind many of the ideas we take for granted today is one man - Nikola Tesla, a visionary whose mind was decades ahead of his time. His discoveries not only advanced science, but also changed the way humanity thinks about energy, communication, and the future.

However, behind the globally famous story of Tesla, there are also lesser-known layers of his life. One of them is a lesser-known, but extremely significant story - about the connection between Nikola Tesla and Montenegro, which testifies that we too knew how to recognize the importance of great ideas.

It is in this context that we should also consider the event of May 5 (April 23), 1895, when in Cetinje, Prince Nikola I Petrović Njegoš awarded Nikola Tesla the Order of Prince Danilo I, 2nd degree - a recognition established in honor of the independence of Montenegro and awarded to those who have left a deep mark on society through their work.

This decoration was not just a protocol act. On the contrary, it represented recognition of the most prominent individuals of that time - heroes, statesmen, but also scientists and cultural creators. The inclusion of Nikola Tesla among such figures speaks of the awareness of Montenegro at that time to recognize the importance of science at a time when the world was entering a new era of technological development.

The news of the awarding of the order was published in "Glas Crnogorca" and caused a strong public response. Approval came not only from domestic circles, but also from Slovenian emigrants in America, as well as scientific and cultural workers throughout the region. Tesla was already a global name at that time, but this act had additional symbolism - it confirmed that his work belonged not only to the world, but also to the space from which it originated as part of the cultural and historical heritage that shaped it.

In mid-June of the same year, Tesla received a medal and a letter in New York from Duke Gavro Vuković, on behalf of Prince Nikola. This act had a wider significance, as it marked the beginning of official diplomatic relations between the Principality of Montenegro and the United States.

However, the connection between Nikola Tesla and Montenegro cannot be reduced to this historical moment alone. It was much more complex and deeper, permeated with cultural, personal and social elements that shaped his worldview. From early childhood, Tesla was strongly influenced by oral tradition and literature. His mother Đuka, known for her exceptional memory and gift for storytelling, knew Njegoš's "Mountain Wreath" by heart, which undoubtedly influenced Tesla's imagination and intellectual development.

Symbolically, a copy of this work was among the rare things that Tesla took with him when he left for America. This shows that, despite living far from his homeland, he carried with him a part of the cultural identity that shaped him. His interest in Montenegrin history and the heroism of the Montenegrin people further confirms this connection. As a young man, he kept notes on famous figures, and he paid special attention to heroes from the epic tradition. Among them, Luka Filipov Dragišić from Piper, a participant in the Battle of Vučedol, stood out. Tesla's fascination with this hero was so strong that he translated a poem dedicated to him into English and gave it to his close friend Robert Underwood Johnson, who published it in a reputable American magazine. He even addressed him as "Luka Filipov" in his personal correspondence, which testifies to the depth of the impression this character made on him.

Tesla's connection with Montenegro was also reflected in his relationship with emigrants. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he maintained frequent contact with people from this region in America, helping them find employment and providing financial support. He collaborated and corresponded with famous Montenegrin emigrants such as Vaso Ćuković, Petar Vukčević, Pavle Mitrović, Krsto Martinović, Andrija Đurašković and others. The famous painter Savo Radulović from Gornje Polje had the opportunity to meet him towards the end of Tesla's life, and he intended to paint his portrait. However, the death of Nikola Tesla prevented him from doing so. It is less well known that the Montenegrin sculptor Janko Brajović was among the first to create his bust immediately after his death. As Vlado Gonić states in his book "Nikola Tesla and Montenegro", Tesla actively helped the return of volunteers to Montenegro during World War I, and after the tragedy in Medovo Bay in 1916, he sent a telegram of condolences to the Montenegrin king and government.

There are also interesting assumptions about his origins. His biographer and friend John Joseph O'Neill stated that Tesla was descended from the Draganić family, and based on historical sources and archival materials from Dubrovnik, there is a possibility that his ancestors originated from the territory of Montenegro.

In parallel with Tesla's scientific rise, Montenegro also sought to follow the technological trends that he had largely shaped. At the beginning of the 20th century, significant strides were made in the field of electrification and communications. As early as 1904, the first radio-telegraph station in the Balkans was built on Volujica above Bar, which enabled wireless communication between Montenegro and Italy. The continuation of this process was the commissioning of the first power plant in Cetinje in 1910, on the occasion of the proclamation of Montenegro as a kingdom. The electrification of the capital marked the beginning of a new technical era, in which Montenegro, although small, showed a willingness to accept modern achievements and join global development trends. According to some records, Nikola Tesla was invited to attend this event.

The story of Nikola Tesla and Montenegro shows that the greatness of a nation does not depend on its size, but on its ability to recognize true values. From the decoration in Cetinje to the numerous cultural and personal connections, it is clear that this relationship was not accidental. For me, as the author of the lines above, this story has a special weight because it confirms that even as a small nation we knew how to stand up for ideas that change the world. That is why it does not only belong to the past, but also to our responsibility to recognize such values ​​today.

The author is a master's student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Montenegro; he is one of the authors of the exhibition "Nikola Tesla - Prometheus of the Modern Age", which was held in May 2025 in the building of the Technical Faculties in Podgorica and in September at the Cultural Center of the Royal Capital of Cetinje.

The photographs and illustrations that the author includes with this text were part of the display at the exhibition "Nikola Tesla - Prometheus of the Modern Age".