D’Annunzio, Italy and the Independence of Montenegro 1919-1920

In Italy's political and cultural life during the first two decades of the 20th Century, Gabriele D’Annunzio played a relevant role not only as a widely known poet and novelist, but also as a political leader and soldier. A number of studies have already focused on D’Annunzio’s participation in the 1st WW, analyzed his activity in the Italian nationalistic movement, and dealt with his leading role in the occupation of Fiume/Rijeka. The aim of this work, thus, is not to focus on these well known aspects of the political and military action of D’Annunzio. The purpose of the article rather is to stress the connection between D’Annunzio’s plans, on the one hand, and the national questions in the Western Balkans at the end of the 1st World War, on the other hand. Above all, this work is an attempt to shed some light on all the initiatives pursued by D’Annunzio aiming at restoring the independence of the Kingdom of Montenegro, since he was one of the last political leaders in Italy and in Europe who gave full support and tried to do all he could for the survival of Montenegro as an independent and sovereign State.