THE PRESERVING AND/OR LOSING ETHNO-LINGUISTIC IDENTITY OF THE ISTRIAN MONTENEGRIANS

Montenegrian migrations over the past centuries have marked its history. Like the series of continuous waves montenegrian migrations have been splashing the teritories of Dalmacija and Istria (which were officially under Venetian authority), and refreshing over and over again many Venetian's military formations for new soldiers who wanted military glory. Along with the rest of the newcomers they have been giving new "breath of fresh air" to the places all over the territory that was under Venetian authority. Venetian subjects and Ottoman refugees, but also the ones who were forced to be part of many migrations, found their place under the protection of Venetian goverment. Montenegrians were addapting to the new enviroment as Venetian soldiers, officers, even as generals, while becoming its unbreakable part. But, unfortunately they were also paying a huge price by losing their ethno and linguistic caracters. All Montenegrian migrants, except for the Montenegrians in Peroj, have lost their ethno-linguistic code over the centuries. As soon as Montenegrians in Istria accepted other religion they were quickly assimilated. All of them except for the Montenegrians in Peroj have lived throgh acculturation over the past 3-4 centuries. In their close neighbourhood there was Greek orthodox church. By the end of the seventeenth century Greek church in Pula had only five Greek belivers and that helped preserving the ethno-linguistic identity of the Montenegrians in Peroj. Because of that most of the Montenegrians practicly had that church for their own releigion needs. Montenegrians in Peroj have preserved their origin, customs, costumes, religion and language over the past few centuries. They preserved themselves and their ethno-linguistic code which they brought from montenegrian homeland. Many rulers have been controling Peroj, but Montenegrians managed to remain steady more than 350 years as their "island in the Istrian sea". Many centuries have passed since the first Montenegrian had set foot in Peroj. Their descendants like to say "the island has not magnified, neither the sea has wiped it out". Finally, Peroj was that nucleus in which Montenegrian identity on the Istro-romanian land has been preserved and had preserved.