Statehood Day of Montenegro (Dan državnosti /Montenegro Statehood Day) — is a public holiday in Montenegro, the date for which was chosen for two reasons.
On July 13, 1878, the Congress of Berlin recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world. This happened following the results of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877―1878: the Montenegrins, led by Prince Nikola I Petrovich, rebelled against Ottoman rule and during the war managed to inflict several sensitive defeats on the Turks and liberate a number of cities.
Reference: Montenegro was originally part of the Serbian state of the Nemanjevics and became independent after the conquest of Serbia by the Ottoman Empire, but was soon conquered itself.
In addition, on the night of July 13, 1941, an uprising began in Montenegro against the occupying Italian authorities, who, having occupied its territory in April 1941, a day earlier announced that Montenegro was becoming an independent state from Yugoslavia under the auspices of Italy.
The general uprising of 13 July began with an attack on Italian garrisons throughout Montenegro. After the initial successes, the uprising found itself in a crisis that was exacerbated by fundamental contradictions in views on the new government between supporters of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and the officers of the former royal army, and as a result, a civil war began.
In Yugoslavia (SFRY), of which Montenegro was part in 1946-2003, July 13 was celebrated as «Day of the uprising of the people of Montenegro» (Dan ustanka naroda Crne Gore).
Statehood Day received the status of a public holiday by law on July 12, 2004.
Today on this day, various celebrations and festive events are taking place throughout the country, as well as the — ceremony of presenting the main state award — recognition of the name July 13 — Trinaestojulska nagrada.