Editing Podgorica (section)

==History==
{{Quote box |width=30em |align=right   |bgcolor=#B0C4DE
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=90% |quote={{plainlist|
*{{flagicon image|Coat of Arms of Illyria.png|size=35x25px}} [[Illyria]] (9th century BCE – 33 BCE)
*{{flagicon image|Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|size=35x25px}} [[Roman Republic]] (33 BCE – 27 BCE)
*{{flagicon image|Vexilloid of the Roman Empire.svg|size=35x25px}} [[Roman Empire]] (27 BCE – 476)
*{{flagicon image|Purple flag with Chi Rho attributed to the Byzantine Empire.png|size=21px}} [[Byzantine Empire]] (476 – 997)
*{{flagicon image|Theoritical Flag of Bulgaria in 9th century.png|size=21px}} [[First Bulgarian Empire]] (997 – 1018)
*{{flagicon image|Purple flag with Chi Rho attributed to the Byzantine Empire.png|size=21px}} [[Byzantine Empire]] (1018 – 1040)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Duklja state.png|size=21px}} [[Duklja|Dioclea]] (1040 – 1186)
*{{flagicon image|Coat of Arms of Nemanjić Dynasty.svg|size=35x25px}} [[Grand Principality of Serbia]] (1186 – 1217)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Serbia (1281).svg|size=25x15px}} [[Kingdom of Serbia (1217–1346)|Kingdom of Serbia]] (1217 – 1346)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Serbian Empire, reconstruction.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Serbian Empire]] (1346 – 1371)
*{{flagicon image|CoatOfArmsOfTheBalsics.png|size=35x25px}} [[Zeta under the Balšići]] (1371 – 1421)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Serbian Despotate.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Serbian Despotate]] (1421 – 1441)
*{{flagicon image|Coat of arms of Kingdom of Bosnia.svg|size=35x25px}} [[Kingdom of Bosnia]] (1441 – 1444)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Serene Republic of Venice.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Republic of Venice]] (1444 – 1448)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Serbian Despotate.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Serbian Despotate]] (1448 – 1452)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Serene Republic of Venice.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Republic of Venice]] (1452 – 1474)
*{{flag|Ottoman Empire}} (1474 – 1878)
*{{flag|Principality of Montenegro}} (1878 – 1910)
*{{flag|Kingdom of Montenegro}} (1910 – 1916)
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg|size=25x15px}} [[Austria-Hungary]] (1916 – 1918)
*{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}} (1918 – 1941)
*{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}} (1941 – 1943)
*{{flagicon image|
Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg|size=25x15px}} [[Nazi Germany|Greater German Reich]] (1943 – 1944)
*{{flag|SFR Yugoslavia|name=SFR Yugoslavia}} ({{flag|SR Montenegro|name=SR Montenegro}}) (1944 – 1992)
*{{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|name=FR Yugoslavia}} ({{flagicon image|Flag of Montenegro (1993–2004).svg|size=25x15px}} [[Republic of Montenegro]]) (1992 – 2006)
*{{flag|Montenegro}} (2006 – present; <small>capital</small>)
}}
}}
===Early history===
[[File:Doclea Roman city Podgorica.jpg|thumb|left|[[Doclea (Illyria)|Doclea]], Roman town, the seat of the Late Roman province of [[Praevalitana]]]]
[[File:Ancient city Doclea - ruins 06.jpg|thumb|190px|Archeological remains of the Roman period in Doclea]]
Podgorica is at the [[Crossroads (culture)|crossroads]] of several historically important routes, near the rivers [[Zeta River|Zeta]], [[Morača]], [[Cijevna]], [[Ribnica (Morača)|Ribnica]], [[Sitnica (Morača)|Sitnica]] and [[Mareza]] in the valley of [[Lake Skadar]] and near the Adriatic Sea, in fertile lowlands with favourable climate. The earliest human settlements were in prehistory: the oldest physical remains are from the late [[Stone Age]].

In the [[Iron Age]], the area between the [[Zeta plain|Zeta]] and [[Bjelopavlići plain|Bjelopavlići valleys]] was populated by two Illyrian tribes, the [[Labeates]] and the [[Docleatae]]. The population of the town of Doclea was 8,000–10,000, in which all core urban issues were resolved. The high population density (in an area of about {{cvt|10|km|0}} radius) was made possible by the geographical position, favorable climate, and economic conditions and by the defensive positions that were of great importance at that time.

The name Podgorica was first mentioned in 1326 in a court document of the [[Kotor]] archives. The city was economically strong: trade routes between the [[Republic of Ragusa]] and Serbia, well developed at that time, were maintained via the road that led to Podgorica through [[Trebinje]] and [[Nikšić]]. As a busy crossroads, Podgorica was a vibrant regional center of trade and communication. This boosted its development, economic power, military strength, and strategic importance.

In 1448 [[Stefan Crnojević]] allied himself with the [[Republic of Venice]], and after defeating the despot [[Đurađ Branković]] in 1452, he handed over Podgorica to the Venetian Republic, which already held the [[Shkodër]] region. However, Venetian rule of Podgorica did not last long, because [[Mehmed II]] soon conquered the fortified town of [[Medun]] in 1455, and two years later, most of [[Zeta under the Crnojevići|Zeta]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://podgorica.me/istorija-podgorice/ |website=Glavni grad Podgorica |title=Istorija Podgorice |date=28 September 2023 |access-date=5 January 2025}}</ref>

===Ottoman Empire===
[[File:28iulsah.jpg|thumb|View of [[Depedogen|Ribnica fortress and Old bridge]], Catholic Church (right), Debbaglar Bridge, government mansion and the Mirko Varosh Hotel (far left), before 1901]]
The [[Ottoman Empire]] captured Podgorica in 1474. Podgorica became a [[Qadaa|kaza]] of the [[Sanjak of Scutari]] (which was historically led by Albanian Pashas). In 1479, The Ottomans built a [[Depedogen|large fortress]] in Podgorica, and the existing settlement, with its highly developed merchant connections, became the main Ottoman defensive and attacking bastion in the region. At the beginning of 1474 the Ottoman sultan intended to rebuild Podgorica and [[Baleč]] and settle them with 5,000 Muslim families (most of them of Albanian or Slavic origin),<ref>{{cite web |last=Božić |first=Ivan |title=Nemirno pomorje XV veka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X2AeAAAAMAAJ&q=%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%87 |year=1979 |publisher=Srpska književna zadruga |location=Beograd |language=sr |oclc=5845972 |page=295 |quote=почетком 1474 ... о султановој намери да обнови Подгорицу и да је насели са пет хиљада турских домаћинстава, а исто тако да подигне из рушевина стари град Балеч |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410101548/https://books.google.com/books?id=X2AeAAAAMAAJ&q=%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%87 |url-status=live}}</ref> in order to stop cooperation between the [[Principality of Zeta]] and [[Albania Veneta]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ćorović |first=Vladimir |title=Istorija Srba |year=2005 |publisher=Zoograf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IGotAQAAIAAJ&q=%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%87 |access-date=21 January 2012 |page=357 |isbn=978-86-7578-127-1 |language=sr |quote=...очвидно из разлога да спрече везе између Зећана и Албанаца |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410101648/https://books.google.com/books?id=IGotAQAAIAAJ&q=%D0%91%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%87 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Podgorica fell again, but this time to the Ottomans in 1484, and the character of the town changed extensively. The Ottomans fortified the city, building towers, gates, and defensive ramparts that give Podgorica the appearance of an Ottoman military city.

[[File:Natural History Museum of Montenegro, Sahat Kula, 2019.jpg|thumb|180px|left|[[Clock Tower (Podgorica)|City Clock Tower]]]]

Most of today's Montenegro and Podgorica fell under the rule of the Albanian [[Bushati]] Family of Shkodra between 1760 and 1831, which ruled independently from the Imperial authority of the Ottoman Sultan.

In 1864, Podgorica became a ''kaza'' of the [[Scutari Vilayet]] called Böğürtlen ("blackberry", also known as Burguriçe).

[[File:Sastavci_Podgorica.jpg|thumb|View of [[Depedogen|Ribnica fortress and Old bridge]]]]

On 7 October 1874, in a violent reaction over the murder of a local named Juso Mučin Krnić,<ref name="MJ">{{cite web |url=http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/cg_u_xix_vijeku/jusovaca_kazneni_zavod_u_podgorici.htm |author=Marijan-Mašo Miljić |title=JUSOVAČA – KAZNENI ZAVOD U PODGORICI (1893–1945) |language=sr |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111081944/http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/cg_u_xix_vijeku/jusovaca_kazneni_zavod_u_podgorici.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Ottoman forces killed at least 15 people in Podgorica.<ref name="INPP">{{cite web |url=https://www.in4s.net/izbliza-o-dalekom-podgoricki-pokolj-1874/ |author=Perivoje Popović |work=ИН4С |title=Изблиза о далеком: Подгорички покољ 1874. |language=sr |date=7 November 2016 |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106153350/https://www.in4s.net/izbliza-o-dalekom-podgoricki-pokolj-1874/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The massacre was widely reported outside of Montenegro and ultimately contributed to the buildup to the [[Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78)|Montenegrin-Ottoman War]].

The end of the Montenegrin-Ottoman War in 1878 resulted in the [[Congress of Berlin]] recognizing vast territories, including that of Podgorica, as part of the newly recognized [[Principality of Montenegro]]. At that time there were about 1,500 houses in Podgorica, with more than 8,000 people living there – of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim faiths flourishing together.

===The Petrović and Karađorđević monarchies===
[[File:King_Nicholas_I_Monument_2.jpg|thumb|left|190px|[[Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš|King Nicholas I monument]]]]
After the [[Berlin Congress]] in 1878, Podgorica was annexed to the Principality of Montenegro, marking the end of four centuries of Ottoman rule, and the beginning of a new era for Podgorica and Montenegro. The first forms of capital concentration were seen in 1902 when roads were built to all neighboring towns, and tobacco became Podgorica's first significant commercial product. In 1904, a [[savings bank]] named Zetska formed the first significant financial institution; this would soon grow into Podgorička Bank.

[[Balkans Campaign (World War I)|World War I]] marked the end of dynamic development for Podgorica, which by then was the largest city in the newly proclaimed [[Kingdom of Montenegro]]. On 10 August 1914, nine military personnel and 13 civilians were killed in Podgorica from an aerial bombardment by [[Austro-Hungarian Aviation Troops]].<ref name="NBP">{{cite news |url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/planeta.300.html:428126-Podgorica-Pustos-ostaje-ispod-bombi |author=Veliša Kadić |newspaper=[[Večernje novosti]] |title=Podgorica: Pustoš ostaje ispod bombi |language=sr |date=7 April 2013 |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922222036/http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/planeta.300.html:428126-Podgorica-Pustos-ostaje-ispod-bombi |url-status=live}}</ref> The city was bombed three more times in 1915.<ref name="NBP"/> Along with the rest of the Kingdom, Podgorica was occupied by [[Austria-Hungary]] from 1916 to 1918.

After the liberation by the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] in 1918, the controversial [[Podgorica Assembly]] marked the end of Montenegrin statehood, as Montenegro was merged with the [[Kingdom of Serbia]] and incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes]]. The population of urban Podgorica during this interwar period was approximately 14,000.<ref name="PK">{{cite web |url=http://www.privrednakomora.me/saopstenja/imperijal-bio-najljepsi |work=Privredna komora Crne Gore |title="Imperijal" bio najljepši |language=sr |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=9 June 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071902/http://www.privrednakomora.me/saopstenja/imperijal-bio-najljepsi }}</ref>

During the interwar period (1918–1941), Podgorica had public bathrooms as most residents did not have their own.<ref name="PK"/> However, the ''Imperial'' hotel built in 1925 had two bathrooms, which was unprecedented at the time.<ref name="PK"/> It was one of at least six hotels built in the city during the interwar period.<ref name="PK"/>

===World War II===
[[File:Aerial photo of bombing of Podgorica.JPG|thumb|right|{{nowrap|[[Bombing of Podgorica in World War II]]}}]]
After the [[Yugoslav coup d'état]] on 27 March 1941, demonstrations supporting the coup took place in Podgorica.{{sfn|Morrison|2009|p=51}} As a result of the coup, Yugoslavia turned against its previous alliance with the Axis powers and was subsequently invaded. Podgorica was [[Bombing of Podgorica in World War II|bombed over 80 times]] throughout the course of the war.<ref name="VTG">{{cite web |url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/glavni-grad-je-47-godina-nosio-pogresno-ime-kako-je-titovgrad-postao-titograd-1007157 |author=Boban Novović |work=[[Vijesti]] |title=Glavni grad je 47 godina nosio pogrešno ime: Kako je Titovgrad postao Titograd? |language=sr |format=via [[Wayback Machine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006121835/https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/glavni-grad-je-47-godina-nosio-pogresno-ime-kako-je-titovgrad-postao-titograd-1007157 |archive-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> The city was first bombed by the [[Luftwaffe]] on 6 April 1941. On 5 May 1944, Podgorica was bombed by the [[United States Army Air Force|USAAF]] in an attack against Axis forces, although the bombardment that day killed approximately 400 civilians.<ref name="Kovacevic57">Kovačević, Branislav. ''Savezničko bombardovanje Crne Gore 1943. – 1944. godine''. Svjedočanstvo. Podgorica, 2003. (pg. 57)</ref> The city was liberated on 19 December 1944. According to the ''Museum of Genocide Victims'', a total of 1,691 people were killed in Podgorica over the course of the war.<ref name="MAKRO">{{cite web |url=http://www.makroekonomija.org/wp-content/uploads/cg-ww2.png |title=Stradanje stanovništva Crne Gore u Drugom svetskom ratu |work=Макроекономија |date=3 September 2016 |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922222041/http://www.makroekonomija.org/wp-content/uploads/cg-ww2.png |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Socialist Yugoslavia===
On 12 July 1946, [[Josip Broz Tito]] made one of his early visits to Podgorica from the ''Radovče'' hotel, where he spoke to a crowd.<ref name="DTV">{{cite web |url=https://www.vijesti.me/forum/dolazi-tito-876935 |author=Slobodan Vuković |work=[[Vijesti]] |title=Dolazi Tito |language=sr |format=via [[Wayback Machine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302095051/https://www.vijesti.me/forum/dolazi-tito-876935 |archive-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> It was the first of fifteen total visits made by Tito to the city after World War II.<ref name="DTV"/>

{{cquote|"Podgorica is destroyed. We will build her altogether because it's our responsibility, because that's what's required of us by the sacrifices which Podgorica gave! We will do it, that's what I promise you in the name of the Federal government." – [[Josip Broz Tito]] on 12 July 1946.<ref name="DTV"/>}}

On 25 July 1948, the vice president of the People's Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mugoša, along with secretary Gavron Cemović, signed a law changing the name of Podgorica into "Titovgrad".<ref name="VTG"/> The law was "retroactively" activated such that the name change applied to any records starting from 13 July 1946, when it became the capital of [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]] within [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]].<ref name="VTG"/> However, in a contradiction, the "Službeni list" or legal code of Yugoslavia recorded the name "Titograd" without the letter "v".<ref name="VTG"/> Ultimately, "Titograd" was used over "Titovgrad".<ref name="VTG"/>

In addition to the new name, Titograd saw the establishment of new factories. The Radoje Dakić factory, built-in 1946 for the production of heavy machinery, became one of the largest employers in Titograd. In 1964, Radoje Dakić guaranteed hired workers an apartment in the city.<ref name="Senat">{{cite web |url=http://senat.me/pogledajte-kako-je-izgledao-ugovor-o-radu-60-ih-u-fabrici-radoje-dakic/ |title=Pogledajte Kako Je Izgledao Ugovor O Radu '60-Ih U Fabrici "Radoje Dakić" |language=sr |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712164742/http://senat.me/pogledajte-kako-je-izgledao-ugovor-o-radu-60-ih-u-fabrici-radoje-dakic/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In the late 1960s, the cities of Titograd, [[Zadar]], and [[Mostar]] competed to be selected as the location of Yugoslavia's expanding aluminum industry.<ref name="MKAP">{{cite web |url=http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/cg_od_1945/poceci_kombinata_aluminijuma_branko_kostic.html |author=Branko Kostić |work=Montenegrina |title=POČECI KOMBINATA ALUMINIJUMA |language=sr |access-date=11 March 2019 |archive-date=14 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314074130/http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/istorija/cg_od_1945/poceci_kombinata_aluminijuma_branko_kostic.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In a highly politicized selection process, Titograd was ultimately chosen and the [[Aluminium Plant Podgorica|Kombinat]] was constructed in 1969.<ref name="MKAP"/> In 1974, the public [[University of Montenegro|Veljko Vlahović University]] was founded in Titograd. On 15 April 1979, the city suffered damage by a [[1979 Montenegro earthquake|6.9 magnitude earthquake]].

Titograd was the site of massive protests during [[Anti-bureaucratic revolution|Yugoslavia's anti-bureaucratic revolution]]. On 10 January 1989, over 10,000 people protested in the city.{{sfn|Milosavljević|2003}}<ref name="Vreme">{{cite web |title=Serbian President: The Technology of a Showdown |url=http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/serbian_digest/153/t153-3.htm |publisher=Vreme |author=Milan Milošević, Filip Švarm |date=1994-08-29 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509021919/http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/serbian_digest/153/t153-3.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> By the turn of the decade, Titograd was recognized as the city with the most greenery in Yugoslavia, along with [[Banja Luka]].<ref name="MZ">{{cite web |url=http://www.monitor.co.me/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8750:inicijativa-100000-stabala-za-podgoricu-kome-smeta-drvee&catid=6334:broj-1456&Itemid=7784 |author=Predrag Nikolić |work=Monitor |title=INICIJATIVA 100.000 STABALA ZA PODGORICU: Kome smeta drveće |language=sr |date=14 September 2018 |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106180244/http://www.monitor.co.me/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8750:inicijativa-100000-stabala-za-podgoricu-kome-smeta-drvee&catid=6334:broj-1456&Itemid=7784 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Contemporary history===
As [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia began to break up]], Titograd was renamed to Podgorica after a referendum on 2 April 1992.<ref name="ZU">{{cite web |url=https://portalanalitika.me/clanak/240393/zivjeti-i-umrijeti-u-titogradu |work=Portal Analitika |author=Željko Vukmirović |title=Živjeti i umrijeti u Titogradu |language=sr |date=17 August 2016 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201015752/https://portalanalitika.me/clanak/240393/zivjeti-i-umrijeti-u-titogradu |url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 May 1992, Podgorica was the site of a [[Serbian Radical Party]] rally of approximately 10,000 supporters, during which a [[Bosniaks of Montenegro|Montenegrin Bosniak]] man named Adem Šabotić attempted to assassinate [[Vojislav Šešelj]] via hand bomb after his supporters chanted references to killing [[Muslims]].<ref name="BHASPG">{{cite web |url=https://bh-magazin.com/2021/01/31/sudbina-atentatora-na-seselja-znate-li-pricu-o-ademu-saboticu/ |author=Avdo Huseinović |website=BH MAGAZINE |title=Sudbina atentatora na Šešelja: Znate li priču o Ademu Šabotiću? |language=Bosnian |date=31 January 2021 |access-date=19 December 2021 |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219223031/https://bh-magazin.com/2021/01/31/sudbina-atentatora-na-seselja-znate-li-pricu-o-ademu-saboticu/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Šešelj, his bodyguards, and a few bystanders were injured after the bomb detonated but no one was killed.<ref name="BHASPG"/>

Otherwise, the [[Yugoslav wars]] largely bypassed Podgorica, but the entire country was greatly affected with severe economic stagnation and hyperinflation lasting throughout the 1990s due to [[Sanctions against Yugoslavia|international sanctions]]. In 1999, Podgorica was subject to airstrikes during the [[1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]].<ref name="APPN">{{cite news |date=29 April 1999 |title=Montenegro: Nato Bombing Attacks Latest |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8ECEr6lz74 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425045701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8ECEr6lz74&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=25 April 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2019 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="WPPN">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/montenegro050399.htm?noredirect=on |author=William Booth |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=NATO Bombs Hit Montenegro Homes |page=A31 |date=3 May 1999 |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref>

On 13 July 2005, the newly constructed [[Millennium Bridge (Montenegro)|Millennium Bridge]] opened for traffic.<ref name="ekm">{{cite news |url=https://www.ekapija.com/news/15680/na-dan-drzavnosti-crne-gore-otvoreni-novi-most-milenijum-i-tunel-sozina |website=eKapija |title=Na Dan državnosti Crne Gore otvoreni novi Most Milenijum i Tunel Sozina |language=Serbian |date=14 July 2005 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912192454/https://www.ekapija.com/news/15680/na-dan-drzavnosti-crne-gore-otvoreni-novi-most-milenijum-i-tunel-sozina |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the results of the [[2006 Montenegrin independence referendum|independence referendum]] in May 2006, Podgorica saw significant development as the capital of an independent state, including the reconstruction and renaming of the former Ivan Milutinović Square to [[Independence Square (Podgorica)|Independence Square]].

On 13 October 2008, at least 10,000 people [[2008 Podgorica protest|protested]] against [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|Kosovo's declaration of independence]].<ref name="DWKP">{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/bs/neredi-u-podgorici-zbog-kosova/a-3709049 |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |title=Neredi u Podgorici zbog Kosova |language=sr |date=14 October 2008 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912192455/https://www.dw.com/bs/neredi-u-podgorici-zbog-kosova/a-3709049 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 December 2008, the [[Moscow Bridge]] opened for pedestrians.

On 7 August 2013, the 60-year old Hotel ''Crna Gora'' was demolished to make way for the new [[Hilton Hotels & Resorts|Hilton]] in its place, which opened in 2016.<ref name="KHCGPG">{{cite web |url=https://kodex.me/clanak/127190/zvanicno-otvoren-prvi-hotel-hilton-u-podgorici |website=Kodex |title=Zvanično otvoren prvi Hotel Hilton u Podgorici |date=20 September 2016 |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912192454/https://kodex.me/clanak/127190/zvanicno-otvoren-prvi-hotel-hilton-u-podgorici |url-status=live}}</ref> Construction of the [[Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, Podgorica|Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection]] finished after 20 years on 7 October 2013.

In October 2015, [[2015–2016 Montenegrin crisis|protests]] took place in Podgorica ahead of [[Montenegro–NATO relations|Montenegro's accession into NATO]]. After a demonstration of at least 5,000 to 8,000 people,<ref name="DWKC">{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/bs/crna-gora-protesti-i-ni%C5%A1ta/a-18847999 |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |author=Nemanja Rujević |title=Crna Gora: Protesti i ništa |language=sr |date=15 November 2015 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806075122/https://www.dw.com/bs/crna-gora-protesti-i-ni%C5%A1ta/a-18847999 |url-status=live}}</ref> the police used [[tear gas]] to disperse demonstrators from the [[Parliament of Montenegro|parliament]].<ref name="VPDF">{{cite news |url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/politika/situacija-u-gradu-se-smirila |agency=[[Vijesti]] |title=Situacija u gradu se smirila |language=sr |date=25 October 2015 |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> Protests in the city continued through the [[2016 Montenegrin parliamentary election]]. On 22 February 2018, a [[Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslav Army]] veteran [[2018 United States embassy attack in Podgorica|killed himself at the US embassy in Podgorica]].