, 1888 Born in
Cetinje,
Montenegro, at the time when her father was already the reigning
Prince of Montenegro (his uncle
Danilo II Petrović-Njegoš having died in 1860). Although born as Princess Ljubica, her name was changed to
Zorka (Serbian name meaning the
dawn) by her godfather,
Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia, on her christening day, with an intention that symbolizes "the dawn of new time". She had eight younger sisters and three younger brothers. Zorka was educated in
Russia before returning to Montenegro to be engaged to Petar Karađorđević. She spent her childhood up to the age of 11 in Cetinje, where she was educated by Cetinje teachers and a Swiss governess, Luisa Neukomm von Hallau (1845 - 1932). In 1875, Princess Zorka was sent to Russia to continue her education at the
Smolny Institute (attended by the girls from the most prominent
Russian aristocratic families). After graduation, she returned to Cetinje. At the beginning of 1883, Prince Petar Karađorđević came to Cetinje. His intention was to marry in Cetinje, get closer to the Montenegrins and move there to live with his family. He asked for the hand of the young and beautiful Princess. The arrival of Petar Karađorđević in Cetinje and his engagement with Kneginja Zorka Petrović-Njegoš were disapproved by the opponents of these two dynasties, but the act was gladly accepted by the Serbian and Montenegrin people, who saw it as the confirmation of their future bond. The wedding of Princess Zorka (19 at the time) and Petar Karađorđević (39) took place at the Cetinje Monastery on 30 July 1883. The wedding party, like the engagement before it, was organized according to folk tradition, with many guests who could barely accommodate themselves in the small space of Cetinje. Zorka's sister
Elena married the future King
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. ==Marriage and children==