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The idea of forming a Montenegran Legion was consistently advocated by King Nicolas?I of Montenegro between the spring of?1916 and the autumn of?1918. It originated in the determination of the King to have an army of his own, thus enabling his country to be considered on a par with other nations in the Entente. He would therefore hold political influence and prevent Montenegro from being absorbed into Serbia?: the prelude to the establishment of Yugoslavia. Consequently, the formation of this legion became one of the deciding factors as to the survival or disappearance of this tiny kingdom, a question which remained unanswered throughout the war. As France favoured the union, it sought to bury the project while trying not to offend the King. Italy, meanwhile, was worried about the establishment of Yugoslavia on the Adriatic, and did not approve of the Montenegran initiative as it did not want to damage relations with Paris on a question that was already quite complex.