Šćepan Mali proved to be one of the most competent leaders of Montenegro up until his time, and he left a handful of important marks on Montenegrin history.
He successfully brought peace and order to the country and his court of tribal leaders effectively solved inter-tribal disputes without the need for fighting and bloodshed.
Despite his reign having few long-term effects, his administrative work, including the creation of the first true executive organs of a central administration (a contingent of 80 soldiers), was an important factor in accelerating the development of Montenegro into a state.

Šćepan and his bizarre story is sometimes invoked in works of literature and art, as well as in journal and newspaper articles.
The first work on Šćepan, , was published in 1784, written by Montenegrin Serb writer and adventurer Stefano Zannowich.
Zannowich's book is a mysterious and bizarre publication in of itself; the location of publication is unclear (Zannowich claimed it was published in India, but Paris or London seems more likely), the book was allegedly already on its fifth edition and Zannowich attempted to remain anonymous by not signing himself as the author of the work.
In the book, Zannowich described Šćepan as energetic and bold, but also malicious, willing to do anything to gain power.
Zannowich further claims that Šćepan only travelled to Montenegro because he believed the people there were naive enough to believe him.
After becoming the leader of the country, he supposedly ruled as a tyrant, harshly punishing even the smallest offenses.
According to Zannowich, Šćepan defeated the Ottomans and was planning expeditions of conquest throughout the Balkans.
Zannowich concluded that Šćepan was without a doubt an impostor, prepared to manipulate people and use ordinary people's belief in miracles to achieve what he wanted.
Because of the wealth of details, though many are probably fictional, provided by Zannowich, it is possible that he actually met Šćepan, or was provided information by someone who had.
Zannowich was so inspired by Šćepan that he at one point in 1776 wrote to Frederick the Great of Prussia, claiming to actually be Šćepan and arguing that he was mistakenly believed to be dead.

A novel based on Šćepan's story by German author Karl Herloßsohn was published in 1828.
Titled the Der Montenegrinerhäuptling ("The Montenegrin Chief"), imagined Šćepan as a Venetian officer by the name Stefano Piccolo who travelled to Montenegro to fulfill his dream of becoming an emperor.
After Stefano gained the trust of the Montenegrins, he proclaimed that he was actually Peter III of Russia and seized power.
Herloßsohn's novel included political intrigue in the form of people who knew Stefano was not the real Peter III and sought to expose him and a twist in the form of Stefano realizing that he would never be a real emperor of Russia and thus chose to surrender the country to the Ottomans in exchange for power.
Once this scheme is revealed, Stefano is captured and beheaded.

The Serbian poet, historian and adventurer Sima Milutinović Sarajlija dedicated a few pages of his 1835 history of Montenegro, Istorija Crne Gore od iskona do novijeg vremena, to Šćepan, writing that though the people of Montenegro by this time still remembered Šćepan's brief reign as a period of peace and prosperity, Šćepan was actually a childish and frivolous figure who came to power through lies, writing that he lacked strength, capability and laudable personal qualities.
Sarajlija's contemporary, Serbian linguist and historian Vuk Karadžić, also dedicated a few pages of his own 1837 history of Montenegro, Montenegro und die Montenegriner: ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss der europäischen Türkei und des serbischen Volkes, to Šćepan.
Karadžić wrote that once the rumor that Šćepan was Peter III started spreading, it was impossible to stop as more and more Montenegrins began believing it.
Though his punishments for stealing and plunder were harsh, Karadžić wrote that the people obeyed Šćepan in everything and that they had chosen to forget that the war with t
Šćepan Mali proved to be one of the most competent leaders of Montenegro up until his time, and he left a handful of important marks on Montenegrin history. He successfully brought peace and order to the country and his court of tribal leaders effectively solved inter-tribal disputes without the need for fighting and bloodshed. Despite his reign having few long-term effects, his administrative work, including the creation of the first true executive organs of a central administration (a contingent of 80 soldiers), was an important factor in accelerating the development of Montenegro into a state.
Šćepan and his bizarre story is sometimes invoked in works of literature and art, as well as in journal and newspaper articles. The first work on Šćepan, , was published in 1784, written by Montenegrin Serb writer and adventurer Stefano Zannowich. Zannowich's book is a mysterious and bizarre publication in of itself; the location of publication is unclear (Zannowich claimed it was published in India, but Paris or London seems more likely), the book was allegedly already on its fifth edition and Zannowich attempted to remain anonymous by not signing himself as the author of the work. In the book, Zannowich described Šćepan as energetic and bold, but also malicious, willing to do anything to gain power. Zannowich further claims that Šćepan only travelled to Montenegro because he believed the people there were naive enough to believe him. After becoming the leader of the country, he supposedly ruled as a tyrant, harshly punishing even the smallest offenses. According to Zannowich, Šćepan defeated the Ottomans and was planning expeditions of conquest throughout the Balkans. Zannowich concluded that Šćepan was without a doubt an impostor, prepared to manipulate people and use ordinary people's belief in miracles to achieve what he wanted. Because of the wealth of details, though many are probably fictional, provided by Zannowich, it is possible that he actually met Šćepan, or was provided information by someone who had. Zannowich was so inspired by Šćepan that he at one point in 1776 wrote to Frederick the Great of Prussia, claiming to actually be Šćepan and arguing that he was mistakenly believed to be dead.
A novel based on Šćepan's story by German author Karl Herloßsohn was published in 1828. Titled the Der Montenegrinerhäuptling ("The Montenegrin Chief"), imagined Šćepan as a Venetian officer by the name Stefano Piccolo who travelled to Montenegro to fulfill his dream of becoming an emperor. After Stefano gained the trust of the Montenegrins, he proclaimed that he was actually Peter III of Russia and seized power. Herloßsohn's novel included political intrigue in the form of people who knew Stefano was not the real Peter III and sought to expose him and a twist in the form of Stefano realizing that he would never be a real emperor of Russia and thus chose to surrender the country to the Ottomans in exchange for power. Once this scheme is revealed, Stefano is captured and beheaded.
The Serbian poet, historian and adventurer Sima Milutinović Sarajlija dedicated a few pages of his 1835 history of Montenegro, Istorija Crne Gore od iskona do novijeg vremena, to Šćepan, writing that though the people of Montenegro by this time still remembered Šćepan's brief reign as a period of peace and prosperity, Šćepan was actually a childish and frivolous figure who came to power through lies, writing that he lacked strength, capability and laudable personal qualities. Sarajlija's contemporary, Serbian linguist and historian Vuk Karadžić, also dedicated a few pages of his own 1837 history of Montenegro, Montenegro und die Montenegriner: ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss der europäischen Türkei und des serbischen Volkes, to Šćepan. Karadžić wrote that once the rumor that Šćepan was Peter III started spreading, it was impossible to stop as more and more Montenegrins began believing it. Though his punishments for stealing and plunder were harsh, Karadžić wrote that the people obeyed Šćepan in everything and that they had chosen to forget that the war with t
Šćepan Mali