Battle of Bileća

The Battle of Bileća was fought on 27 August 1388 between Bosnian forces led by Duke Vlatko Vuković and the Ottomans under the leadership of Lala Şahin Pasha. Vlatko's army numbered 7,000 fighters from Bosnia, and Şahin Pasha's army numbered 18,000 fighters. It was the first facing of Turks at Rudine. The Bosnians, although fewer, finally fought near the town of Bileća and gave them a defeat, which delayed the Ottomans' advances into Bosnia. Şahin Pasha escaped by fleeing, while the losses in the victorious ranks were insignificant.

The Battle has left a great impression on the people of that era who engraved at the tomb of Duke Vlatko in Boljuni near Stolac the following inscription:

"Here lies the good man Vlatko Vuković. Duke Vlatko was the first who defeated the Turks at Bileća August 27th 1388."