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 Shahin Pasha. Vlatkos army numbered 7,000 fighters from Bosnia, and Shahin Pashas 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. Shahin 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:


 * Ase leži dobri čoek Vlatko Vuković. Vojvoda Vlatko je prvi pobijedio Turke kod Bileće 27. avgusta 1388.
 * (Here lies the good man Vlatko Vuković. Duke Vlatko was the first who defeated the Turks at Bileće August 27th 1388.)