Bileća is a town and municipality in the southeast of
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in the entity of
Republika SrpskaRepublika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. It is in eastern
HerzegovinaHerzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
near the border with
MontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, north of
TrebinjeTrebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
and south of
GackoGacko is a town and municipality in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republika Srpska entity. It is situated in the Foča Region.-Geography:The town is in a short distance from Montenegro...
. Administratively, Bileća is part of the Trebinje Region.
History
The first traces of civilization in Bileća date from the Neolithic period, although archaeological sites are insufficiently explored. The first written documentation of Bileća as an inhabited place can be found in
DubrovnikDubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
documents dating from 1286, when it is mentioned under the name Bilechia. Bileća is mentioned in the 14th and 15th century as an important cross road town in caravan routes. A document dated 8 September 1388, mentions that the army of duke
Vlatko VukovićVlatko Vuković Kosača was a medieval nobleman who ruled as Grand Duke of Hum.He was a son of Vuk Kosača, the founder of the medieval house of Kosača. He governed the province of Hum, which was part of the Banate of Bosnia. The Ottoman threat was building to the east, threatening neighboring...
defeated the
Turkish armyThe Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
at the
Battle of BilećaThe 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...
. In the period from 13th to 16th century in the history of this area is a large number of the "stećci" monolith markers which weigh up to 5 tons. Bileća was held by the Turks from 1466, although this was a rebellious area difficult to control. Nearby, there lies the town of Vučji Do, in which the
Battle of Vučji DoThe Battle of Vučji Do was a major battle that took place on 18 July 1876 in Vučji Do, Herzegovina in Ottoman Empire . The battle was fought between Montenegrins and Herzegovinians versus the Ottoman Turks...
took place in 1876 . The Berlin's Congress included Bileća in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought economic development to the region. The first primary school in Bileća was opened in 1880. During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in July 1941, the Cetniks attacked the city and killed over 1,150 people.
Demographics
In the estimate of 2005, the population of the Bileća municipality was at 12,000 residents, including:
- 11,920 Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
(99.3%)
- 80 Bosnian Muslims (0.7%)
According to the 1910 census, the absolute majority in the Bileća municipality were Orthodox Christians (82.27%). According to the
Kingdom of YugoslaviaThe Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
1931 population census, the absolute majority was held by Orthodox Christians
81.27%.
| year of census | total | SerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
| Muslims | Croats Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
| YugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
| others |
| ~1991~ |
13,284 |
10,628 (80.00%) |
1,947 (14.65%) |
39 (0.29%) |
222 (1.67%) |
448 (3.37%) |
| ~1981~ |
13,199 |
10,190 (77.20%) |
1,803 (13.66%) |
44 (0.33%) |
727 (5.50%) |
435 (3.29%) |
| ~1971~ |
13,444 |
10,880 (80.92%) |
2,079 (15.46%) |
82 (0.60%) |
69 (0.51%) |
334 (2.51%) |
The town of Bileća
| year of census | total | Muslims | Serbs |
| ~1978~ |
5,140 |
514 (10%) |
4626 (90%) |
Settlements in Bileća municipality
As of 1991:
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BaljciBaljci is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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Bijela RudinaBijela Rudina is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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BijeljaniBijeljani is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
• Bileća
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BodenikBodenik is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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BogdašićiBogdašići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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BresticeBrestice is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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ČepelicaČepelica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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DeleušaDeleuša is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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DivinDivin is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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DlakošeDlakoše is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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DolaDola is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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Donja Meka GrudaDonja Meka Gruda is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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Donji DavidovićiDonji Davidovići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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ĐečeĐeče is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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FatnicaFatnica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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GolobrđeGolobrđe is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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Gornja Meka GrudaGornja Meka Gruda is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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Gornji DavidovićiGornji Davidovići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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GranicaGranica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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HodžićiHodžići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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KačanjKačanj is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
• Kalac
• Korita
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KrivačaKrivača is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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KrstačeKrstače is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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KukričjeKukričje is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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KutiKuti is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
• Lađevići
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MilavićiMilavići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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MirilovićiMirilovići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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MirušeMiruše is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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MrežicaMrežica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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NaratNarat is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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NjeganovićiNjeganovići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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Oblo BrdoOblo Brdo is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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OrahOrah is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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OrahoviceOrahovice is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PađeniPađeni is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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PanikPanik is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PlanaPlana is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PodgorjePodgorje is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PodosojePodosoje is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PreracaPreraca is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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PrijevorPrijevor is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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PrisojePrisoje is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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RiocaRioca is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
• Selišta
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SimijovaSimijova is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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SkrobotnoSkrobotno is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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ŠobadineŠobadine is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
• Todorići
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TorićTorić is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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TrnovicaTrnovica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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VlahinjaVlahinja is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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VranjskaVranjska is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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VrbicaVrbica is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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ZasadaZasada is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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ZaušjeZaušje is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
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ZvijerinaZvijerina is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
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ŽudojevićiŽudojevići is a village in the municipality of Bileća, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
Notable citizens
- Dušan Vukotić
Dušan Vukotić was an award-winning cartoonist, author and director of animated films from Yugoslavia. He is the best known member of the Zagreb school of animated films....
, Winner of Oscar award
- Safet Isović
Safet Isović was a prominent and popular sevdah performer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.Throughout his career, which started in 1956, Isović performed at music festivals and won many of them which has contributed to the prevalence and popularity of the sevdalinka...
, Bosnian sevdalinkaSevdalinka is a traditional genre of folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina.Sevdalinka is popular across the ex-Yugoslavia region, especially in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The actual composers of many sevdalinkas are unknown....
singer
- Fadil Hadžić
Fadil Hadžić was a prominent Croatian film director within the former Yugoslavia, screenwriter, playwright and journalist, mainly known for his comedy films and plays.Hadžić was born in Bileća, Bosnia-Herzegovina...
, Movie director/writer
Features
- The lake of Bileća (Bilećko jezero) is located south of the town.
See also