Bjelina
Bilina
Bilina
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**Bilina** is a historic late\-medieval site close to modern Bjelina. Bilina is its medieval name, as opposed to post\-Ottoman Bjelina. The site () is known as the seat of the [Drašković](/wiki/House_of_Dra%C5%A1kovi%C4%87 "House of Drašković") noble family in the 15th century and in the beginning of the 16th century. Bartol ([English](/wiki/English_language "English language"): *Bartholomew*) Drašković, the head of the family, had an estate with the castle there. His wife Ana Drašković [née](/wiki/N%C3%A9e "Née") [Utješinović](/wiki/House_of_Utje%C5%A1inovi%C4%87 "House of Utješinović"), a sister of the Catholic [cardinal](/wiki/Cardinal_%28Catholicism%29 "Cardinal (Catholicism)") [Juraj Utješinović](/wiki/George_Martinuzzi "George Martinuzzi") (*George Utissenich* alias *George Martinuzzi*), bore him on February 5, 1525, the firstborn son [Juraj](/wiki/Juraj_Dra%C5%A1kovi%C4%87 "Juraj Drašković") ([English](/wiki/English_language "English language"): *George*), a famous [Croatian](/wiki/Croats "Croats") Catholic Bishop, Cardinal and statesman, who was the [Ban (Viceroy)](/wiki/Ban_%28title%29 "Ban (title)") of [Croatia](/wiki/Kingdom_of_Croatia_%28Habsburg%29 "Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)") between 1567 and 1578\.

Younger sons of Bartol and Ana, [Ivan I](/wiki/Ivan_I_Dra%C5%A1kovi%C4%87 "Ivan I Drašković") ([English](/wiki/English_language "English language"): *John*) and [Gašpar I](/wiki/Ga%C5%A1par_I_Dra%C5%A1kovi%C4%87 "Gašpar I Drašković") ([English](/wiki/English_language "English language"): *Casper*), were most probably also born there. Shortly after that, because of the threatening [Ottoman](/wiki/Ottoman_Empire "Ottoman Empire") expansion, the family left its old seat and withdrew toward the northwest of Croatia.

As the Ottoman army soon conquered the whole area around Bilina, the Drašković family could not come back any more. Thus, the Draškovićs of Bilina became later Draškovićs of [Trakošćan](/wiki/Trako%C5%A1%C4%87an "Trakošćan").


Where are the remains of the castle located?