Voivode

Voivod is a Slavic ruler title. In Poland, he called today the supreme head of the administration of a province.

Origin of the name

More notation are voivode / Voïvode, Wojwoda / Vojvoda, Woiwod, Воевода / Wojewoda and Войвода / Wojwoda, derived from the Slavic " Войвода " / " Wojwoda ". The word is a combination of война / wojna "war" or войска / Wojska "army" and водя / " lead " wođa and means " army commander ". Thus, similar to the derivation of the word of the Germanic " Duke ".

The term " province " is derived from " Voivod ". The Banat region, which lies today in Serbia, Hungary and Romania, used to be called in the German language also Serbian province. Also derived is the name of Vojvodina, a region of Serbia.

History

The term " voivode " referred to a military leader in general and has been used in particular for a Slavic nobility rank below a prince ( Knjaz ) or for a military governor, similar to the title of a Germanic Duke. At the military frontier of the Ottoman Empire of the voivode was the commander of a 50 man counting department of military conscripts who were recruited from the border population. Such a unit was called the " Province ".

The title of voivode was used in Pomerania, Rügen, in Lusatia, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the non-Slavic principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, and the non-Slavic countries, Hungary ( spelling Vajda ) and Austria. In the Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia was the official title of the local princes Voievod, Gospodar and later Domnitor. In Bulgaria and Macedonia also the leader of the Chetniks were called Wojwoda. In Austria - Hungary the Emperor of Austria was entitled Großwoiwode of Serbia Voivodeship.

Today's use in the Republic of Poland

In Poland the title of voivode called (Polish wojewoda ) since the late Middle Ages the chief head of the administration of a province, that is, the supreme administrative district. The voivode is the representative of the central government in the province and is appointed by the Polish Prime Minister.