page_title: Voivode
section_title: Title of nobility and provincial governorship
hierarchical_section_title: Voivode / Title of nobility and provincial governorship
caption_attribution_description: English: Portrait of Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł (1734–1790) Polski: Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł Panie Kochanku
context_page_description: Voivode, Vojvoda or Wojewoda, etc. is a Slavic term denoting a "war-leader" or "warlord" in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. During the Byzantine Empire it referred to military commanders mainly of Slavic populations.
context_section_description: The transition of the voivode from military leader to a high ranking civic role in territorial administration (Local government) occurred in most Slavic countries and in the Balkans in the Late Middle Ages. They included Bulgaria, the Czech lands, Moldavia, Poland and Ukraine. Moreover in the Czech lands, but also in the Balkans, it was an aristocratic title corresponding to dux, Duke or Knyaz. Many noble families of the Illyricum still use this title despite the disputes about the very existence of nobility in the Balkans.
caption: Prince Karol Radziwiłł, wojewoda of Wilno
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