voivode

[ voi-vohd ]

noun

1. (in Eastern European history) a local ruler or governor, especially the semi-independent rulers of Transylvania, Wallachia, or Moldova before c1700.

Word History and Origins

Origin of voivode¹

First recorded in 1550–60; ultimately from Slavic; compare Polish wojewoda, Russian voevóda, Serbo-Croatian vȍj(e)voda, Old Church Slavonic vojevoda “commander, governor” (translating Greek hēgemṓn and stratēgós ), equivalent to voj- base of voinŭ “warrior” + -e- variant (after j ) of -o- -o- + -voda, noun derivative of voditi “to lead”; vaivode, from Hungarian vajvoda (now vajda ), from Slavic

Example Sentences

At the center of Stoker's research when writing "Dracula," was a Romanian warlord named Vlad III who went by many other names: Vlad the Impaler, Vlad Dracula and also Voivode of Wallachia.

From Salon

He must, indeed, have been that Voivode Dracula who won his name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier of Turkey-land.

From Literature

Who was it but one of my own race who as Voivode crossed the Danube and beat the Turk on his own ground?

From Literature

Researchers have found medieval cannonballs from culverins, an early form of cannon, that were most likely used by Wallacian Voivode Vlad III Dracula, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, during his bloody battle in 1461 with the Ottoman Turks, according to a report in Archaeology in Bulgaria.

From Fox News

Forward press the Mrljashevich warriors, Ban Uglesha and the Voivode Goiko; And with them the monarch Tzar Vukashin: Each one leads full thirty thousand warriors.

From Project Gutenberg