For the heavy metal music band see Voivod (band).

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Voivod (also spelled vajda, vojvod, vojvoda, wojwod, wojewoda, voivode, voivoda, Voievod, Russian: воевода, voyevoda) is a term of Slavic etymology denoting a military commander, literally, a warlord, (from "voi", plural "voie" - "warrior(s)", and "vodit'" - "to lead"). Later the term came to denote the governor of a province. A territory over which a voivod rules is called a voivodship (see Vojvodina).

It was used by medieval Hungarian, Polish, Romanian (Wallachia), Russian, Serbian etc. states, similar to the Turkish "Sanjaqbey". It was the highest military rank in armies of Montenegro, Serbia, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and among the Chetniks.

The term is often (though improperly) translated into English as "duke" and vice versa.

"Wojewoda" is a current name of the governor of a province (voivodship - "województwo") in Poland. Article Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth discusses historical origins of Polish voivedes in more detail.

Voivods

• Romania
  • Voivods of Wallachia
  • Voivods of Moldavia