Wojewodza

Wojewodza was a title of high office in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It generally translates to "voivode" or "governor." The wojewodza held significant administrative and judicial power within their designated province, known as a voivodeship (województwo).

As the King's representative in the province, the wojewodza was responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining order, and overseeing local administration. They also played a role in military affairs, commanding local levies in times of war.

The position of wojewodza was typically held by members of the szlachta (Polish nobility) who were appointed by the King. The office was highly prestigious and influential, providing the holder with considerable power and resources.

The duties and responsibilities of a wojewodza varied somewhat depending on the specific voivodeship and the historical period. However, the core function remained the same: to represent the Crown and administer the province in its name.

The term and office existed for centuries, undergoing changes along with the political landscape of Poland and Lithuania. After the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century, the term continued to be used, albeit with significantly altered meanings and responsibilities, under the succeeding occupying powers and in later iterations of Polish statehood. The modern Polish administrative division retains the "voivodeship" name, with "voivode" referencing the governor of the province, continuing a long historical tradition of regional governance.