Voivode

A voivode is a title which formally designates a military leader or warlord, commonly used in areas controlled by Cultures of Telgren peoples or in areas within which the Yuskic predominate. Technically, or originally, it is equivalent to a term such as "Khan" or "general" and does not come with any rank of nobility in itself. Indeed, within much of the Yuskic world, a voivode is merely a military commander (who is nearly always a noble anyways). However, it is most famously used by the Erleting peoples for military leaders and heads of state, where it has been repurposed after the fall of Dragan Ivar's Army in particular. Ivar' himself claimed the title of Voivode as he was nominally not a political leader, merely a military one. Following the collapse of his host, many of his top generals claimed to be the rightful new Voivode, as opposed to claiming tribal leadership. These generals and their factions then seized control of territory and continued to rule as Voivode rather than establishing dynastic rule. However, now that the dust has settled, the title seems to have solidifed to designate a ruler of an army with a state, or in some cases as a military leader who serves as the ruler of a confederation of tribes, as the two can coexist. This makes the real modern meaning of voivode extremely murky within the Erelting lands. Since the title of voivode is non-hereditary, this means that a voivodeship is nominally non-monarchial, however it remains to be seen if the Erleting will enshirne the title as de facto following father-son succession and from there turn it into a hereditary title.

The title of Voivode is often used in conjunction with the title of Hetman within lands on the former border of the Relvetsian Empire and the Rodłowi Empire, where it has come to mean a non-sovereign military leader, while the term hetman is essentially used as Voivode is by the Erleting. However, even in countries where the voivode is not used as a noble title, a voivode may still hold lands, which can become known as a voivodeship, too. However, such a title would not be used there for a sovereign nation (though it might be used for independent military forces, such as mercenaries). Voivode is also a used in the Blazennian Empire, where it designates a military leader of Erleting levies specifically. It's not used for general purposes within the Empire outside of this case.