Knez or Kenez (Romanian: cnez/cneaz or chinez; Hungarian: kenéz; Latin: kenezius, Serbian Cyrillic: кнез) was one of the titles given to the leader of the Vlach communities in the Kingdom of Hungary and western Balkans during the Middle Ages.
[3] In the western parts of the medieval Balkans, knez was one of the terms used to refer to the leader of a Vlach katun, alongside katunar and other titles.
In areas outside districtus Valachorum, for example around Gyulafehérvár, they became "common knezes", their "jury duty" was limited to their village and they were subordinated to local nobles.
Where neither a voivode or a noble had direct control, the knezes were able to gain more power and influence, becoming members of regional petty nobility.
[10] During the reign of Louis I of Hungary the noble status of knezes had to be confirmed by the King, and in consequence, their titles of property and nobility became dependant on the decisions of the royal court.