Druzhina

In the medieval history of Kievan Rus' and Early Poland, a druzhina, drużyna, or družyna (Slovak and Czech: družina; Polish: drużyna; Russian: дружина, romanized: druzhina; Ukrainian: дружи́на, druzhýna literally a "fellowship") was a retinue in service of a Slavic chieftain, also called knyaz.

The name is derived from the Slavic word drug (друг) with the meaning of "companion, friend".

[1][2] Ibrahim ibn Yaqub, who traveled in 961–62 in Central Europe, mentions that the drużyna of Duke Mieszko I of Poland had 3000 men, paid by the duke.

[3] Unlike his predecessors, Casimir I the Restorer promoted landed gentry over the drużyna as his base of power.

Media related to Druzhina at Wikimedia Commons

Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh of the Rurikid dynasty resting with his druzhina after a hunt, by Viktor Vasnetsov .