A voivode was a leader of certain Vlach (Romanian) communities in the Kingdom of Hungary and western Balkans,[1] during the Middle Ages.
[3] In that year, King Béla IV of Hungary (r. 1235–1270) granted the "region of Szörény" (modern Turnu-Severin in Romania) to the Knights Hospitaller as far as the Olt River save the lands ruled by two Vlach voivodes, Litovoi and Seneslau.
The situation is illustrated in the 1436 agreement between Vlachs in Cetina region and Ivan VI Frankopan.
[5] In 1326, the comes of Csanád, Nicholaus, gifts to Diocese of Várad the property called Hudus where voivode Negul "sits and dwells" (considet et commoratur).
[6] In 1335, Ladislaus Jánki, archbishop of Kalocsa, was facilitating under command from the king the settlement of voivode "Bogdan, son of Mykula" in the Kingdom of Hungary.