Veliki vojvoda

Veliki vojvoda (Serbian Cyrillic: велики војвода; from veliki = great and vojvoda = duke) was a Serbian military and noble title in use during the Middle Ages and the Modern period. It is often translated into "grand duke".

Veliki Vojvoda

Middle Ages

Veliki vojvoda was a title used in Serbia in the Middle Ages and the Kingdom of Bosnia.

Serbia

It signified superiority over the other vojvodas.^[1] The title-holder commanded the army on occasions when the monarch did not attend in military campaigns, usually with lesser important military operations inside the country, or when a detachment was sent to aid allies.^[1] Another term used for the title was "standard-bearer" (stegonoša, Latin: vexillarius).^[2]

• Novak Grebostrek^[3] (fl. 1312), served Stefan Milutin
• Hrelja^[1] (fl. 1320s–31), served Stefan Dečanski
• Gradislav Borilović^[1][2] (fl. 1333), served Stefan Dušan
• Jovan Oliver^[3] (fl. 1341–55), served Stefan Dušan
• Nikola Stanjević^[4] (fl. 1355–66), served Stefan Dušan and/or Stefan Uroš V
• Uglješa Mrnjavčević^[5] (fl. 1358), served Stefan Uroš V
• Radoslav Mihaljević^[6] (fl. 1426–d. 1436), served Stefan Lazarević
• Mihailo Anđelović^[7] (fl. 1456–58), served Lazar Branković

There are also mentions of the title-holders in Serbian epic poetry regarding the Battle of Kosovo, such as Dimitrije.^[8]

Bosnia

Main article: Grand Duke of Bosnia

Modern period

Montenegro

The title was adopted in the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro. Mirko Petrović-Njegoš bore the title, as "Grand Duke of Grahovo".

Vojvodina

The Grand title of the emperor of Austria included "Grand Voivode of the Voivodeship of Serbia" originating during the Serb uprising of 1848–1849.

See also

• velikaš (magnate)
• veliki čelnik
• veliki župan
• veliki kaznac