Page "Voivodeship" Paragraph 2

Voi ( e ) vod ( e ) ship, or palatinatum, is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administrated by, a voi ( e ) vod ( e ) in several European countries.

Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia.

Administrative level of area ( territory ) of voivodeship is equivalent to duchy in western medieval states, much like the title of voivode was equivalent to that of a duke.

Another roughly equivalent title and area in medieval Eastern Europe were those of ban ( bojan, vojin or bayan ) and banate.