Armaș

Armaș is an historical rank used in the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia.

The highest ranking official with this title was the Mare Armaș (or Great Armaș) who was in charge of implementing the sentences of the voivode, supervising the execution of the persons sentenced to death, the incarceration of those sentenced to imprisonment and the interrogation of the prisoners.

In Wallachia, the great armaș was the commander of the artillery in case of war. He was also in charge of supervising the princely gypsies, i.e. the gypsies who were serfs on the properties of the voivode.

In Moldavia, the armaș was also in charge of the army's flags and of the military bands.

The Great Aramș had several subordinates among which the second and third armaș, the ispravnic of the armași, the vătaf (commander) of the prisons, the condicar (secretary) of the prisons, as well as the armași on the territory.

The armaș had considerable income from the fines collected from robbers, thiefs and other criminals.