Serdar

Serdar (plural serdari) was a historical rank traditionally held by boyars in Moldavia and Wallachia. The name is taken from Turkish, serdār being a military rank in the Ottoman Empire. The title of serdar was used in these principalities starting with the 17th century and was mainly used for the commanders of cavalry.

There were several levels of the rank of serdar:


 * marele serdaror vel serdar (meaning great serdar) who was member of the Sfatul Domnesc (princely council), the title being given to the commander of the cavalry.
 * serdar de mazili the commander of the cavalry units formed by mazil boyars (landed gentry).
 * cârc-serdar a later rank given to the commanders of a gendarmerie posse

In Wallachia the great serdar was subordinated to the great spătar and was one of the voivode's advisers. In Moldavia the role of the serdars was different, their main function was to command cavalry units for the protection of the Eastern border of the country, especially the regions of Soroca, Orhei and Lăpuşna mainly against Tartar or Ukrainian raids. In the 18th century, they also carried out additional duties and had judicial authority.

In the 19th century serdar became an honorific title, without any responsibilities.