A boyar, or bolyar (Bulgarian: боляр or болярин; Ukrainian: буй or боярин; Russian: боя́рин, boyarin; ; Romanian: boier ; Greek: βογιάρος), was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Bulgarian, Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes (in Bulgaria, tsars), from the 10th century through the 17th century. The rank has lived on as a surname in Russia and Finland, where it is spelt Pajari.
Read more about Boyar: Etymology, Boyars in Bulgaria, Boyars in Serbia, Boyars in The Lands of Kievan Rus', Boyars in Muscovy, Boyars in Wallachia and Moldavia, Cultural References
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