Ditskyi

Ditskyi. In Kyivan Rus’, a member of one of the junior ranks of the prince's druzhyna. A ditskyi carried out the prince's administrative orders and served as auxiliary officials in the judicial system. In the Lithuanian-Ruthenian state a ditskyi was a full-time court officer. He brought the accused before the court and executed sentences that were related to property crimes. He also helped in collecting taxes. Under the influence of Polish law the ditskyi was replaced by the voznyi when county courts were introduced in 1566.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]