Horodnychyi

Horodnychyi. In the Princely era an official who supervised the building and maintenance of towns, particularly their fortifications. In the Lithuanian-Ruthenian state the horodnychyi commanded the city and fortress and collected taxes from the volost; there were 15 such commanders in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. From 1635 some horodnychi were immediately subordinate to the grand princes and the Council of Lords. In Russia and Ukraine from 1775 to 1862 the term designated a county-seat administrator, who was also head of the local police.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 2 (1989).]