Plural of boyar; members of the old Russian aristocratic class who held significant power before the 18th century.
From Russian боярин (boyarin), possibly derived from Turkic origins or Proto-Slavic roots. The word entered English through historical accounts of Russian society and governance during the medieval and early modern periods.
Boyards were so politically powerful that they could essentially hold the Russian throne hostage—Ivan the Terrible literally created a secret police force partly because he was tired of them challenging his authority.
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