Dragoman

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Dragoman, a word of Aramaic/Assyrian origin (related to Arabic ترجمان tarjuman), designates the function of interpreter, translator and official guide in countries and polities of the Middle East. The status of dragomans was especially prestigious in the Ottoman Empire, where it incorporated diplomatic duties - namely, in the Porte's relation with Christian countries.

It became customary that most Hospodars of the Phanariote rule (roughly: 1711-1821) over the Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) would previously occupy this Ottoman office, a fact which did not prevent many of them from joining conspiracies that aimed to overthrow Turkish rule over the area.

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