The Romanian social elite -- chiefly made up of aldermen ( iudices ) or knezes ( kenezii ) .
Who ruled their villages according to the law of the land ( ius valachicum ) -- managed only somewhat to obtain writs of donation and were expropriated .
Since the Romanian social elite -- chiefly made up of aldermen ( iudices ) or knezes ( kenezii ) , who ruled their villages according to the law of the land ( ius valachicum ) -- managed only somewhat to obtain writs of donation and were expropriated .