The Buława (Polish) or Bulava (Ukrainian Булава) was a ceremonial mace or baton carried by a hetman, the highest military rank (Field and Great Hetman) of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or the military head of a Cossack state. In Slavic languages, "bulava"/"bulawa" is "mace", both in military and ceremonial senses.
Hetmans added the picture of bulawa to their coat of arms. Today it appears on the rank insignia of a Marshal of Poland, and is a symbol of the Presidency of Ukraine.
See also