The term jiedu refers to a regional military governor in imperial China. The position was officially established during the Tang dynasty and remained in use until it was abolished during the Yuan dynasty.
Introduced in AD 711, the role of the jiedushi was originally created to counter external threats. These officials were authorized to supervise defense commands that often encompassed multiple prefectures. Their responsibilities included maintaining private armies, collecting taxes, and appointing or promoting subordinates within their jurisdiction.
The title has been translated into various English terms depending on the context, including "military commissioner," "governor," "legate," or "regional commander."