Also 6–7 exarchat, -cat. [ad. late L. exarchāt-us, f. exarchus: see EXARCH. Cf. Fr. exarchat.]
1. The office, dignity or jurisdiction of an exarch, whether a. civil, or b. ecclesiastical.
a. 1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 196 b. Longinus brought in a new name of dignitie, that is to witte, the exarchate of Italie.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr. (1640), 259*. After the overthrow of the Exarchat,… the Romans began to be governed by … the Popes.
1678. Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, V. ii. § 16. 469/2. Justinus the second instituted the Exarchate of Ravenna.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Exarch The exarchs subsisted about a hundred and eighty-five years, and ended in Eutychius; under whose exarchate the city of Ravenna was taken by the Lombard king.
b. 1876. Daily News, 16 Dec., 5/5. A self-governed province, including the territory of the Bulgarian exarchate.
2. The province or territory governed by an exarch, whether a. civil, or b. ecclesiastical.
a. 1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 117/1. Pipinus … gaue … to the said see of Rome, the exarchat or princedome of Rauenna.
1764. Gibbon, Misc. Wks. (1814), V. 39. Pepin and Charlemagne … gave the duchy of Rome and the exarchate of Ravenna to the popes.
1861. J. Sheppard, Fall Rome, vi. 314. The Byzantines still retained the exarchate.
b. 1877. E. Venables, in Dict. Chr. Biog., I. 290/2. He [Basil] was to be found in every part of his exarchate.
Hence † Exarchateship, Obs.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, Hh vj a. Iustinivs … instituted the Exarchatship a new kind of Magistracy.
