What is an exarchate?
An exarchate was a large administrative region of the Byzantine Empire. It was ruled by an exarch who held both civil and military authority and acted with considerable autonomy, though he remained under the emperor.
Why it existed
Exarchates were created to strengthen frontier defense and govern distant provinces more effectively. Notable exarchates included Ravenna in Italy and Africa (Carthage).
Powers and duties
- Combining civil and military authority in one official
- Overseeing taxation, justice, and administration
- Commanding troops stationed in the province
- Reporting to the emperor and maintaining a balance between local autonomy and central oversight
Relation to central authority
Exarchates were not sovereign states; they were provinces of the Byzantine Empire with a high degree of local power, dependent on Constantinople.
Decline and relevance
Over time, the exarchates declined as the empire shifted to the theme system; external pressures contributed to their dissolution by the 7th–8th centuries.