Also 6 exarke. [ad. L. exarch-us, a. Gr. ἔξάρχος, in class. Gr. a leader, chief, f. ἐξάρχειν to take the lead, f. ἐξ (see EX- pref.2) + ἄρχειν to begin, rule. In the post-classical uses represented by the Eng. word, the prefix was perh. taken in the sense ‘out, sent out.’]
1. Under the Byzantine emperors, the governor of a distant province, as Africa or Italy; in the latter case with title ‘Exarch of Ravenna’ (The title was revived in the Holy Roman Empire: see quot. 1751.)
1588. Allen, Admon., 44. So did S. Gregory the first moue Genadius the Exarke, to make warrs against the heritikes, as a very glorious thinge.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 107. Rauenna, where some Emperors haue kept their courts, and after them their Exarches or lieutenants.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The emperor Frederic created Heraclius … exarch of the whole kingdom of Burgundy.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlix. V. 120. These remote provinces [Italy and Africa] required the presence of a supreme magistrate; he was indifferently styled the exarch or the patrician.
1832. trans. Sismondi’s Ital. Rep., i. 11. Governed by a lieutenant of the Emperor of Constantinople, under the title of exarch of the five cities of Pentapolis.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. III. vii. 132. The Exarch of Ravenna, the representative of the Byzantine Empire.
1872. E. W. Robertson, Hist. Ess., 205. The Pope … anointing … Pepin and his two sons … as Patricians of the Romans thus occupying the condition of the Exarch.
2. Eccl. In the Eastern Church, a title originally equivalent to ‘archbishop,’ ‘metropolitan,’ or ‘patriarch,’ which in early use were employed almost indiscriminately. Subsequently, ‘a bishop having charge of a province, and next in rank to a patriarch’ (Catholic Dict., 1885); also, a legate or deputy of the patriarch, entrusted with some special charge or mission.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xvi. 421. In the council of Carthage … it was decreed, that the bishop of the chief see should not be entitled the exarch of priests.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 58. Gregorius Hieromonachus, the Patriarchal Exarch from Trapezunt.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In 493 Sebas was established exarch, or chief, of all the anchorets within the territory of Jerusalem.
1851. Hussey, Papal Power, ii. 74. Bishops or clergy should appeal from their metropolitan to the exarch of the Province.
1877. E. Venables, in Dict. Chr. Biog., I. 288/1. He [Basil of Caesareia] was metropolitan of Cappadocia, and exarch of Pontus.
1884. Arnold-Forster, in Contemp. Rev., March, 412. The constitution of the Bulgarian Exarch by the Porte in 1870.
Hence Exarchal a., of or pertaining to an exarch.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. IV. ix. 414. The exarchal government from the first had only been powerful to tyrannise and feeble to protect.
