The Exarchate of Ravenna was a significant administrative division of the Byzantine Empire located in Italy. Established in the late 6th century, it was one of two exarchates, the other being the Exarchate of Carthage.
The Exarchate was created by Emperor Maurice in 584 AD to manage the Byzantine territories in Italy more effectively. This move was in response to the ongoing threats from the Lombards, who were encroaching on Byzantine lands in Italy after the collapse of the Ostrogothic Kingdom. The term "exarch" comes from the Greek word for "ruler," signifying the high degree of autonomy these governors had.
Ravenna served as the capital of the Exarchate due to its strategic location on the Adriatic coast, which provided naval access and defense against Lombard incursions. The Exarchate included Ravenna, Rome, Perugia, and parts of central Italy, along with the Pentapolis in the Marche region. The exarch had both military and civil powers, often acting independently of Constantinople due to the distance and the constant threat of invasion.
The Exarchate's power began to wane in the 8th century due to internal strife, the weakening of Byzantine control over Italy, and the rise of the Papal States. The final blow came with the Lombard conquest of Ravenna in 751, although the title of Exarch of Ravenna persisted until the Byzantine recapture in 797. However, by then, the region had effectively been lost to Byzantine control.
Despite its eventual demise, the Exarchate of Ravenna left a lasting cultural and administrative legacy. It influenced the development of administrative practices in the Papal States and later in the Kingdom of Italy. Ravenna itself remained a cultural hub with significant Byzantine art and architecture, which can still be seen today.