marzpanates

Noun

marzpanate (plural marzpanates)

1. (historical) a border province of the Sassanian Empire ruled by the marzpan
   • The regions of Eastern Armenia: Artsakh, Utik, Paytakaran and Kambejan, dominated by Iran in 428, formed a marzpanate.2002, Shahen Mkrtchyan, Treasures of Artsakh-Karabagh, page 11
2. (historical) the office of the marzpan
   • Xosrov gave him the marzpanate of the country of Hyrcania[…]1960, Ararat, Armenian General Benevolent Union, v. 25, 48
3. (capitalized, historical, usually) the period in Armenian history after the fall of the Arshakuni Dynasty of Armenia in 428, when the eastern part of Armenia was governed as a marzpanate by Sassanian-nominated marzpans
   • Byzantine expansion toward the east, which marked the last century of the Marzpanate, extended the scope of the Justinianic reforms with their implicit threat against the very core of Armenian social and cultural institutions.1997, Nina Garsoïan, edited by Richard G. Hovannisian, The Armenian people from ancient to modern times, volume I, page 107