1. Plural of ethnarchy; the rule or authority of an ethnarch (a leader or governor of a people or ethnic group).
Usage: historical; formal
2. Territories or regions governed by an ethnarch or under ethnarchic administration.
Usage: historical; formal

Examples

• The ethnarchies of the ancient Near East were often organized around tribal or ethnic lines.
• Roman emperors sometimes appointed ethnarchs to govern ethnarchies within their empire.
• The ethnarchies in the Hellenistic period reflected the diverse populations of Alexander's conquered territories.
• Historical records describe several ethnarchies that maintained semi-autonomous status under imperial oversight.