archontia

plural archonties

1. An archontate.

   To sum up, the sigillographic evidence shows that Crete was an archontia governed by archons until the Arab invasion and the beginning of their conquest, i.e. circa 827-828.

   1988, Dēmētrēs Tsounkarakēs, Byzantine Crete: From the 5th Century to the Venetian Conquest, page 177

   1 more example

   Before the creation of the Theme of Crete, and possibly for some time after, Crete enjoyed the special status of an archontia, which is shown by the numerous lead seals of the archontes of Crete dating from the eighth to the beginning of the ninth century.

   2021, Fotini Kondyli, Benjamin Anderson, The Byzantine Neighbourhood: Urban Space and Political Action