{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreicfv4l7elq6dsfwoyisxo24w2iniyb7twqsczd5oebpgof4f66iwm",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:cwwlhanx3vcgacpqbrxfa2nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp3n4aagvlif"
  },
  "content": {
    "$type": "org.wordpress.html",
    "html": "<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/institution/exarchate-of-ravenna/\">Exarchate of Ravenna</a></em> was an <em>ad hoc</em> organisation of the Byzantine dominions in Italy, established c.584, in the face of the <a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/event/lombard-invasion-of-italy/\">Lombard invasion</a> and <a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/the-conquest-of-venetia/\">gradual conquest</a> of much of the Italian peninsula.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The list of the exarchs of Byzantine Ravenna is very uncertain, as the sources are scarce, and not without contradictions. Also note that some served two separate periods.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Praetorian prefects of Italy</h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the creation of the Exarchate of Ravenna as the formal organisation of Byzantine Italy, the province was governed by <em>Pretorian Prefects</em>, of which the last were:</p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/narses-byzantine-general-c478-573/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"8530\"><em>Narses</em></a> (553–568) under Justinian.</li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/longinus-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"8731\"><em>Longinus</em></a> (568–?) under Justine&nbsp;II.</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last testimony we have of <em>Longinus</em> is from 575, but nothing is known of the length of his tenure, or when he died.</p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">List of exarchs</h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Subheadings refer to the Byzantine emperor at the time.</p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maurice</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Decius</em> (584–585)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/smaragdus-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"9117\">Smaragdus</a></em> (585–589)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Romanus</em> (589–596)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/callinicus-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"9119\">Callinicus</a></em> or <em>Gallinicus</em> (596–c.&nbsp;603)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phocas</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/smaragdus-exarch-of-ravenna/\">Smaragdus</a></em> (603–608)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Heraclius</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>John I</em> (608–616)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Eleutherius</em> (616–619)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>…</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/isaac-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"9557\">Isaac</a></em> (625–643)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Constans II</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Theodore I Calliopas</em> (643–645)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Plato</em> (645–649)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Olympius</em> (649–652)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Theodore I Calliopas</em> (653–c. 666)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Constantine IV</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/gregorios-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"9118\">Gregorios</a></em> (c. 666)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>…</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Theodore II</em> (678–687)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Justinian II</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>John II Platyn</em> (687–702)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Theophylactus</em> (702–710)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>John III Rizocopus</em> (710–711)</li>\n\n\n\n<li>…</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leo III the Isaurian</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Scholasticus</em> (713–723)</li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/proper-name/paulus-exarch-of-ravenna/\" data-type=\"proper-name\" data-id=\"9566\">Paulus</a></em> (723 to 726–727)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Constantine V</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Eutychius</em> (726–727 to 751)</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"related-links\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related articles</h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/the-lombard-invasion/\">The Lombard Invasion</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/venetia-et-histria/\"><em>Venetia et Histria</em></a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/did-narses-invite-the-lombards/\">Did Narses invite the Lombards?</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/the-conquest-of-venetia/\">The conquest of Venetia</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/venetian-refugees/\">Venetian refugees</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/the-medieval-landscape/\">The Medieval Landscape</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/early-venice/lagoon-settlements-in-the-early-middle-ages/\">Lagoon settlements in the early Middle Ages</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/list/chronology-of-the-lombard-invasion/\">Chronology of the Lombard invasion</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/list/doges-of-venice/\">Doges of Venice</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/list/patriarchs-of-grado-and-venice/\">Patriarchs of Grado and Venice</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/list/kings-of-the-lombards/\">Kings of the Lombards</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Venetian Stories</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://venetianstories.com/podcast/episode-28-the-early-sources/\">Episode 28 — The early sources</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://venetianstories.com/podcast/episode-29-the-lombard-invasion/\">Episode 29 — The Lombard Invasion</a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://venetianstories.com/podcast/episode-30-venetia-maritima/\">Episode 30 — Venetia Maritima</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related sources</h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/sources-and-publications/the-historia-langobardorum-by-paul-the-deacon/\">The <em>Historia Langobardorum</em> by Paul the Deacon</a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/translation/the-invasion-of-venetia-paul-the-deacon/\">The invasion of <em>Venetia</em></a></li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/translation/the-conquest-of-venetia-paul-the-deacon/\">The conquest of <em>Venetia</em></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n</div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/article/sources-and-publications/the-istoria-veneticorum-by-john-the-deacon/\">The <em>Istoria Veneticorum</em> by John the Deacon</a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https://historywalksvenice.com/translation/the-settlements-of-the-lagoons-john-the-deacon/\">The settlements of the lagoons</a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"></p>"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihmwfzvt7injf6ld5pojhwu2p6573ran7pufiz37fqyipmgrzuhtm"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/avif",
    "size": 125122
  },
  "description": "An incomplete list of the Byzantine exarchs (vice-emperors) of the Exarchate of Ravenna.",
  "path": "/list/exarchs-of-ravenna/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-25T04:53:00.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:cwwlhanx3vcgacpqbrxfa2nn/site.standard.publication/3mmt6dwxmnswv",
  "tags": [
    "Early Venice"
  ],
  "textContent": "The Exarchate of Ravenna was an ad hoc organisation of the Byzantine dominions in Italy, established c.584, in the face of the Lombard invasion and gradual conquest of much of the Italian peninsula. The list of the exarchs of Byzantine Ravenna is very uncertain, as the sources are scarce, and not without contradictions. Also note that some served two separate periods. Praetorian prefects of Italy Before the creation of the Exarchate of Ravenna as the formal organisation of Byzantine Italy, the province was governed by Pretorian Prefects, of which the last were: Narses (553–568) under Justinian. Longinus (568–?) under Justine II. The last testimony we have of Longinus is from 575, but nothing is known of the length of his tenure, or when he died. List of exarchs Subheadings refer to the Byzantine emperor at the time. Maurice Decius (584–585) Smaragdus (585–589) Romanus (589–596) Callinicus or Gallinicus (596–c. 603) Phocas Smaragdus (603–608) Heraclius John I (608–616) Eleutherius (616–619) … Isaac (625–643) Constans II Theodore I Calliopas (643–645) Plato (645–649) Olympius (649–652) Theodore I Calliopas (653–c. 666) Constantine IV Gregorios (c. 666) … Theodore II (678–687) Justinian II John II Platyn (687–702) Theophylactus (702–710) John III Rizocopus (710–711) … Leo III the Isaurian Scholasticus (713–723) Paulus (723 to 726–727) Constantine V Eutychius (726–727 to 751) Related articles The Lombard Invasion Venetia et Histria Did Narses invite the Lombards? The conquest of Venetia Venetian refugees The Medieval Landscape Lagoon settlements in the early Middle Ages Chronology of the Lombard invasion Doges of Venice Patriarchs of Grado and Venice Kings of the Lombards Venetian Stories Episode 28 — The early sources Episode 29 — The Lombard Invasion Episode 30 — Venetia Maritima Related sources The Historia Langobardorum by Paul the Deacon The invasion of Venetia The conquest of Venetia The Istoria Veneticorum by John the Deacon The settlements of the lagoons",
  "title": "Exarchs of Ravenna",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-09T06:40:17.000Z"
}