Exarch

General

The term Exarch generally describes a governor. In the history of the Magotho and other ancient clans, it reffered to a type of leadership of the clan.

Exarchs of Clans

Around 2650 A.I.D., it became fashionable among some dragon-dominated clans in the Old Empire to concentrate power in a group (reffered to as circles) and its most powerful individual (the exarch). This development was an expression of the feudalization of some clans. The Magotho can be taken as the prime example of this development.

As relations between imperial clans and communities grew more complex and administrative burdens increased, clan leaders - if there were any with long tenures - increasingly gathered confidants around them in Western Aerznia to whom they delegated tasks. De facto, this created groups that had power over their clan and could thus hold it more efficiently than one or two individuals.

Leadership in relation to these clans was then no longer seen in a person, but in a group. Moreover, while more contact persons led to a concentration of power, they also led to greater accessibility and accountability for outsiders in the long term.