marzpanate

marzpanate (plural marzpanates)
(historical) a border province of the Sassanian Empire ruled by the marzpan
(historical) the office of the marzpan
(historical, usually capitalized) 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