Governorate

A governorate is an administrative division of a state. It is headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states or provinces, the term ''governorate'' is often used in translation from non-English-speaking administrations.

The most common usage are as a translation of Persian "Farmandari" or the Arabic ''Muhafazah''. It may also refer to the '' guberniya'' and '' general-gubernatorstvo'' of Imperial Russia or the '' gobiernos'' of Imperial Spain.

Arab countries

The term governorate is widely used in Arab countries to describe an administrative unit. Some governorates combine more than one ''Muhafazah''; others closely follow traditional boundaries inherited from the Ottoman Empire's ''vilayet'' system.

With the exception of Tunisia, all translations into the term governorate originate in the Arabic word ''muhafazah''.

*Governorates of Bahrain
*Governorates of Egypt
*Governorates of Iraq (official translation, sometimes also translated as province)
*Governorates of Jordan
*Governorates of Kuwait
*Governorates of Lebanon
*Governorates of Oman
*Governorates of Palestine
*Governorates of Saudi Arabia
*Governorates of Syria
*Governorates of Tunisia (the local term is ''wilayah'')
*Governorates of Yemen

Russian Empire

*History of the administrative division of Russia
*Governorate (Russia) and :Governorates of the Russian Empire

Congress Kingdom of Poland

*See Subdivisions of Congress Poland

Grand Duchy of Finland

** Governorates of the Grand Principality of Finland

Portuguese Empire

In the Portuguese Empire, a governorate general (Portuguese: ''governo-geral'') were a colonial administration. They usually were created in order to be a centralized government over smaller colonies or territories of the Portuguese Empire.

Governorate Generals of the Portuguese Empire:
*Governorate General of Brazil (1549-1572 / 1578-1607 / 1613–1621)
*Governorate General of Bahia (1572-1578 / 1607–1613)
*Governorate General of Rio de Janeiro (1572-1578 / 1607–1613)

Spanish Empire

In the Spanish Empire, the ''gobernaciones'' ("governorships" or "governorates") were an administrative division, roughly analogous to a province directly beneath the level of the '' audiencia'' or captaincy general, and the viceroy in areas directly under the viceroy's administration. The powers and duties of a governor were identical to a ''corregidor'' but a governor managed a larger or more prosperous area than the former.

Italian Empire

* Governorates of Italian East Africa

Germany

In the modern German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as others in the past, there are sub-state administrative regions called ''Regierungsbezirk'', which is sometimes translated into English as "governorate" or "county."

During the time of the Third Reich, a "General Government for the Occupied Polish Areas" (German: ''Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete'') existed. The German (based on a traditional Prussian term) is sometimes translated as ''General Governorate''.

Romania

During World War II, Romania administrated three governorates: the Bessarabia Governorate, the Bukovina Governorate and the Transnistria Governorate.

Ukraine

When Ukraine claimed autonomy in 1917 and then independence from Russia in 1918, it inherited the imperial subdivision of its land with nine governorates, two okruhas, and three cities with special status. Each governorate (Ukrainian ) was subdivided by the smaller unit of county () and still smaller .

By the end of the Soviet-Ukrainian war in 1920, the Soviets had made them part of the Ukrainian SSR. Soviet Ukraine was reorganized into twelve governorates, which were reduced to nine in 1922, and then replaced with okruhas in 1925.

Vatican City

Under the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the pope's executive authority for Vatican City is exercised by the Governorate for Vatican City State. The President of Vatican City's legislative body is ''ex officio'' the President of the Governorate. The other key officers of the Governorate are the General Secretary and the Vice General Secretary. All three officers are appointed by the pope for five-year terms.

References

{{Authority control

Types of administrative division