What does Arche (like in Arche Seleukia) exactly mean?

[TW-fanboy]

Well, what does it mean in Greek? The wikipedia article defines it as following: Arche (ἀρχή) is a Greek word with primary senses 'beginning', 'origin' or 'first cause'. Later, 'power', 'sovereignty', 'domination' as extended meanings were accepted by some.
And as far as my limited English knowledge reaches, there are terms like arch bishop to show superiority.
But still, a translatino of the factino name would trouly interest me.

And even though I keep telling how great this mod is, I want wo thank the EB makers once more for this interactive history lesson they called Europa Barbarorum.

[Glaive]

From The Oxford Classical Dictionary entry for archontes:

('rulers'), the general Greek term for all holders of office in a state. But the word was frequently used as the title of a particular office, originally at least the highest office of state.

Archon seems to be the singular (ruler), soooo maybe arche refers to what is ruled? Arche Seleukia = empire/domain of Seleucid?

It seems that English got the word 'monarch' (one ruler?) from this. I wonder why some version of the word basileus didn't catch on instead?

[TW-fanboy]

Hmmm...as far as I know, Basileia is the greek word for Empire/Domain aswell as for kingdom (for example, the Byzantines called themselves "Basileia ton Romaion", which simply means Roman Empire).
But you might be right.