Hĕp'tarch-y, n.

n. [Fr. heptarchie; Gr. ἑπτά, seven, and ἀρχή, sovereignty, rule, ἄρχειν, to be first, to lead, rule.] A government by seven persons, or the country governed by seven persons.

The word is most commonly applied to England, when divided into seven kingdoms; as, the Saxon heptarchy, which consisted of Kent, the South Saxons (Sussex), West Saxons (Wessex), East Saxons (Essex), the East Angles, Mercia, and Northumberland.