Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
heptarchy
Noun
/ˈhɛp.tɑːr.ki/
Definition
A term referring to a political or administrative division into seven parts or regions.
Examples
- The heptarchy of England included seven principal kingdoms: Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Wessex, East Anglia, Essex, and Sussex.
- Historians often debate the political dynamics within the heptarchy during the 7th century.
- Each kingdom in the heptarchy had its own king and distinct cultural identity.
Meaning
Heptarchy often highlights the historical context of seven kingdoms or regions, particularly in relation to the early medieval period when multiple kingdoms coexisted.
Synonyms
- Sevenfold division
- Seven kingdoms
- Septarchy
