\Hep"tarch*y\, n. [Hepta- + -archy: cf. F.
heptarchie.]
A government by seven persons; also, a country under seven
rulers.
Note: The word is most commonly applied to England, when it
      was divided into seven kingdoms; as, the Saxon
      heptachy, which consisted of Kent, the South Saxons
      (Sussex), West Saxons (Wessex), East Saxons (Essex),
      the East Angles, Mercia, and Northumberland.