[ad. L. tetrarchia, a. Gr. τετραρχία, f. τετράρχης TETRARCH sb.1 Cf. F. tétrarchie (15th c. in Godef., Compl.).]
1. The district, division, or part of a country or province ruled by a tetrarch; the government or jurisdiction of a tetrarch.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 291. Wherefore Octouian … ȝafe to Archelaus the halfe parte of the Iewery, and Ydumea, in the name of a tetrarchye.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Hakl. Soc.), 3. These shires and provinces are reduced all into foure jurisdictions, which they call chetfyrds (that is), tetrarchies, or fourth-parts.
1656. Blount, Glossgr., Tetrarchy, the government of the fourth part of a countrey [1674 adds] or a government of the whole by four persons.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp., VI. lix. 540. The tetrarchy of Agrippa … menaced Galilee on its eastern flank.
2. transf. and fig. A government by four persons jointly; a set of four tetrarchs or rulers; a country divided into four petty governments.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon (1810), 3. The Danish tetrarchy.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. Wks. 1851, III. 53. Hee ought to suspect a Hierarchy … to bee as dangerous and derogatory from his Crown as a Tetrarchy or a Heptarchy.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., III. Diss. Physick, 12. The honourable Tetrarchy of Physicians, or Doctors,… Chirurgians, Apothecaries, and Chymists.
1862. Rawlinson, Anc. Mon., I. i. 19. In each of these districts we have a sort of tetrarchy, or special pre-eminence of four cities.
1885. Spectator, 8 Aug., 1033/2. Mr. Chamberlain’s proposal for a tetrarchy in the guise of Local Government.
