Hecatontarchy

/ˌhɛkətɒnˈtɑːrki/ noun

Definition

A form of government or rule by 100 people; a system of authority divided among exactly 100 rulers or leaders.

Etymology

From Greek 'hecaton' (hundred) + 'archia' (rule, government). This is a highly theoretical term, as actual governments rarely organized themselves in such precise numerical terms.

Kelly Says

This word shows how ancient Greeks loved creating political terminology with Greek roots—'democracy,' 'oligarchy,' 'monarchy'—but 'hecatontarchy' is so specific and impractical it barely appears in actual historical writing.

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