pentarchy
/ˈpɛntɑːki/noun
1A group or league of five provinces, sees, kingdoms, etc., each under its own ruler; the rulers of these collectively. Now chiefly historical.
- Applied specifically to the ancient kingdoms of Ireland (Ulster, Meath, Leinster, Munster, and Connacht), and to the five sees of the patriarchate of the early Christian church..
2A governing body made up of five people, organizations, political parties, etc.
3A group or confederation of five leading nations.
- Originally applied to the ‘five great powers’ (France, Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia) which dominated European politics in the mid 19th cent..
4 Figurative. A group or association of five related or dominant persons or things.
- Formerly used of the five senses..
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Raphael Holinshed (c1525–?1580), historian. From ancient Greek πενταρχία a rule of five, with reference to the magistracy of the five at Carthage (from πεντα- + -αρχία); perhaps via Middle French, French pentarchie.