TOPARCHY, a Word from the Greek, Toparchia, which signifies a Lordship,
3 ship, a Government of a Place or Canton, which gives to the Person that possesses it no particular Title, either of Governor or President, or Ethnarch, or Tetrarch, or King. There is often mention made in the 1 Mac. xi. 28. x. 30, 38.Maccabees, of the three Toparchies (or Governments) of Apherema, Lydda, and Ramashem. Pliny sets down ten Toparchies Plin. l. 4. c. 14.of Judea; which are, Jericho, Emmaus, Lydda, Joppa, Acrabatene, Gophnitica, Thamnitica, Betholene, Tephene, Orine, wherein was Jerusalem, and, lastly, Joseph. de Bell. l. 3. c. 4.Herodium. Josephus also names ten, of which Jerusalem was as it were the chief; Gophna, Acrabate, Thamna, Lydda, Ammaus, Pella, Idumea, Engaddi, Herodium, Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 5.Jericho. Elsewhere he mentions three Toparchies added to Judea; that is, Samaria, Galilee, and Perea. In another Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 8.Place he speaks of three Toparchies, Samaria, Joppa, and Galilee.