TOPARCHY . A compound word from Greek topos (place) and archç (rule), found only in 1Ma 11:28 (cf. 1Ma 10:30; 1Ma 10:38; 1Ma 10:11-34 ) among the sacred books, but very many times in the papyri of Egypt (with reference to that country). It means a very small administrative division of territory. Three toparchies were detached from Samaria and added to Judæa in Maccabæan times.

A. Souter.