diarchy
Shared supreme authority
A diarchy is a government with two rulers sharing power.
The term applies to historical arrangements like Sparta's dual kingship or the joint rule of William and Mary in England.
It extends to any system where authority is formally divided between two leaders or bodies: The country operated as a diarchy, with civilian and military leaders sharing control.
Three-person ruling body
- duumvirateShared rule by two
- pentarchyGovernance by five
- triarchyRule by three
- juntaPost-coup ruling clique
directorate · co-regency · power-sharing · dual leadership · consulate · cohabitation
Rule by religious authority
- hierocracyRule by priests
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
- pontificateSpeak in dogmatic manner
- patriarchateChief bishop's office or realm
church-state · ecclesiastical · divine mandate · spiritual authority
triumvirate
Three-person ruling body
- duumvirateShared rule by two
- pentarchyGovernance by five
- triarchyRule by three
junta · directorate · co-regency · power-sharing · dual leadership · consulate · cohabitation
theocracy
Rule by religious authority
- hierocracyRule by priests
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
- pontificateSpeak in dogmatic manner
patriarchate · church-state · ecclesiastical · divine mandate · spiritual authority
diarchymonarchy
Rule by crowned sovereign
autocracy · monocracy · one-man rule · oligarchy · triarchy
diarchyabsolute monarchy
Unrestricted single-ruler government
autocracy · democracy · dictatorship · tyranny · despotism
hierarchy, monarchy, anarchy, oligarchy, patriarchy, matriarchy, dyarchy