The Seven Archons, are the seven gods who preside over the seven regions of Teyvat. They are the seven victors of the Archon war, 2000 years ago. Each Archon has an element and an ideal upon which their region/nation is built. Every god has a gnosis which allows them to resonate with Celestia, Visions are primitive in comparison to gnoses, but the gnosis' true power and its symbolism of godhood is unkown. Currently, only 6 Archon thrones remain as the Hydro Archon was destroyed and their throne, the seat of power, has been returned to the Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
During the Archon War, there were a variety of local struggles between gods. One such event was the overthrowing of Decarbian Monstadt by Barbatos 2600 years ago. The Archon war ended 2000 years ago when the last of the seven claimed their throne. The original seven were rather close and often gathered in Liyue for tea, but after five of them died, they began to go their separate ways.
1000 years ago Barbatos awoke from slumber to aid Vanessa and the other "children of Murata." Vanessa is unaware of her ties to the pyro archon however as their tribe departed Natlan long ago.
500 years ago, the destruction of Khaneri'ah ocurred, forbidden knowledge plagued the world and Rhinedottir's creations ravaged the surface with their power of the Abyss. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Raiden Makoto, and Egeria perished in the cataclysm and were replaced by Lesser Lord Kusanali, Raiden Ei, and Focalors. The Tsaritsa's personality drastically changed after the cataclysm.
The Seven were summoned to Tunigi Hollow, where the cataclysm was at its worst. Egeria was killed here and her body turned into the pool of Amrita, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata preserved Egeria with Harvisptokhm sealing the dark hollow and preventing further spread. The oceanids found the state of their master Egeria and moved around the world, abandoning Focalors
Aether and Lumine came to Teyvat during this time and tried to escape only to be stopped by the unkown god
400 years ago, Raiden Ei created her puppet, the shogun, and retreated to the Plane of Euthymia to prevent corrosion and preserve her eternity. The shogun ruled over Inazuma and Ei left her gnosis with Yae Miko.