Public Administration in Ancient India c19.53

c19.53

After the conquest of a territory the defeated monarch was usually allowed to continue as ruler, subject to the suzerain authority of the conqueror; but if he refused to submit or was killed in battle, another prince of the royal family was placed on the throne. The conqueror, as a rule, adopted a policy of conciliation towards the people of the conquered country.² Vishnu gives the following advice to a conqueror: “having conquered the country of his foe, let him not abolish (or disregard) the laws of that country.... A King having conquered the capital of his foe, should invest there a prince of the royal race of that country with the royal dignity. Let him not extirpate the royal race, unless the royal race be of ignoble descent.”