The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c11.75

c11.75

Did these usurpers change their caste when they ascended the throne? Did they become *ipso facto* khattiyas or did they continue to belong to their former castes? In the eyes of the Brâhmaṇas influenced by their caste-theory, they would remain what they originally were, whether they belonged to the Brâhmaṇa or the Sûdra caste. In reality, this question—especially, in the eastern lands and at a time when the caste idea had not been developed very clearly—had for the usurper very little significance, as he belonged to the ruling class, whether or not he was reckoned a *khattiya*, and by reason of this, as we have already seen, stood above this caste.