The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c12.s1.t3.15

c12.s1.t3.15

The republic of the Vajjians was a United States of ancient India. It was a federation formed by the union of eight nations¹ that had formerly been distinct and independent of one another. Vesâli was the headquarters of this federal republic. The two most prominent of the members in this union were the Videhas and the Lichchhavis. The Videhas had once been citizens of a monarchical state, and their original territory covered 2300 miles. The Lichchhavis of a certain period used to elect a triumvirate of three archons to conduct their administration.¹