Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c10.s3.66

c10.s3.66

Undoubtedly the Videhas were a young republic at the time of the Buddha, but they formed an important part of the Vajjian Confederacy and merit better treatment. That they were as important and powerful as the Licchavis³ is of course doubtful. However, the fact cannot be dismissed that they were one of the most important constituent members of the League and were probably most similar to the Licchavis in their political institutions. A recent work states that in the 6th century B.C., after the League was established, “the fate of both these regions [Videha and Vesālī] was joined together and their history is almost the same”.⁴ It is difficult to follow this line of argument because in this case too much emphasis has been placed on the Confederacy. The League was probably nothing more than a temporary device,⁵ and the Videhans must have retained their freedom at least in internal affairs and especially in their capital of Mithilā. Not only may there have been a constitutional change in Videha, from monarchy to republic, but there may also have been a considerable change because of the arrival of the Licchavis.