Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s1.10

c12.s1.10

We know that the Videhas were an older people, as they are clearly mentioned in the *Brāhmaṇa* texts,¹ and that the Licchavis, who are not mentioned in these sources, were comparatively latecomers.² The position of the Mallas is much the same as that of the Licchavis in point of time, or perhaps even a little earlier.³ The Mallas are referred to in the *Mahābhārata*, whereas the Licchavis are not.⁴ This may be due to the fact that at the time of the first composition of the Epic the Licchavis still occupied northern regions and had not yet moved southwards to Vesāli.⁵