Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c14.39

c14.39

At this juncture we are unable to explain fully the attempt of the Buddhist commentator to connect these republican peoples with the royal house of Banaras. But it was evidently held a mark of honour, at least at the time when the commentaries and the *Jātakas* were written, to connect these tribes with the city which was looked on as the chief centre of power and culture in the north of ancient India. We know from the earlier sources that during the lifetime of the Buddha, the kingdom of Banaras was only a vassal territory, first under the suzereignty of Kosala,⁵ and afterwards under Magadhan kings. However, it is reported to have attained in earlier times a high glory and power, dominating even the kingdoms of the Assakas, Avanti, Magadha, and Aṅga.⁶ We further hear of a king of Banaras even laying seige to the city of Takkasilā in the Gandhāra country with a view to extending the borders of his dominion. In the end, however, he was unsuccessful.¹ The Koliyas may have had relations with Banaras, but we are only certain of their being related to their close western neighbours, the Sakyas.