Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.164

c7.164

From the fact of the banishment of a king,² one question comes to mind: who ruled over the political community in his absence? We have no evidence that the institution of the *interrex* existed in Vedic India. However, it seems obvious that the king was assisted in the matter of administration by some leading men of the tribe, before his banishment. Though we have no direct mention of such a small body of councillors, it can be inferred from the situation and the actual needs of administration that such a council should have existed. Of course, the exact number of such a council cannot be determined.