Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s4.154

c9.s4.154

The Licchavis had a strong army which constituted a real threat to the rising power of Magadha.³ When the army of the Confederation was not engaged in its joint attempt to keep at bay and defeat the Magadhan forces, the Licchavian soldiers probably retired to their farms and cultivated the land or amused themselves at the metropolis. The Roman soldiers acted in a similar manner at the end of a campaign, before the Marian army reforms at the end of the 2nd century B.C. The Licchavis, like the Koliyas, may have had a special body of peons or police apart from this army of the republic.⁴ There may have been no restriction as to the Kṣatriyas becoming the peons or policemen, but it would appear that the ruling families did not take part in this lower form of service. In our opinion, however, it was mainly from the artisan classes that this police force was recruited. Besides the Council of nine there were probably other committees which were especially concerned with and dealt with particular departments.