Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s4.20

c9.s4.20

Keeping our sources in view and also taking note of the more or less contemporary Athens, and the somewhat later Rome, we suggest that the figure of 30,828 (7,707 × 4) of the *Ekapanna-Jātaka* refers to an approximate citizen body (Kṣatriya population) and not to the entire population of the area controlled by the Licchavis. The latter might have been in the region of 200,000-300,000.³ The figure 7,707 probably refers to a fixed number⁴ of people who actually had full political rights and could take their seats in the Vesālian Assembly. Thus, the governing class in the Licchavian republic was, like the Yaudheyas who had 5,000,⁵ fairly large. It was as numerous as the corresponding ruling class in Athens and more numerous than at Rome. They need not necessarily always have attended the Assembly, but enjoyed the right to do so and were individually called *rājās*.⁶ In fact, no single one of these 7,707 *rājās* had great power.⁷ The power rested with the majority, and, as we shall see, it seems that nine councillors carried out the administration and were responsible to the Assembly. Apart from the Licchavi *rājās* and their families, there were artisans, "probably not Licchavis, in each village of the republic, and men of certain special trades of higher standing—the carpenters, smiths, and potters for instance, had villages of their own. So also had the Brāhmaṇas, whose services were in request at every domestic event''.⁸