imported>Usedtobecool: /* Government */ wikify

2021-08-12T10:27:19Z

Government: wikify

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:57, 12 August 2021
Line 24:		Line 24:
	At one point, between approximately 605 and 641, a prime minister called [[Amshuverma]] actually assumed the throne.		At one point, between approximately 605 and 641, a prime minister called [[Amshuverma]] actually assumed the throne.

	The population provided land taxes and conscript labour (''vishti'') to support the government. Most local administration was performed by village heads or leading families. Many king ruled but the popular one were ~~Mandev~~, [[Amshuverma]] etc.		The population provided land taxes and conscript labour (''vishti'') to support the government. Most local administration was performed by village heads or leading families. Many king ruled but the popular one were [[Manadeva]], [[Amshuverma]] etc.

	==Economy==		==Economy==

>Usedtobecool: /* Rulers */ out of time

2021-07-01T13:16:06Z

Rulers: out of time

New page

{{Short description|Ancient kingdom of Kathmandu valley, Nepal}}
{{About||the clan that lasted in [[Ancient Nepal]] until the 4th century BCE|Licchavi (clan)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}

{{HistoryofNepal}}
'''Licchavi''' (also ''Lichchhavi'', ''Lichavi'') was a kingdom which existed in the [[Kathmandu Valley]] in modern-day [[Nepal]] from approximately 400 to 750 CE. The [[Licchavi (clan)|Licchavi]] clan originated from [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]] and [[Muzaffarpur]] and conquered Kathmandu Valley. The Lichchhavis elected an administrator and representatives to rule them.

The language of Licchavi inscription was [[Vajjika]], and the particular script used is closely related to official [[Gupta script]]s, suggesting that the kingdoms to the south were a significant cultural influence. This was likely through [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]], a region now a small part in Nepal. This ruling period of this dynasty was called golden period of Nepal. A table of the evolution of certain Gupta characters used in Licchavi inscriptions prepared by Gautamavajra Vajrācārya can be found online.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thdl.org/texts/reprints/kailash/1_2_1.html |title=Gautamavajra Vajrācārya, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi Nepal", ''Kathmandu Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studies.'' Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117-134) |access-date=20 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927204420/http://www.thdl.org/texts/reprints/kailash/1_2_1.html |archive-date=27 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Records==
It is believed that a branch of the [[Licchavi (clan)|Lichhavi]] clan, having lost their political fortune in [[Bihar]]{{citation needed|date=June 2020}},
came to Kathmandu, attacking and defeating the last Kirat King Gasti came In the Buddhist [[Pali canon]], the Licchavi are mentioned in a number of discourses, most notably the Licchavi Sutta,<ref>[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.030.than.html "Licchavi Sutta," translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004).]</ref> the popular [[Ratana Sutta]]<ref>[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.01.piya.html "Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse," translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera (1999).]</ref> and the fourth chapter of the [[Petavatthu]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/5Khuddaka-Nikaya/07Petavatthu/4-Mahavagga-p.html |title=Petavatthu, Fourth Chapter, in Pali. |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320175930/http://metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/5Khuddaka-Nikaya/07Petavatthu/4-Mahavagga-p.html |archive-date=20 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Mahayana]] [[Vimalakirti Sutra]] also spoke of the city of [[Vaisali]] as where the [[laity|lay]] Licchavi [[bodhisattva]] [[Vimalakirti]] was residing.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thurman|first1=Robert|title=VIMALAKIRTI NIRDESA SUTRA|url=http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm|access-date=17 September 2014}}</ref>

The earliest known physical record of the kingdom is an inscription of [[Mānadeva]], which dates from 464. It mentions three preceding rulers, suggesting that the Licchavi dynasty began in the late 4th century.

==Government==
[[File:Nepal30008.JPG|thumb|left|Copper coin of Jishnu Gupta (c. 622-633) of the Nepalese Licchhavi Dynasty. Obverse. The inscription above the winged horse is ''Sri Jishnu Guptasya'']]
[[File:Nepal30009.JPG|thumb|left|Copper coin of Jishnu Gupta (c. 622-633) of the Nepalese Licchhavi Dynasty. Reverse]]
The Licchavi were ruled by a ''[[Maharaja]]'' ("great king"), who was aided by a prime minister, in charge of the military and of other ministers.

Nobles, known as ''[[samanta]]'' influenced the court whilst simultaneously managing their own landholdings and militia.

At one point, between approximately 605 and 641, a prime minister called [[Amshuverma]] actually assumed the throne.

The population provided land taxes and conscript labour (''vishti'') to support the government. Most local administration was performed by village heads or leading families. Many king ruled but the popular one were Mandev, [[Amshuverma]] etc.

==Economy==
The economy was agricultural, relying on [[rice]] and other grains as staples. Villages (''grama'') were grouped into ''dranga'' for administration. Lands were owned by the royal family and nobles. Trade was also very important, with many settlements positioned along trading routes. [[Tibet]] and [[India]] were both trading partners.

==Geography==

===Domain===
Settlements already filled the entire valley during the Licchavi period. Further settlement was made east toward [[Banepa]], west toward [[Tisting]], and northwest toward present-day [[Prithbinarayan|Gorkha]].

==Rulers==
The following list was adapted from The Licchavi Kings, by Tamot & Alsop,<ref>[http://www.asianart.com/articles/jaya/kings.html Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com]</ref> and is '''approximate only''', especially with respect to dates.

*185 Jayavarmā (also ''Jayadeva I'')
*Vasurāja (also ''Vasudatta Varmā'')
*c. 400 [[Vrsadeva|Vṛṣadeva]] (also ''Vishvadeva'')
*c. 425 Shaṅkaradeva I
*c. 450 Dharmadeva
*464-505 [[Mānadeva]] I
*505-506 Mahīdeva (few sources)
*506-532 Vasantadeva
*Manudeva (probable chronology)
*538 Vāmanadeva (also ''Vardhamānadeva'')
*545 Rāmadeva
*Amaradeva
*Guṇakāmadeva
*560-565 Gaṇadeva
*567-c. 590 Bhaumagupta (also ''Bhūmigupta'', probably not a king)
*567-573 Gaṅgādeva
*575/576 Mānadeva II (few sources)
*590-604 Shivadeva I
*605-621 [[Amshuvarma|Aṃshuvarmā]]
*621 Udayadeva
*624-625 Dhruvadeva
*631-633 Bhīmārjunadeva, Jiṣṇugupta
*635 Viṣṇugupta - Jiṣṇugupta
*640-641 Bhīmārjunadeva / Viṣṇugupta
*643-679 [[Narendradeva]]
*694-705 Shivadeva II
*713-733 Jayadeva II
*748-749 Shaṅkaradeva II
*756 Mānadeva III
*826 Balirāja
*847 Baladeva
*877 [[Manadeva IV|Mānadeva IV]]

==See also==
*[[History of Nepal]]
*[[Nepal]]
*[[Mahajanapadas]]
*[[Vaishali (ancient city)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.asianart.com/articles/jaya/kings.html Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com]
* [http://www.thamel.com/htms/history.htm ''History of Nepal,'' Thamel.com]
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+np0015) "Nepal: The Early Kingdom of the Licchavis, 400-750", Library of Congress Countryreports.org (September, 1991)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080927204420/http://www.thdl.org/texts/reprints/kailash/1_2_1.html Vajrācārya, Gautamavajra, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi, Nepal", ''Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studies,'' Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117-134)]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Licchavi kingdom]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of Asia]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 5th century]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 8th century]]
[[Category:Dynasties of Nepal]]
[[Category:Empires and kingdoms of Nepal]]
[[Category:8th-century disestablishments in Nepal]]
[[Category:4th-century establishments in Nepal]]

Licchavi (kingdom) - Revision history

imported>Usedtobecool: /* Government */ wikify

>Usedtobecool: /* Rulers */ out of time