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| {{short description|Wikimedia list article}}
| | #REDIRECT [[History of the Mithila region]] |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
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| [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] ({{IAST3|mithilā}}, also known as '''Mithilanchal''', '''Tirhut''' and '''Tirabhukti''') is a geographical and cultural region located in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It comprises certain parts of [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] of India<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O49ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PR20|title=Sushasan Ke Aaine Mein Naya Bihar|first=Pankaj Kumar|last= Jha|date=2010 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|location=Bihar (India)|isbn=9789380186283}}</ref> and adjoining districts of the eastern [[Terai]] of [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ishii, H. |year=1993 |title=Seasons, Rituals and Society: the culture and society of Mithila, the Parbate Hindus and the Newars as seen through a comparison of their annual rites |journal=Senri Ethnological Studies 36 |pages=35–84 |url=https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3055&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823205608/https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3055&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=Kumar2000>{{cite journal |author=Kumar, D. |year=2000 |title=Mithila after the Janakas |journal=The Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=60 |pages=51–59}}</ref>The native language is known as [[Maithili language|Maithili]] and its speakers are referred to as [[Maithil]]s.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&q=mithila+region&pg=PA30 | title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective | access-date=11 January 2017 | pages=27| isbn=9788175330344 | last1=Jha | first1=Makhan | year=1997 }}</ref> | |
| The majority of the Mithila region falls within modern-day [[India]], more specifically in the state of [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Mishra, V. |year=1979 |publisher=Mithila Prakasana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FBuAAAAMAAJ&q=area+of+mithila |title=Cultural Heritage of Mithila | access-date=28 December 2016 | pages=13}}</ref>
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| Mithila is bounded in the north by the [[Himalayas]], and in the south, west and east by the [[Ganges]], [[Gandaki River|Gandaki]] and [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]] respectively.<ref name=Jha1997>{{cite book |author=Jha, M. |year=1997 |chapter=Hindu Kingdoms at contextual level |title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA27 |pages=27–42 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd |location=New Delhi|isbn=9788175330344 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Mishra, V. |year=1979 |publisher=Mithila Prakasana |location=Allahabad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FBuAAAAMAAJ&q=area+of+mithila |title=Cultural Heritage of Mithila | access-date=28 December 2016 | pages=13}}</ref> It extends into the southeastern [[Terai]] of [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ishii, H. |year=1993 |title=Seasons, Rituals and Society: the culture and society of Mithila, the Parbate Hindus and the Newars as seen through a comparison of their annual rites |journal=Senri Ethnological Studies 36 |pages=35–84 |url=https://minpaku.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3055&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1}}</ref><ref name=Kumar2000>{{cite journal |author=Kumar, D. |year=2000 |title=Mithila after the Janakas |journal=The Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=60 |pages=51–59}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C0f898HDLAYC&q=mithila&pg=PA1 | title=A Survey of Maithili Literature | access-date=22 December 2016 | author=Radhakrishna Choudhary| year=1976 | isbn=9789380538365 }}</ref>
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| This region was also called Tirabhukti, the ancient name of [[Tirhut]].<ref>Yadav, Yogendra P. date missing. Reading Asia: New Research in Asian Studies; Frans Hüsken, Dick van der Meij; Chapter 12 – The [[Maithili language|Maithili]] Language at page 240</ref>
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| ==Ancient history==
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| {{See also|Mithila (region)}} | | {{R from move}} |
| The name Mithila is believed to be derived from the King Mithi. He established Mithilapuri.<ref name="Singh">''Encyclopaedia of Hinduism''. Nagendra Kumar Singh, p. 3239.</ref> Since he was born out of the body of his father, he was called Janaka.
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| After this, the later kings of Mithila adopted the title ''Janaka''. The most famous ''Janaka'' was Seeradhwaja Janaka, father of [[Sita]]. There were 52 kings in the dynasty of ''Janaka''.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Dr. Kamal Kant Jha, Pt. Sri ganeshrai Vidyabhushan, Dr. Dhanakar Thakur|title=A Brief History of Mithila State {{!}} Bihar Articles|url=http://www.bihar.ws/info/Cultural-regions-of-Bihar/A-Brief-History-of-Mithila-State.html|access-date=10 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301094238/http://www.bihar.ws/info/Cultural-regions-of-Bihar/A-Brief-History-of-Mithila-State.html|archive-date=1 March 2012|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| The region was also known as Videha. The kingdom of Videha is mentioned for the first time in ''[[Yajurveda#Samhitas|Yajurveda Samhita]]''. Mithila, is mentioned in [[Buddhist]] ''[[Jatakas]]'', the ''[[Brahamanas]]'', the ''[[Puranas]]'' (described in detail in ''[[Vishnu Purana|Brhadvisnu Purana]]'') and various epics such as the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.
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| However, according to the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'', a chieftain named ''Videha Mathava'' migrated from the [[Saraswati river|Saraswati]] Valley to Mithila during the [[Vedic period]] and established the Videha kingdom.<ref>{{Citation|last=Verma|first=Harsh|title=Leadership and Dharma: The Indian Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and Their Significance for Leadership Today|date=2013|work=Fictional Leaders|pages=182–201|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|doi=10.1057/9781137272751_13|isbn=978-1-349-44498-4}}</ref> This leads to confusion whether the Videha kingdom was established during the Vedic period or not, since one of the ''Janakas'' of Videha was also the father-in-law of [[Rama|King Rama]], who ruled much earlier. Archaeological evidence is lacking to realistically assess the period of their migration.
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| A list of kings is mentioned in Mahabharata and Jatakas. All the kings either adopted the title ''Videha'' or ''Janaka''.<ref name="Singh" />
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| ==Vedic period, Videha Kingdom==
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| {{Main|Videha}}
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| During the [[Vedic]] period, Mithila was the centre of the [[Videha]] kingdom.<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects'' in ''Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. [[Colette Caillat|Caillat]], Paris, pages 13, 17 116-124, 141-143</ref>
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| The rulers of the Videha kingdom were called ''Janakas''.
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| ==c. 600 BCE–c. 300 BCE, Vajji Mahajanapada==
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| {{Main|Vajji}}
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| Following the fall of the [[Videha]]s, Mithila came under the control of the [[Vajji]] mahajanapada which was a confederacy of clans the most famous of which was the [[Licchavi (clan)|Licchavi]].<ref>Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1972), ''Political History of Ancient India'', University of Calcutta, Calcutta, pp. 106–113, 186–90</ref> The capital was in the city of Vaishali in modern-day [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sOYwDAAAQBAJ&q=vaishali+vajji&pg=PA49 | title=Milestones Social Science – 6 (History, Geography, Social and Political Life) | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=80| isbn=9789325982666 }}</ref> Mithila under the Vajji's was eventually conquered by the king of [[Magadha]], [[Ajatashatru]].
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| ==6th century to 11th century: Pala and Sena rule==
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| Mithila was a tributary of the [[Pala Empire]] for almost three centuries. The rulers of the Pala Empire were followers of Buddhism and according to some texts, they were [[Kayastha]]s. Their capital is believed to be located at present town of Balirajgarh (Babubarhi-Madhubani district). The last king of the Pala Empire was [[Madanapala (Pala dynasty)|Madanapala]]. Madanapal was a weak king, as he was defeated by Samanta Sena's army, eventually leading to the establishment of the [[Sena dynasty|Sena Dynasty]].
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| The founder of the Pala Empire was [[Gopala I|Gopala]]. He was the first independent Buddhist king of Bengal and came to power in 750 in Gaur by democratic election, which was unique at the time. He reigned from 750 to 770 and consolidated his position by extending his control over all of Bengal. His successors [[Dharmapala (emperor)|Dharmapala]] (r. 770-810) and [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]] (r. 810-850) expanded the empire across the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent. The Pala Empire eventually disintegrated in the 12th century under the attack of the Sena Dynasty.
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| Sena Dynasty belonged to Brahmakshatriya(The Brahmin who ruled as Kshatriya) according to their copperplates.<ref>https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/AV/article/view/12350/10009&ved=2ahUKEwj9rOLn0_PsAhWAyDgGHUjyDOc4ChAWMAN6BAgAEAE&usg=AOvVaw0UE1aB3yvWJ5_PJpYYQSZb</ref> They were ardent followers of Hinduism and hence, people of Mithila, themselves being followers of Hinduism, helped Samanta Sena in defeating Madanapala. Eminent scholar Vachaspati Mishra (from village Thardhi in [[Madhubani district]]) was from this period.
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| ==11th century to 14th century: Simroon/Karnata Dynasty==
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| {{main|Karnat Dynasty}}
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| The Karnata or Simroon dynasty was founded by Nanyadeva with the capital being in Simraon in Mithila.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n6nXAAAAMAAJ&q=karnataka+dynasty+mithila | title=Complex Societies and Other Anthropological Essays | access-date=27 January 2017 | pages=14| isbn=9788170130703 | last1=Jha | first1=Makhan | year=1991 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VsG1AAAAIAAJ&q=editions:UCALB4304763 | title=The Journal of the Bihar Purävid Parishad, Volumes 4-5 | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=414| last1=Parishad | first1=Bihar Purāvid | year=1981 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KfYJAQAAIAAJ&q=Malladeva+rajputs+of+tirhut | title=Mithila Under the Karnatas, C. 1097-1325 A.D | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=55| last1=Sinha | first1=Chandreshwar Prasad Narayan | year=1979 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwYcAQAAMAAJ&q=Malladeva+rajputs+of+tirhut | title=History of Muslim rule in Tirhut, 1206-1765, A.D. | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=28| last1=Choudhary | first1=Radhakrishna | year=1970 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WnhDAAAAYAAJ&q=Malladeva+Rajput+mithila | title=The Journal of the Bihar Research Society, Volume 46 | year=1960 | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=22–25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c84zAAAAMAAJ&q=Nanyadeva | title=Publications, Volume 33 | year=1935 | access-date=26 January 2017 | pages=193}}</ref>
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| In the court of Hari Singh Deva the Royal Priest was Jyotirishwar, the author of ''Varna Ratnakar''. Upon [[Ghiyasuddin Tughlak]]'s invasion of Mithila (Tirhut), King Harisimhadeva, along with many Maithil Brahmins, fled to Nepal and founded a new dynasty in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/16641/7/07_chapter%203.pdf|title=Mithila, Maithili and Maithil: the Field in Historical Context|website=ShodhGanga|publisher=INFLIBNET|pages=88–89, 101–102}}</ref>
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| The dynasty had six kings of note:<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|author=Jha, M.|date=1997|publisher=M.D. Publications|isbn=9788175330344|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA153|page=153|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>
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| * [[Nanyadeva]] (Nanya Singh Dev) apart from being a great warrior, also had a keen interest in music. He classified and analyzed the Ragas and opines ''Madhya Laya'' is chosen for ''Hasya'' (humorous) and ''Sringar'' (libido) ''rasa'', ''Bilambit'' is chosen for ''Karun'' (compassion) ''rasa'' and ''Drut'' is chosen for ''Veer'' (brave), ''Rodra'' (anger), ''Adbhut'' (marvellous) and ''Bhayanak'' (fearful) ''rasas''. He wrote a treaty on music 'Saraswati Hridayalankar' which is preserved in the Bhandarkar Research Institute of Pune.<ref>http://www.mithilaonline.com/music.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127035842/http://www.mithilaonline.com/music.html |date=27 November 2006 }} accessed on 25 January 2008</ref> Nanya Dev is also considered to be the "forgotten King of Mithila".
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| * [[Gangadeva]] (Ganga Singh Dev)
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| * Narasimhadeva (Nar Singh Dev)
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| * Ramasimhadeva (Ram Singh Dev)
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| * Shaktisimhadeva (Shakti Singh Dev)
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| * [[Harisimhadeva]] (Hari Singh Dev) was the most famous. He was instrumental in initiating and implementing [[Panjis|''Panji'']] ''Vyavastha'' or ''Panji Prabandha'' in Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasthas (Karn Kayasthas). He was also great patron of art and literature.
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| ==14th to 16th century: Oiniwar Dynasty==
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| {{Main|Oiniwar Dynasty}}
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| In 1325, following the collapse of the Karnat dynasty in 1324,<ref name="jha52-53">{{cite book|title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA55|first=Makhan |last=Jha|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd|pages=52–53|year=1997|isbn = 9788175330344}}</ref> Nath Thakur became the first [[Maithils|Maithil]] ruler. The dynasty that followed from him was called Oiniwar Dynasty, and comprised a further 20 rulers.<ref name="jha55-57">{{cite book|title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA55|first=Makhan |last=Jha|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd|pages=55–57|year=1997|isbn = 9788175330344}}</ref>
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| ==1526 to 1577: period of anarchy==
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| Sikandar Lodhi made his son-in-law, Alauddin, the ruler of this area. During this period, Mughal Empire was beginning to take its root in Delhi. Alauddin was not a successful ruler and for next 50 years, anarchy prevailed in Mithila region. During this period the [[Gandhavariya]] Rajputs acquired power ruling various estates in the area particularly in [[Saharsa]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08RHAAAAYAAJ&q=Gandhavariya | title=Saharsa [1966] | access-date=28 January 2017 | pages=18}}</ref>
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| When Akbar became emperor, he tried to bring normalcy to Mithila region. He came to the conclusion that only after a Maithil Brahmin was made King, peace can prevail and rent can be collected in Mithila. In 1577, Emperor Akbar declared Pt. Mahesh Thakkur as the ruler of Mithila.
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| Pt. Mahesh Thakkur was of the mool, Kharaure Bhaur and hence that dynasty was called 'Khandwala Kul' and the capital was made at Rajgram in [[Madhubani District]].
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| ==16th century to 20th century : Raj Darbhanga==
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| {{Main|Raj Darbhanga}}
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| The Khandwala dynasty ruled as the [[Raj Darbhanga]], beginning with Mahesh Thakur, who died in 1558. The last ruler was [[Kameshwar Singh]], whose reign from 1929 came to an end in 1947 with the [[independence of India]], when all the kingdoms merged with Union of India.
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| == References ==
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| '''Notes'''
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| {{notelist}}
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| {{Reflist|30em}}
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| {{EB1911 Poster|Mithila}}
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| * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080118130804/http://www.csuchico.edu/anth/mithila/index.htm The Maithil Brahmans - an online ethnography]
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| {{Historical regions of North India}}
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| {{Nepal topics}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:History of Mithila Region}}
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| [[Category:Mithila]]
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| [[Category:Culture of Mithila]]
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| [[Category:History of Bihar|Mithila Region, History]]
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| [[Category:History of Nepal|Mithila Region, History]]
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| [[Category:Populated places in Mithila, India|.02]]
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| [[Category:Populated places in Mithila, Nepal|.02]]
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| [[Category:Regions of Bihar|Mithila Region, History]]
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| [[Category:Regions of Nepal|Mithila Region, History]]
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| [[Category:Province No. 2]]
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| [[Category:Lists of Indian monarchs|Mithila]]
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| [[Category:Kingdoms in the Ramayana|Mithila Region, History]]
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