Videha | |||||||||
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c. 1100 BCE–c. 7th century BCE | |||||||||
Status | Kingdom (earlier) Republic of the Vajjika League (later) | ||||||||
Capital | Mithila, which could either be Janakpur (in present-day Nepal),[1] or Baliraajgadh (in present-day Madhubani district, Bihar, India).[2][3] | ||||||||
Common languages | Sanskrit | ||||||||
Religion | Historical Vedic religion[4] | ||||||||
Demonym(s) | Vaideha | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy (earlier) Aristocratic republic (later) | ||||||||
Rājā (earlier) Gaṇa Mukhya (later) | |||||||||
Legislature | Sabhā | ||||||||
Establishment | By Videgha Mathava | ||||||||
Historical era | Iron Age | ||||||||
• Established | c. 1100 BCE | ||||||||
• Republic Vajjika League dethroned monarchy Viedha dynasty | c. 7th century BCE | ||||||||
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Today part of | India Nepal |
Videha (Prākrit: 𑀯𑀺𑀤𑁂𑀳 Videha; Pāli: Videha; Sanskrit: Videha) was an ancient Indo-Aryan tribe of north-eastern Indian subcontinent whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. The population of Videha, the Vaidehas, were initially organised into a monarchy but later became a gaṇasaṅgha (an aristocratic republic), presently referred to as the Videha Republic, which was part of the larger Vajjika League.