Licchavis of Nepal

Ancient kingdom of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

For the clan that lasted until the 4th century BCE, see Licchavis of Vaishali.

Licchavis of Nepal

c. 450 CE–c. 750 CE

Coinage of Licchavi king Amshuverma (605–621 CE). Obverse: winged lion, with Brahmi legend Śri Amśurvarma "Lord Amshurvarma". Reverse: Bull with Brahmi legend Kāmadēhi ("Incarnation of Kāma").[1]

South Asia
600 CE

MORIS

PANDYAS

LICCHAVIS

CHOLAS

ZHANGZHUNG

CHERAS

SAMATATAS

KAMARUPA

VISHNU-
KUNDINAS

PALLAVAS

ALUPAS

NEZAKS

ALCHONS

KALINGAS

PANDUVAMSHIS

GAUDA

MAUKHARIS

SHAILODBHAVAS

GONANDAS

WESTERN
TURKS

TOCHARIANS

VALABHI

SINDH

MANDAVYA-
PURA

LATER GUPTAS

THANESAR

CHALUKYAS

EARLY
KALA-
CHURIS

PERSIAN
EMPIRE

Fragmented South Asian polities circa 600 CE, after the retreat of the Alchon Huns.[2]

Government| Monarchy
History|

• Established

| c. 450 CE

• Disestablished

| c. 750 CE

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Soma dynasty

|

| Mahisapala dynasty
| Gopala Dynasty
| Thakuri dynasty |

|

Katyuri kings |
Khasa Kingdom |
Malla dynasty |
Today part of| Nepal
Commemorative coin of Chandragupta and his Licchavi Queen Kumaradevi, minted circa 335–375 CE.
Obverse: Kumaradeva and Chandragupta standing, legend to the left Śrī Kumāradevā, to the right / Cha-ndra/gu-pta vertically.
Reverse: Goddess seated on lion, with the legend 𑁊 Li-ccha-va-yah.[3]

The Licchavis of Nepal (Nepali: लिच्छवि, also Lichchhavi, Lichavi) ruled over a kingdom in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal from approximately 450 to 750 CE. The Licchavi clan originated from a branch of the Licchavis of Vaishali who ruled in the territory of modern-day Bihar and who later conquered the Kathmandu Valley.[4][5][6] The Licchavis were ruled by a maharaja, aided by a prime minister and other royal officials, but in practice local communities were controlled by caste councils.[7]

The ruling period of this dynasty was called the 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.[8]

## Records

[edit]

It is believed that a branch of the Licchavi clan, having lost their political fortune and military power in Vaishali (Bihar),[9] came to Kathmandu and intermarried with the family of the ruling Queen, Mandeva Shree Vogini of the Nagvanshi clan, thus beginning their rule in Nepal. Source. They also battled with local militias in Chyasal to gain control of Nepal.

In the Buddhist Pali canon, the earlier Licchavis of Vaishali are mentioned in a number of discourses, most notably the Licchavi Sutta,[10] the popular Ratana Sutta[11] and the fourth chapter of the Petavatthu.[12] The Mahayana Vimalakirti Sutra also spoke of the city of Vaishali as where the lay Licchavi bodhisattva Vimalakirti was residing.[13]

In the 4th century CE, during the reign of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta, the "Nepalas" are mentioned among the tribes subjugated by him:

> (Samudragupta, whose) formidable rule was propitiated with the payment of all tributes, execution of orders and visits (to his court) for obeisance by such frontier rulers as those of Samataṭa, Ḍavāka, Kāmarūpa, Nēpāla, and Kartṛipura, and, by the Mālavas, Ārjunāyanas, Yaudhēyas, Mādrakas, Ābhīras, Prārjunas, Sanakānīkas, Kākas, Kharaparikas and other (tribes)."

> — Lines 22–23 of the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta (r.c.350-375 CE).[14]

Samudragupta was a son of the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta I and the Licchavi princess Kumaradevi.[15] Gold coins bearing portraits of Chandragupta and Kumaradevi have been discovered at Mathura, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Sitapur, Tanda, Ghazipur, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh; Bayana in Rajasthan; and Hajipur in Bihar. The obverse of these coins depicts portraits of Chandragupta and Kumaradevi, with their names in the Gupta script. The reverse shows a goddess seated on a lion, with the legend "Li-ccha-va-yah" (𑁊, "the Lichchhavis").[15][16]

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

[edit]

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 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 kings ruled but the popular ones were Manadeva, Amshuverma etc.

## Economy

[edit]

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 trading settlements.

## Geography

[edit]

### Domain

[edit]

Settlements already filled the entire valley during the Licchavi period. Further settlement extended east toward Banepa, west toward Tistung Deurali, and northwest toward present-day Gorkha.

## Rulers

[edit]

The following list was adapted from The Licchavi Kings, by Tamot & Alsop,[17] and is approximate only, especially with respect to dates.

Copper coin of Jishnu Gupta (c. 622–633) of the Nepalese Licchavi Dynasty. Obverse. The inscription above the winged horse is Sri Jishnu Guptasya Copper coin of Jishnu Gupta (c. 622–633) of the Nepalese Licchavi Dynasty. Reverse

* 185 Jayavarmā (also Jayadeva I)
* Vasurāja (also Vasudatta Varmā)
* c. 400 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 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
* 875–879 Mandeva IV[18]

## See also

[edit]

Part of a series on the

History of Nepal

* Etymology
* Timeline
* Urheimat

Ancient

* Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 3300 BCE
* Bronze Age, c. 3300 – c. 1200 BCE
* Iron Age, c. 1200 – c. 200 BCE
* Shakya Kingdom, c. 1st millennium BCE
* Nepal in Mahabharata
* Parvata kingdom
* Nepa kingdom
* Himalaya kingdom
* Kirata kingdom
* Khasas in Mahabharata
*   * Limbuwan tribal states c. 580 BCE – 1774 CE
* Videha kingdom
* Gopala dynasty
* Mahisapala dynasty
* Soma dynasty, c. 205 – c. 305

Classical

* Licchavi Kingdom, c. 400 – c. 750 CE
* Thakuri dynasty, c. 600 – c. 1200
* Katyuri kings, c. 700 CE – 1065 CE
* Khas Malla Kingdom, c. 954 CE – 14th century
* Karnat dynasty, c. 1097 CE – c. 1324 CE
* Malla Dynasty, c. 1201 – 1482
* Chand kings c. 12th century CE – 1790 CE
* Kingdom of Lo c. 1380 CE – 1795 CE
* Kallala dynasty c. 1404 CE – 1789 CE

Golden Age

* Three Kingdoms
* Kingdom of Kantipur, c. 1484 – 1826
* Kingdom of Patan, c. 1482 – 1768
* Kingdom of Bhaktapur, c. 1482 – 1769

Twenty-four kingdoms

*     * Kingdom of Argha
* Kingdom of Bajhang
* Kingdom of Bhirkot
* Kingdom of Butwal
* Kingdom of Dhor
* Kingdom of Dhurkot
* Kingdom of Galkot
* Kingdom of Ghiring
* Kingdom of Garahun
* Kingdom of Gorkha
* Kingdom of Gulmi
* Kingdom of Isma
* Kingdom of Kaski
* Kingdom of Khanchi
* Kingdom of Lamjung
* Kingdom of Musikot
* Kingdom of Nuwakot
* Kingdom of Paiyun
* Kingdom of Palpa
* Kingdom of Parbat
* Kingdom of Pyuthan
* Kingdom of Rishing
* Kingdom of Satahun
* Kingdom of Tanahun

Twenty-two kingdoms

*     * Kingdom of Jumla
* Kingdom of Doti
* Kingdom of Jajarkot
* Kingdom of Bajura
* Kingdom of Musikot
* Kingdom of Gajur
* Kingdom of Biskot
* Kingdom of Malneta
* Kingdom of Thalahara
* Kingdom of Dailekh
* Kingdom of Dullu
* Kingdom of Duryal
* Kingdom of Dang
* Kingdom of Sallyana
* Kingdom of Chilli
* Kingdom of Phalawagh
* Kingdom of Jehari
* Kingdom of Darnar
* Kingdom of Atbis Gotam
* Kingdom of Majal
* Kingdom of Gurnakot
* Kingdom of Rukum

Modern

* Shah dynasty
* Unification of Nepal
* Battle of Nuwakot, c. 1744
* Battle of Makwanpur, c. 1762
* Battle of Kirtipur, c. 1767
* Battle of Sindhuli, c.1767
* Battle of Kathmandu, c. 1768
* Battle of Lalitpur, c. 1768
* Battle of Bhaktapur, c. 1769
* Declaration of Kingdom of Nepal, c. 1768
* Sino-Nepalese War
* First Campaign Against Tibetans
* Second Campaign Against Gurkhas
* Third Nepal-Tibet War
* Pande dynasty
* Thapa dynasty
*   * Battle of Khurbura, c. 1804
* 1806 Bhandarkhal massacre, c. 1806
* Gurkha–Sikh War, c. 1809
* Anglo-Nepalese War c. 1814 – 1816
* Battle of Nalapani, c. 1814
* Battle of Jaithak, c. 1814
* Battle of Makwanpur, c. 1816
* Treaty of Sugauli, c. 1816
* Brigade of Gurkhas, c. 1816
* Rana dynasty, c.1846 – 1951
* Kot massacre, c. 1846
* 1846 Bhandarkhal massacre, c. 1846
* Battle of Alau, c. 1847
* Biratnagar Jute Mill Strike, c. 1947
* Jayatu Sanskritam, c. 1947
* 1951 Nepalese revolution, c. 1951
* Delhi Accord, c. 1951

Contemporary

* Panchayat, c. 1960 – 1990
* Back to the Village National Campaign, c. 1967 – 1975
* 1990 Nepalese revolution, c. 1990
* Nepalese Civil War, c. 1996 – 2006
* Nepalese royal massacre, c. 2001
* Battle of Bhalubang, c. 2003
* 2004 Beni attack, c. 2004
* Second Battle of Khara, c. 2005
* 2006 Nepalese revolution, c. 2006
* Comprehensive Peace Accord, c. 2006

* 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly, c. 2008
* Nepal humanitarian crisis, c. 2015 – 2017
* April 2015 Nepal earthquake, c. 2015
* May 2015 Nepal earthquake, c. 2015
* 2015 Nepal blockade, c. 2015
* 2015 Mount Everest avalanches
* Constitution of Nepal, c. 2015

Nepal portal

* v
* t
* e

* History of Nepal
* Nepal
* Mahajanapadas
* Vaishali (ancient city)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Smith, Vincent Arthur; Edwardes, Stephen Meredyth (1924). The early history of India : from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan conquest, including the invasion of Alexander the Great. Oxford : Clarendon Press. p. Plate 2.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
2. ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 26,146. ISBN 0226742210.
3. ^ Allen, John (1914). Catalogue of the coins of the Gupta dynasties. p. 8.
4. ^ Journal. 1902.
5. ^ Kaplan, Robert B.; Baldauf, Richard B. (2008). Language Planning and Policy in Asia: Japan, Nepal, Taiwan and Chinese characters. Multilingual Matters. ISBN 978-1-84769-095-1.
6. ^ India), Asiatic Society (Kolkata (1902). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Asiatic Society of Bengal.
7. ^ Anil Kathuria, ed. (2007). Encyclopaedia of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet: Nepal. Anoml Publications. p. 32.
8. ^ "Gautamavajra Vajrācārya, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi Nepal", Kathmandu Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studies. Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117-134)". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2006.
9. ^ India), Asiatic Society (Kolkata (1902). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Asiatic Society of Bengal.
10. ^ [1] "Licchavi Sutta," translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004).
11. ^ "Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse," translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera (1999).
12. ^ "Petavatthu, Fourth Chapter, in Pali". Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
13. ^ Thurman, Robert. "VIMALAKIRTI NIRDESA SUTRA". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
14. ^ Fleet, John Faithfull (1888). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. 3. pp. 6–10.
15. ^ a b R. C. Majumdar 1981, p. 11.
16. ^ Ashvini Agrawal 1989, p. 90.
17. ^ Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com
18. ^ Shrestha, Nanda R. (2003). Historical dictionary of Nepal. Keshav Bhattarai. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-4797-3. OCLC 51931102.

## Sources

[edit]

* Ashvini Agrawal (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
* R. C. Majumdar (1981). A Comprehensive History of India. Vol. 3, Part I: A.D. 300-985. Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. OCLC 34008529.

## External links

[edit]

* Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com
* History of Nepal, Thamel.com
* "Nepal: The Early Kingdom of the Licchavis, 400–750", Library of Congress Countryreports.org (September, 1991)
* Vajrācārya, Gautamavajra, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi, Nepal", Kailash – Journal of Himalayan Studies, Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117–134)

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