republic · South Asia

Vajji

700 BCE – 468 BCE (approx.) · capital Vaishali

A confederation of republican clans around Vaishali, praised by the Buddha for its assemblies and remembered as one of the world's early republics.

Origins

The Vajji league formed north of the Ganges in modern Bihar, uniting eight or nine clans. The most powerful were the Licchavis of Vaishali; others included the Videhas of Mithila and the Jnatrikas, the clan of Mahavira, the Jain teacher, who was born near Vaishali. By the 6th century BCE it was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas.

Rule and society

The Vajjis were governed by assemblies of the heads of noble families, who met in council and elected leaders. In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta the Buddha says the Vajjis will prosper as long as they meet often, act in concord and honour their traditions. Vaishali was a large trading city with many shrines and was visited often by both the Buddha and Mahavira.

Decline and legacy

Ajatashatru of the Kingdom of Magadha built a fort at Pataligrama, the future Pataliputra, and sent his minister Vassakara to sow discord among the Vajjis before conquering them after a long war in the 5th century BCE. Vaishali later hosted the Second Buddhist Council.

Lineage

Videha 1100 BCE – 600 BCEVajji

Connections (1)

Vajji was conquered by Kingdom of Magadha484 BCE – 468 BCE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Vajji. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/vajji
MLA: “Vajji.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/vajji. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Vajji.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/vajji.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Vajji’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/vajji (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻