Tag: study of kerala

The Perumals ruled Kerala during 800-1122 CE with their capital at Mahodayapuram. The Perumals had royal representatives called Koyiladhikarikal.

Nadus appreared in the Kerala to denote the land where cultivation of multiple crops and paddy took place. These Nadus later included different workmen settling in these regions which led to exchange of good and commodities. Nadus thus became popular agricultural settlements. Today, generally Nadu is associated with the native village of Kerala. 

The centralized rule of the Perumals came to an end by 12th century CE. The Nadus became independent. The positions of power that eventually developed in the Nadus were known as Naduvazhi Swaroopams.

In the year 1799, Tipu Sultan was killed during the fourth Anglo-Mysore war in defending his capital, Srirangapatna.  The Nawab of Carnatic provided help to the Europeans and hence, the East India Company army with the support of Nizam of Hyderabad were successful in defeating Tipu Sultan.

After the end of the centralized rule of the Perumals, the Nadus were free and the positions of power that developed in the Nadus were known as Naduvazhi Swaroopams. The Swaroopams were the ruling families with the right of self-rule and they followed matrilineal system of inheritance called Marumakkathayam.

The Swaroopams had their own military. Arisippadijanam of Venadu, Padamalanayanmar of Kolathu Nadu and Lokaru of Nediyiruppu were such armies.

Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan were the Mysore sultans who marched to Kerala. They ruled Malabar between 1766 and 1792.

By the second half of the 18th century the Sultans of Mysore, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan marched towards Kerala and led military campaigns which created frenzy among the Naduvazhis of northern Kerala. Nediyiruppu, Kola and other smaller Swaroopams quickly came under the Mysore Sultans. Thus, fearing the attack from Mysore Sultans many Naduvazhis and Desavazhis fled to Venadu.

There were three broad types of land based on the ownership right during the Medieval period in Kerala. They were Cherikkal, Brahmaswam and Devaswam. The land under the control of the Naduvazhis was called Cherikkal.

Marthandavarma was instrumental in leading the province of Venadu into modernity. It was under him that Travancore became a modern state. Marthandavarma developed Travancore into a strong princely state in the 18th century by bringing out many administrative reforms and strengthening its militia.