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Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Kozhikode
കോഴിക്കോട് സാമൂതിരി
c. 1124 AD–1806 AD
Chera King's Sword given to the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Engraved from an original sketch.
Chera King's Sword given to the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Engraved from an original sketch.
The Zamorin of Kozhikode (1495-1500) on his throne as painted by Veloso Salgado in 1898
The Zamorin of Kozhikode (1495-1500) on his throne as painted by Veloso Salgado in 1898
StatusKingdom
CapitalKozhikode
Common languagesMalayalam
Religion
Hinduism
GovernmentFeudal Monarchy
History 
• Fall of the Cheras of Cranganore[1]
c. 1124 AD
1806 AD
CurrencyKozhikode Fanam
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Chera dynasty
Company rule in India
Today part ofRepublic of India

Zamorin of Calicut (Samoothiri; Malayalam: സാമൂതിരി/സാമൂരി, Portuguese: Samorim, Dutch: Samorijn, Chinese: Shamitihsi[2]) is the title of the Hindu monarch of the Kingdom of Calicut (Kozhikode) on Malabar Coast, India. The Zamorins were based at the city of Kozhikode, one of the important trading ports on the south-western coast of India. At the peak of their reign, the Zamorin's ruled over a region from Kollam (Quilon) to Panthalayini Kollam.[3] [4]

It was after the fall of the Cheras of Cranganore (Kodungallur) in early 12th century, the Zamorins - originally Eradis of Nediyirippu (Eranadu) - asserted their political independence. The chiefs maintained elaborate trade relations with the Middle-Eastern sailors in the Indian Ocean, the primary spice traders on the Malabar Coast in the Middle Ages.[1]

The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama visited the Kozhikode in 1498, opening the sailing route directly from Europe to Asia. Kozhikode was then the most important trading centre of southern India.[5] The Portuguese efforts to lay the foundations to Estado da Índia, and to take complete control over the commerce was repeatedly hampered by the forces of Zamorin of Kozhikode. The Kunjali Marakkars, the famous Muslim admirals, were the naval chiefs of Kozhikode. By the end of the 16th century the Portuguese - now commanding the spice traffic on the Malabar Coast - had succeeded in replacing the Middle-Eastern merchants in the Arabian Sea. The Dutch supplanted the Portuguese in the 17th century, only to be followed by the English.[6]

In 1766 Haider Ali of Mysore defeated the Zamorin of Kozhikode - an English East India Company dependant at the time - and absorbed Malabar district to his state.[4] [7] After the Third Mysore War (1790-92), Malabar was placed under the control of the Company. Later the status of the Zamorins as independent rulers was changed to that of pensioners of the Company (1806).[4][8]

Etymology

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class=notpageimage|
Major locations associated with the history of the Kingdom of Kozhikode
Thali Temple (1951), Kozhikode
Thali Temple, present day, Kozhikode

The term "Samoothiri" appears in sources only after the c. 15th century, first time in the writings of Abd-ur-Razzaq. Ibn Batutah visited the country in the 14th century (1342–1347), but only refers to the rulers as "Punthureshan Kunnalakkonathiri". It is safe to assume that the Eradis of Nediyirippu might have assumed the title of "Samoothiri" in a later period.

The Zamorins used these titles - such as Punthurakon - and no records indicate the actual personnel name of the ruler.[4]

Capitals

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The Eradi clan had their original base at Nediyiruppu (near present-day Kondotty) and were land-locked and sought an outlet to the Arabian Sea. They subsequently moved their capital to the present-day Kozhikode, then also called "Thrivikramapuram". According to K. V. Krishna Ayyar, the city of Kozhikode was founded on a marshy tract in the 11th century AD by the Eradis. In the Middle Ages, Kozhikode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices.[9] The Chinese and Middle-Eastern interests in Malabar, the political ambition of the newly emergent rulers, i.e, the Zamorins, and the decline of port Kodungallur [1341 AD[10]], etc. boosted the prosperity of the port.[8] The rise of the Kozhikode seems to have taken place after the 13th century AD. [11]

The name Kozhikode is thought to be derived from Koyil (Royal Palace) and Kota (Fort) meaning 'Fortified Palace'. Travellers have called the city by different names - variations of the Malayalam name. The travellers from Middle-East called it "Kalikooth", Tamils called the city "Kallikkottai", for the Chinese it was "Kalifo" or "Quli"[11]. The name of the famous fine variety of cotton cloth called calico is also thought to have derived from Kozhikode. Other seats of the Zamorin of Kozhikode were Ponnani, Trichur (Thrissur) and Cranganore (Kodungallur).[4]

Caste and succession line

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As per K. V. Krishna Iyer, the court historian in Kozhikode, the members of the royal house of Zamorin belonged to Eradi subdivision of the Samanta (Samantan) section of the Nair community [in the 20th century]. [4] The Hindu theological formula that the rulers must be of Kshatriya varna may have been a complication for the Nair Samantas of the Chera monarch. So the Samantas - already crystallized itself as a distinctive social group, something of a "sub-caste" - began to style themselves as "Samanta Ksatriyas" and started claiming a status higher than the rest of the Nairs.[8]

In the family, thalis of the girls were usually tied by Kshatriyas from Cranganore chief's family, which the Zamorin recognised as more ancient and therefore higher rank. The majority of the women's sambandham partners were Nambudiri Brahmins.[4][12]

The family of chieftains that ruled the polities in Kerala was known as the Swaroopam (the Royal House). The rulers of Kozhikode belonged to "Nediyirippu Swaroopam" and followed matriliny system of inheritance. The eldest male member of Nediyirippu Swaroopam became the Zamorin of Kozhikode. There was a set pattern of succession, indicated by Places of Dignity - sthanams - in the royal line. Five sthanams were defined in Kozhikode. These positions were based on the chronological seniority of the incumbent in the different Royal Collateral Branches of the Royal House and constituted what is called in the records as "Kuruvazhcha". Unlike in the case of Kochi (Cochin), there was no rotation of position among the Royal Collateral Branches. Thus no particular Royal Collateral Branch enjoyed any privilege or precedence in the matter of succession, as the only criterion for succession was seniority of age.[8]

Five sthanams existed in Kozhikode, each with its own separate property enjoyed in succession by the senior members of the three Royal Branches (Kovilakams) of the family.[4] The Zamorin's family, being Eradis were connected to several other Eradi clans who are resident in Nilambur, Ponnani and nearby localities in Malappuram.

    • 1st sthanam: Zamorin of Kozhikode
    • 2nd sthanam: The second in line successor to the throne (Crown Prince) is known as the Eralppadu (the Eranadu Ilamkur Nambiyathiri Thirumulpadu) and his official seat was in Karimpuzha (in the northeastern region of the present-day Palakkad district). This area was annexed from Valluvanadu in the leadership of the then Eralppadu.
    • 3rd sthanam: Eranadu Moonnamkur Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad (the Munalpadu)
    • 4th sthanam: Itattoornadu Nambiyathiri Thirumulpadu
    • 5th sthanam: Nediyiruppu Mootta Eradi Thirumulpadu (the Naturalpadu). The former Head of the house (Eranadu Utaiyer under the Cheras[4]).

The three Royal Collateral Branches (tavazhi) were,

    • Kizhakke Kovilakam (Eastern Branch)
    • Padinhare Kovilakam (Western Branch)
    • Puthiya Kovilakam (New Branch)

The senior female member of the whole Zamorin family, the Valiya Thamburatti, also enjoyed a Places of Dignity with separate property known as the Ambadi Kovilakam.[4]

Dominions

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The post-Chera period witnessed the emergence of the three small polities in Kerala - Kozhikode (Calicut) , Kolathunadu (Cannanore), and Venadu (Quilon).[8] As per M . G. Raghava Varier, at the peak of their reign, the Zamorin's ruled over a region from Kollam (Quilon) to Panthalayini Kollam.[3] In the 15th century, the kingdom of Kozhikode covered almost all of later Malabar district (South Malabar) and Cochin state.[13]

Apart from the southern half of Kurumburanadu, Payyanadu, Polanadu, Ponnani, Cheranadu, Venkatakkotta (Kottakkal), Malappuram, Kappul, Mannarakkadu, Karimpuzha, Nedunganadu, Naduvattom, Kollangodu, Kotuvayur, and Mankara the Kingdom of Kozhikode included the following territories as "tributary polities" in the during the late 15th century: Kottayam, Payyormala, Pulavayi, Tanore (Vettam), Chaliyam, Beypore, Parappanadu, Thirunavaya, Talapalli-Kakkad, Talapalli-Punnattur, Chittur, Chavakkad, Kavalappara, Edappally, Patinjattedam, Cranganore, Kollengodu, Kochi (Cochin) and all of its vassal polities, Paravur, Purakkad, Vadakkumkur, Tekkumkur, Kayamkulam and Quilon.[4] However, Kozhikode's control over most of the polities in Travancore region seems to be only nominal in the late 15th century.

The kingdom only included the following territories during the late 18th century: Payyanadu, Polanadu, Ponnani, Cheranadu, Venkattakkotta, Malappuram, Kappul, Mannarakkadu, Karimpuzha, and Nedunganadu. The Zamorin claimed to be - with more or less influence - the "paramount sovereign" over Payyormala, Pulavayi, Beypore, Parappanadu, Tanore (Vettam), Talapalli, Chavakkadu and Kavalappara. Kozhikode had also taken possession of - the more full and immediate - sovereignty over Kollangodu (Venninnagu), Kotuvayur and Manakara.[4]

Ports

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The chief ports under control of the Zamorins in the late 15th century were Panthalayini Kollam and Kozhikode (Calicut). The Zamorin of Kozhikode derived greater part of his revenues by taxing the trade through his ports. Smaller ports in the kingdom were Puthuppattanam, Parappanangadi, Tanur (Tanore), Ponnani (Ponani), Chetuva (Chetwai) and Kodungallur (Cranganore). The port of Beypore served as a ship building center. Thrikkavil Kovilakam in Ponnani was as a second home of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.[4][14]

The port at Kozhikode held the superior economic and political position in Kerala, while Kollam (Quilon), Kochi (Cochin) and Kannur (Cannanore) were commercially confined to secondary roles.[10]

Kozhikode

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  • Trade at port Kozhikode was managed by the port commissioner known as the "Shah Bandar Koya". The port commissioner supervised the customs on the behalf of the king, fixed the prices of the commodities and collected the share to the Kozhikode treasury.[15]
  • Kozhikode - despite being located at a geographically inconvenient spot - owed much of its prosperity of the Zamorins of Kozhikode. The rise of the Kozhikode seems to have taken place after the 13th century AD. [11][16]

Panthalayini Kollam

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  • Also known as "Fandarina" (Ibn Batutah), and "Shaojunan" (Daoyi Zgilue).[17]
  • Located north of Kozhikode, close to a bay. The geographical location is ideal for the wintering of ships during the annual monsoon rains.[18]
  • Presence of Chetti, Arab and Jewish merchants among others.[19]
A panorama of Kozhikode, shows several types of ships, shipbuilding, net fishing, dinghy traffic and a rugged, sparsely populated interior. Georg Braun and Franz Hogenbergs atlas Civitates orbis terrarum, 1572

Early History

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See also: Keralolpathi
The as per tradition, the Chera king granted the Eradi , as a mark of favour, a small tract of land. The Eradis subsequently moved their capital to the coastal marshy lands and established the city of Kozhikode

Famous legends such as the Cheraman Perumal tradition in The Origin of Kerala recount the events leading to establishment of Kozhikode. It mentions two young brothers belonging to the Nair Eradi clan from a local ruling family at Nediyiruppu, near present-day Kondotty. The brothers Manikkan and Vikraman were the most trusted generals in the army of the Cheras.[20][21] However, during the partition of Chera Kingdom, the Chera monarch failed to allocate any land to these two brothers. Filled with guilt, the king later gave his personal sword and his favourite prayer conch - the sword and the conch were both broken - to his general and told him to occupy as much as land he can with all his might. So the young general conquered neighbouring polities and created a powerful kingdom for himself. As a token of his respect to the Chera king, he adopted the logo of two crossed swords, with a broken conch in the middle and a lighted lamp above it.[4]

Historical records regarding the origin of the Zamorin of Kozhikode are obscure. However, it is generally agreed among historians that the Zamorins were originally the "hereditary governors" of Eralnadu region of the Chera Kingdom [9th—12th century AD] and were known as the "Eradis". On the basis of the strength of the "Hundred Organisation" of the senior prince of Eranadu, which was Six Hundred, it has been suggested that Eranadu be of about the same size as Ramavalanadu, Valluvanadu, Kizhmalanadu, Venadu etc. during the Chera period. One comes across only one nadu in this period with a stronger force, namely Kurumpuranadu, with a force of Seven Hundred although many lesser ones with Five Hundred, Three Hundred, etc., are available. Although there is no solid basis for the famous partition legend surrounding the end of Cheras, it is a possibility that following the mysterious disappearance of the Chera ruler, the land was partitioned and that the governors of different nadus gained independence, proclaiming it as their gift from the last sovereign.[4][1]

Eralanadu Utaiyavar appears as signatories in the Jewish Copper Plate of Bhaskara Ravi [11th century] and the Syrian Christian Copper Plate of Vira Raghava [13th century]. Kollam Ramesvaram temple inscription of Ramavarma Kulasekhara [12th century] and the Muchundi mosque inscription of Punthurakkon [13th century] are the other two important epigraphical sources[4][8]

Inscription [22] Year Notes
Jewish Copper Plate of Bhaskara Ravi 1000 AD The Chief of Eralanadu is described as Eralanadudaya "Manavepala Manaviyan"
Kollam Rameshwaram Inscription of Ramavarma Kulasekhara AD 1102 "Manavikraman alias Punthurakkon, the Chief of Eranadu"
Anandapuram Temple Inscription, Thrissur Immediate Post-Chera Period "Protection by Eranadu Nizhal"
Trichambaram Inscription 11th century AD "Eranatutaya Manavepala Manaviyatan"
Pulpatta Inscription, Manjeri 11th century AD "Aranuttavar of Eralanadu"
Syrian Christian Copper Plate of Vira Raghava AD 1225 "Issued with the knowledge of Venadu, Odanadu, Eranadu and Valluvanadu"
Muchundi Mosque Inscription of Punthurakkon 13th century "Punthurakkon"
Pepper
Ginger
Cardamom

There is some ambiguity regarding the exact course of events that led to the establishment of Eradi's rule over Kozhikode, their later capital.

According to traditions, after the decline of the Cheras, Kozhikode and its suburbs formed part of a polity called Polanadu ruled by Polarthiris. The Eradis of Eralnadu were land-locked and sought an outlet to the Arabian Sea to initiate trade and commerce. To accomplish this, the Eradis marched with their Nairs towards Panniyankara and besieged the Polartiri in his headquarters, resulting in a 48 - year - long conflict. The Eradi was unsuccessful in his attempt, and the he propitiated the Bhagavati, bribed the followers of Polarthiri and even the consort of the ruler of Polanadu and won them to his side. Learning of this treachery Polarthiri fled from his fort at Kozhikode. Eventually, the Eradis emerged victorious in their expansion to Polanadu and shifted their seat from Nediyiruppu to Kozhikode. Eradis built a fort at a place called "Velapuram" to safeguard their new interests. The fort most likely lent its name to Koyil Kotta [the precursor to the present name Kozhikode].[23]

Some historians are of the view that the Eradi was in fact a favourite of the last Chera king as the he was at the forefront of the battles with the Chola - Pandya forces [in south Kerala]. The Eradi seems to have led the Chera army to victory. The king therefore granted him, as a mark of favour, a small tract of land on the sea-coast in addition to his hereditary possessions [Eralnadu province]. This patch of marshy wasteland was called chullikkadu. The Eradis subsequently moved their capital to the coastal marshy lands and established the city of Kozhikode, then also called "Thrivikramapuram". To corroborate his assertion that Eradi was in fact a favourite of the last Chera, scholars cites a stone inscription discovered at Kollam in southern Kerala. It refers to "The Four Councillors, The Thousand, The Six Hundred, along with Mana Vikrama - the Governor of Eralanadu and other Feudatories". The scholars indicate that Kozhikode lay in fact beyond and not within Polanadu and there was no need of any kind of military action for the control of Kozhikode.[24][25]

Access to the sea helped the Eradi chief to develop the city into one of the major trading centres in south India abounding in a wide variety of goods like black pepper, ginger, cardamom and textiles. Vessels of various sizes from around the world - like Chinese junks - arrived at Kozhikode.[4]

Expansions to central Kerala

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The power balance in Kerala changed as Eralnadu rulers developed the port at Kozhikode, allied with Middle-Eastern merchants. The Zamorin became one of the most powerful chiefs in Kerala.[4] In some of his expansions - such as that into Valluvanadu - the ruler received unambiguous assistance from the Middle-Eastern sailors.[8] It seems that the qadi of Kozhikode offered all help in "money and material" to the Zamorin to strike at Thirunavaya.

Smaller chiefdoms south of Kozhikode - Beypore, Chaliyam, Parappanadu and Tanur [Vettam] - soon had to submit and became their feudatories one by one. The rulers of Payyormala, Kurumbranadu, and other Nair chiefs on the suburbs of Kozhikode also acknowledged the supremacy of Kozhikode. There were battles between Kozhikode and Kurumbranadu for a coastal region called Payyanadu. Payyanadu was a part of Kurumbranadu in early times, and was [later] given as a "royal gift" to Kozhikode. Kozhikode easily overran the Kurumbranadu warriors in the battle and Kurumbranadu had to sue for peace by surrendering Valisseri.[4]

Modern replica of the stele installed at Kozhikode by Zheng He. Seen along with other steles in the Stele Pavilion of the Treasure Boat Shipyard in Nanjing.
Muccunti Mosque Inscription. Inscription specifically mentions the word "Punturakkon"

The ruler of Kozhikode next turned his attention to the valley of Perar. Large parts of the valley was then ruled by Valluvakkonathiri, the hereditary chief of Valluvanadu. The principal objective of Kozhikode was the capture [the sacred settlement] of Thirunavaya from Valluvanadu. Soon they found themselves intervened in the so-called kurmatsaram between Nambudirs of Panniyurkur and Chovvarakur. In the most recent tensions, the Nambudiris from Thirumanasseri Nadu had assaulted and burned the nearby rival village. The rulers of Valluvanadu and Perumpadappu [modern Kochi] came to help the Chovvaram and raided Panniyur simultaneously. Thirumanasseri Nadu was overran by its neighbours on south and east. The Thirumanasseri Nambudiri appealed to the ruler of Kozhikode [and Tanur] for help, and promised to cede Ponnani to Kozhikode as the price for his protection. Kozhikode, looking for such an opportunity, gladly accepted the offer.[4]

Assisted by the combined corps of their subordinate chiefs [the chiefs of Chalium, Beypore, Tanur and Cranganore] and the naval fleet under the port commissioner [the Koya] of Kozhikode, the Zamorin fighters advanced by both land and sea.[4] The main force under the command of Zamorin himself attacked - encamping at Thripangodu - an allied force of Valluvanadu and Perumpadappu from the north, initiating the so-called Thirunavaya battles. Meanwhile, another force under Eralppadu [crown prince] commanded a fleet across the sea and landed at Ponnani and later moved to Thirumanasseri, with intention to descend on Thirunavaya from the south [with help of the warriors of the Thirumanasseri Brahmins]. Eralppadu also prevented the warriors of Perumpadappu joining Valluvanadu forces. The Muslim naval merchants and commanders at Ponnani supported the Kozhikode force with food, transport and provisions. The warriors of the Eralppadu moved north and crossed the River Perar and took up position on the northern side of the river.[4] The commissioner marched at the head of a large column, and stormed Thirunavaya. In spite of the fact that the warriors of Valluvanadu did not get the timely help of Perumpadappu, they fought vigorously and the battle dragged on. In the meantime, the Kozhikode minister Mangattachan was also successful in turning Kadannamanna Elavakayil Vellodi [junior branch of Kadannamanna] to their side. Finally, two Valluvanadu princes were killed in the battles, the Nairs abandoned the settlement and Kozhikode infested Thirunavaya.[4]

The capture of Thirunavaya was not the end of Kozhikode's expansion into Valluvanadu. The Zamorin continued surges over on Valluvanadu. Malappuram, Nilambur, Vallappanattukara and Manjeri were easily occupied. He encountered stiff resistance in some places and the fights went on in a protracted and sporadic fashion for a long time. Further assaults [in the east] against Valluvanadu were neither prolonged nor difficult for Kozhikode. Moreover, Zamorin successfully followed a policy of appeasing the feudatories/governors of Valluvanadu and conferring upon them the areas they originally held under Valluvanadu.[4]

The battles along the western borders of Valluvanadu were bitter, for they were marked by treachery and crime. Panthalur and Ten Kalams came under Kozhikode only after a protracted struggle. The assassination of a minister of Kozhikode by the Chief Minister of Valluvanadu while visiting Venkatakkotta in Valluvanadu sparked the battle, which dragged on for almost a decade. At last the Valluvanadu minister was captured by Zamorin's warriors and executed at Padapparambu, and his province [Ten Kalams, including Kottakkal and Panthalur] were occupied by the Zamorin. The Kizhakke Kovilakam Munalappadu, who took a leading part in this campaign, received half of the newly captured province from Zamorin as a gift. The loss of this fiercely loyal Chief Minister was the greatest blow to Valluvanadu after the loss of Tirunavaya and Ponnani.[4]

Expansions to Cochin

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Kozhikode troops faced defeat in their next assault on Perumpadappu. The combined forces of Perumpadappu and Valluvanadu resisted Kozhikode warriors and a vicious battle ensued for three days, at the end of which Kozhikode forces was on the retreat. After a period of uneasy calm in Kerala, Kozhikode occupied Nedunganadu, a small polity between Valluvanadu and Palakkad [Palghat]. Nedunganadu was overran without striking even a single blow. The chief of Nedunganadu surrendered to the Kozhikode forces at Kodikkuni. Then the Kozhikode warriors captured a number of smaller villages around Thirunavaya - such as Thiruvegappuram - from Valluvanadu. The Valluvanadu governor tried to overcome the Kozhikode prince’s advance at Kolakkadu. Near Karimpuzha in Valluvanadu, the untouchables - the Cherumas and Panans of Kotta - resisted the advancing forces. The Kozhikode won their affection by gifts and presents. Kozhikode prince was met by an ancestor of Kavalappara Nair, a vassal of Valluvanadu, at Karakkadu. The chiefs under Palakkad surrendered to Kozhikode at Vengotri, Nellayi and Kakkathodu. Zamorin of Kozhikode appointed the Eralppadu as the governor of southern Malabar region during this time. The provincial capital was at Karimpuzha. Talappilli [present day taluk of the same name and coastal regions from Ponnani to Chetwai] and Chengazhinadu submitted to Kozhikode without any resistance.[4]

Portuguese fort at Kozhikode

Kozhikode then completed the subjugation Ponnani taluk from Valluvanadu and captured Vannerinadu from Perumpadappu. The Perumpadappu ruler was forced to shift their base further south to Thiruvanchikkulam.[4] When Trikkanamatilakam near Thiruvanchikkulam came under the Kozhikode control and Perumpadappu ruler again shifted their base further south to Kochi [Cochin, in 1405 AD[10]].

Kozhikode subjugated large parts of the state of Kochi in the subsequent years. The family feud between the elder and younger branches of the ruling family of Kochi was exploited by the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The intervention was initiated as Kozhikode’s help was sought against the ruling younger branch. The rulers of Cranganore, Idappalli, Airur, Sarkkara, Patinjattedam [Thrissur] and Chittur supported or joined Kozhikode forces in this occupation of Kochi. Some of these were the vassals of Kochi. The Kochi chief was defeated in a battle at Thrissur and his palace was occupied. But, the defeated chief escaped to further south. Pursuing the chief to south, the Kozhikode forces under Zamorin penetrated and occupied the town of Kochi. Unable to withstand the attacks, Kochi finally accepted Kozhikode's rule and became it's feudatory. The prince from the elder branch was installed on the throne of Kochi as vassal.[4]

The battles against Kochi were followed by a battle against Palakkad and the expansion to Naduvattom by a Kozhikode prince. Kollengode of Venganadu Nambitis was also put under the sway of Kozhikode during the time. The severe and frequent battles with Valluvanadu by Kozhikode continued. But even after the loss of his superior ally Kochi, Valluvanadu did not submit to Kozhikode. The ruler of Kozhikode followed a custom of settling Muslim families and the families of other Hindu generals who had allegiance to him, in the captured areas of Valluvanadu. Kozhikode occupied Valluvanadu [now shrank to Attappadi valley, parts of Mannarkkad, Ottappalam and Perinthalmanna] but could not make much progress into its hinterland.[4]

Kozhikode was also successful in bringing the polity of Cannanore [Kolathunadu] under their control. During his expansions, the Zamorin occupied Pantalayini Kollam as a preliminary advance to Kolathunadu. Kolattiri immediately sent ambassadors to submit to whatever terms Kozhikode might dictate. Kolathunadu transferred the regions already occupied to Kozhikode [and certain Hindu temple rights]. The stories about the origin of the Kadathanadu ruling family (Vatakara) are associated with battle of the Eradis with Polanadu. When the Zamorin swarmed over Polanadu, he exiled a Polarthiri royal princess and she was welcomed in Kolathunadu (Cannanore) - one of the Zamorin's rivals polities. After the marriage of a Kolatthu prince with this princess the Kadathanadu ruling family was born. The name Kadathanadu refers to as the passing way between Kolathunadu and Kozhikode.[26] [26] After their expansion to central Kerala, Kozhikode might have waged battles against Quilon [Venadu Swaroopam]. However, historians reject the whole of idea of the southern expedition by Kozhikode. According to them, some land and Hindu temple rights were transferred to Kozhikode during a visit to Quilon by a ruler of the Kozhikode.[27]

Vijayanagara conquests

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Large boats built in Kozhikode

Deva Raya II (1424 - 1446 AD) - king of the Vijayanagara Empire - conquered the whole of present-day Kerala state in the 15th century. He defeated (1443) rulers of Venadu (Quilon), as well as Kozhikode. Fernão Nunes says that the Zamorin and even the kings of Burma ruling at Pegu and Tenasserim paid tribute to the king of Vijayanagara Empire. Later Kozhikode and Venadu seems to have rebelled against their Vijayanagara overlords, but Deva Raya II quelled the rebellion.

As the Vijayanagara power diminished over the next fifty years, Zamorin of Kozhikode again rose to prominence in Kerala. Zamorin built a fort at Ponnani in 1498.[4]

An embassy from the Zamorin of Kozhikode - in which the chief envoy was a Persian-speaking Muslim - came to the Timurid court of Mirza Shahrukh at Herat in the 15th century. Some Herat officials had, some years earlier, on their return journey from the Sultanate of Bengal, been stranded at port Kozhikode, and on this occasion had been received by the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Impressed by the description of the Timurid influence, the Zamorin decided to sent his own embassy to Herat. Abdur Razzaq, an employ of Shahrukh, was soon engaged on a mission to Kozhikode (November 1442 - April 1443). He carried a series of presents from Herat, including a horse, a pelisse, headgear and ceremonial robes. "As for duties [at Kozhikode], at one-fortieth, and that too, only on sales, they are even lower that at Hormuz [in the Persian Gulf]", says Abdur Razzaq. While in Kozhikode, he was invited by the Vijayanagara ruler Deva Raya II to his court. The envoy arrived from the Vijayanagara king had "asked" the Zamorin to send the Herat envoy on to his court. He also says the king of Vijayanagara does not possess "jurisdiction" over the Kingdom of Kozhikode, but the Zamorin was apparently "still in great awe of the Vijayanagar king".[28]

Relations with Yuan and Ming China

[edit]

"In the fifth year of the Yongle emperor [1407], the court ordered the principle envoy... Zheng He... to deliver an imperial mandate [a statement of formal investiture] to the king of [Kozhikode] and to bestow him a patent conferring a title of honour... Zheng He went these in command of a large fleet of treasure-ships, and he erected a tablet with a pavilion over it and set up a stone which said;
"Though the journey from this country [Kingdom of Kozhikode] to the Middle Kingdom is more than a hundred thousand li, yet people are very similar, happy, and prosperous, with identical customs."

Account of the members of Zheng He's entourage[29]

From the 13th century, Kozhikode developed into the major trading centre where the Middle-Eastern and Chinese sailors met to exchange their products. Marco Polo visited Kozhikode in 1293-94. Ibn Batutah refers to the brisk Chinese trade at Kozhikode. Wang Ta-yuan - during the Yuan period - describes the pepper trade in Kozhikode in his work "Tao-i-Chih". Zheng He (Cheng Ho), the renowned Ming - Chinese admiral, visited Kozhikode in 1407, 1409, and in 1431-33 etc.[11] Zheng - most probably - died at Kozhikode in 1433 AD during his seventh voyage to the West.[30][31]

The principle objective of the first expedition (1405-07) was the Kingdom of Kozhikode. Historians presume that the fleet stayed from December 1406 to April 1407 at Kozhikode. Ambassadors from Kozhikode, among envoys from other states, accompanied the returning (first expedition) fleet bringing articles of "tribute" to Nanking in 1407. The envoys in the second expedition (1407-09) carried out the formal "investiture" of the Zamorin of Kozhikode "Mana Piehchialaman". Zheng did not actually accompanied the expedition, and it was directed by his associates. A memorial inscription was erected in Kozhikode to commemorate the investiture. The Chinese titles and gifts [brocades and gauzes] were given to the Zamorin and his retinue by the Chinese envoys. Presumably a stay of about four months was made at Kozhikode, possibly from December 1408 to April 1409. The third expedition (1409-11) also visited Kozhikode. The fleet sailed on from Kozhikode to Ceylon in 1411. The fourth (1413-15, Ma Huan's first voyage under Zheng), fifth (1417-19) and sixth fleets also visited Kozhikode.[32][2] A number of tribute delegations - in 1421, 1423, 1433 among others - were dispatched by the Kozhikode rulers to Nanking and Peking. Presents from Kozhikode included horses and black pepper. Some representatives of the Kozhikode reached the Ming court in the years between 1403 - 33.[11] Brocades of several types were presented to the some of the Kozhikode envoys.[33] Ma Huan visited Kozhikode all the seven times, and describes the trade in the region. Fei-Hsin also notices the brisk trade at Kozhikode. Abd-ur-Razzaq visited Kozhikode in 1443 AD.[11][29][34][35][36]

The few remnants of the Chinese trade can be seen in and around the present city of Kozhikode. This include a Silk Street, Chinese Fort ("Chinakotta"), Chinese Settlement ("Chinachery" in Kappad), and Chinese Mosque ("Chinapalli" in Panthalayini Kollam). It seems that Chinese merchants were replaced by Middle Eastern sailors in a later period. This group included from Muslims from Arabia, Cairo (the Kareme/Karimi merchants linked with the Mamluks), Turkey, Iraq and Persia.[11][29][37]

Relations with the Portuguese

[edit]

"No one has tried to clear that misconception [that Vasco da Gama landed at Kappad]. The government has even installed a memorial stone at the Kappad beach. Actually [Vasco da] Gama landed at Panthalayini near Kollam in the [Kozhikode] district because there was a port there and Kozhikode did not have one. It does not have a port even now."[38]

M. G. S. Narayanan

"He [possibly an ex-convict called Joao Nunes] was taken to a place where there were two Moors from Tunis, who knew how to speak Castilian and Genoese. And the first greeting that they give him was the following:

"What the Devil! What brought you here?"

Velho 1987: 54-55[39]

See also: Portuguese India Armadas
Vasco da Gama landing in Kozhikode - a modern depiction (1911) by Allan Stewart
Portuguese Coin released in commemorate Vasco da Gama's Landing in Kozhikode
Duarte Pacheco's victory at Battle of Cochin (1504)
The sword used by Kunjali Marakkar, preserved at Kottakkal Mosque, Vadakara

The landing of Vasco da Gama in Kozhikode in 1498 has often been considered as the beginning of a new phase in history during which the control of the Indian Ocean passed into the hands of the Europeans from Middle Eastern Muslims. The strong colony of merchants - mostly Arabs - settled in Kozhikode was hostile, but the Zamorin welcomed the Portuguese and allowed them to take spices on board. In Portugal, the goods brought by da Gama from India were computed at sixty times the cost of the entire Asia expedition.[40] The Portuguese set about breaking the monopoly which Venetians and the Egyptians had so long enjoyed in the trade with India. The Egyptians and the Ottoman Turks realised the danger, but internal complications between them gave the Portuguese an opportunity.[41]

The Portuguese entered into conflictual relations with the Zamorin of Kozhikode and his Middle Eastern Muslim merchants. As per Harold V. Livermore, it was the [Middle Eastern] Muslim financiers and magnates at Kozhikode who persuaded the Zamorin of Kozhikode to turn against the Portuguese. However, the procurement of spices and textiles also saw them entering into some type of amicable relations with Mappila and Syrian Christian traders, whom they used as brokers and intermediaries in purchase and sale. But this did not last long, the Estado da Índia soon entered into conflict with several principle Mappila trading families. This was partly due to their policies, and partly on account of the brutal acts they carried out [such as the killing of a relative of the Mammali of Cannanore and the assassination of the qazi of Kannur]. Mappila traders actively worked even in the kingdoms of Ceylon to oppose the Portuguese, and in the kingdom of Kozhikode declared a jihad against the Estado.[13] Kunjali Marakkars were the famous admirals of Kozhikode and organised a powerful navy to fight the Portuguese.[42]

By mid-16th century, the Portuguese managed to curtail the vital trade between Kozhikode and the Middle East. In the end of the century, Cochin was the dominant seaport in Kerala, having surpassed both Kannur and Kozhikode.[13] Francisco de Almeida (1505-09) and Afonso de Albuquerque (1509-15) - who followed da Gama to India - were instrumental in establishing the Império Colonial Português in Asia. [40]

Date Event
1498 May Vasco da Gama lands in Kozhikode, and is welcomed by the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Much to the delight of the discontented Middle Eastern merchants, da Gama's trade goods were hardly suitable for trade in India, and he fails to conclude a treaty of any substance with Kozhikode. The trade goods he carried - no gold and copper, or silver - only came handy in the trade on the West African coast.[40] However, the Zamorin of Kozhikode gave his "sanction" for opening spice trade, and allowed to erect a small feitoria in Kozhikode.[43] After some confusion - the feitoria was robbed once - the fleet leaves Kozhikode in November. The fleet took with them five or six Hindus (without the consent of the Zamorin).[43]

It is also known that da Gama erected a padrão in the Kingdom of Kozhikode.[5].

1498 November The fleet makes interactions - and trade - with Zamorin's rival chief, the Kolathiri (Cannanore)[43]
1500 September Pedro Alvares Cabral reaches Kozhikode, rich presents were exchanged, and a treaty of friendship, 'as long as the sun and moon should endure', was entered upon. He manages obtain the permission to construct a "fortified trading post". At the request of the Zamorin, Cabral captures a Cochin vessel passing the port. The vessel is subsequently restored to the chief of Cochin.[43] [44]
1500 December The Muslims of Kozhikode appear to have effectually prevented the Portuguese from obtaining any large supply of spices. Cabral attacked and seized a Muslim vessel. Soon around 50 Portuguese sailors at the depot are massacred by the Muslims and the depot is razed. The Portuguese seized ten of the Zamorin's Muslim vessels, executed their crews and left Kozhikode by bombarding it in retaliation. Around 600 Malabarians are killed.[43][44]
1500 December 24 Portuguese - led by Pedro Álvares Cabral - reaches the port of Cochin. [43] Cochin Raja - a chieftain at the time - was subordinate to the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The Portuguese encouraged the port and chief of Cochin in both commercial and military senses to develop as a rival to Kozhikode.[13]
1501 January Portuguese conclude a treaty with the chief of Cochin "Tirumumpara" (Tirumalpadu), an alliance of friendship was signed, allowing them to open a factory (trading depot). He was permitted to trade for spices, with which he loaded his six remaining ships.[44] A Kozhikode fleet, carrying 1500 men, appeared off the harbour. The Kozhikode fleet held off and had evidently no wish to come to an engagement. Cabral chased them, but was overtaken by a violent storm which carried him to the sea. He later sailed to Cannanore, and from there proceeded to Europe. [43]
1501 March John de Nueva is despatched from Portugal to India. He anchored at Anjediva in November and from there sailed to Cannanore. While travelling from Cannanore to Cochin the fleet attacked and captured a Muslim vessel opposite to the Kozhikode.[43]
1501 December About 180 vessels filled with Muslims arrived at Cochin from Kozhikode. John de Nueva cannon fires them, sinking a large of no. of vessels.[43]

The Muslims persuade native merchants all of over Kerala to refuse to trade their spices and textiles with the Portuguese.[43]

Owing to the generosity of the chief of Cochin alone, his ships were soon loaded with spices and textiles, and the fleet departs for Europe.[43]

1502 August Vasco da Gama returns to India to try to control Kozhikode. He burns a ship full of Muslim pilgrims - around 700 - from Mecca off the coast of Madayi. The ship also carried a chief merchant from Kozhikode. This individual - fairly rich - was the brother of Khoja Kasim the Factor of the Sea to the Zamorin of Kozhikode.[45] However, the burning and sinking of the ship is not related by any contemporary and reliable sources. Some assume that the description may be "legendary or at least exaggerated".[5]

He is warmly welcomed by Kolattiri (ruler of Cannanore), and arranged a treaty of commerce with the ruler of Kolathiri. He next divided his fleet; one portion of it was to war all native vessels except those of Cannanore (Kolattunatu), Cochin (Permpatappu) and Quilon (Venatu), which were to be protected by "passes" [cartazes] obtained from the factors at Cannanore and Cochin respectively. Vincent de Sodre mistreats Khoja Muhammed Marakkar - a wealthy Muslim from Cairo - who had insulted the Kolathiri.[43]

Sailing southwards, da Gama was informed by a Brahmin messenger that the Zamorin had arrested the Muslims who had been guilty of the outrage on the trading depot. Da Gama was offered a large sum to pay for the factory goods. He sent back word to say that he did not want money, and also mistreated the Brahmin messenger. Some historians assume that this was an attempt to lure da Gama to Kozhikode, and then to apprehend him. Da Gama - who certainly thought so - cannon fired the port Kozhikode, and killed around 40 natives.[43][5]

1502 November Da Gama reaches Cochin. Signs treaty of commerce with the rulers of Cochin and Quilon. A factory was set up at Cochin by da Gama; its first factor was Diogo Fernandes Correia.[39] The fleet sailed to Cannanore - defeating two squadrons of a Kozhikode Arab[5]-Muslim fleet on the way - and then for Europe on 28th December.[43]

The Zamorin of Kozhikode, after the departure of the Armada, demands to the ruler of Cochin the Portuguese factors left at Cochin should be given to him. The demand was refused by the ruler of Cochin.[43]

1503 Portuguese crown the new ruler of Kochi, effectively making him a vassal of the King of Portugal.
1503 March-April Kozhikode forces of more than 50,000 Nairs attacked Cochin to foil the growing Portuguese influence. The forces marched to Edappalli in March. The Kozhikode forces defeated 5,500 Cochin Nairs lead by Narayanan, the heir apparent of Cochin, near Cranganore. The Cochin prince was slain in the battle. The Cochin chief escapes to the Island of Vypin. The Kozhikode forces burns Cochin. As the monsoon had begun, the Kozhikode forces, leaving a strong detachment at Cochin, retreated to Cranganore.[43]

Two Italians deserted to the side of the Kozhikode forces. These men later constructed five big guns for the Kozhikode forces. [43]

1503 September Francisco de Albuquerque, sailing from Cannanore, reaches Cochin. The Kozhikode forces are easily driven back. He obtains permission build a fort - Fort Manuel - the first Portuguese fort in Asia- at Cochin. Soon, Afonso de Albuquerque, his relative, arrived at Cochin with three more ships.[43]

The Portuguese are starved of spices and textiles at Cochin by the Kozhikode and the Muslims. They fleet moves south to Quilon, and with aid of local Christian merchants easily procure the spices, and obtain permission to open a factory from Govardhana Marthanda.[43]

1504 January Albuquerque left Malabar, his ships laden with spices. Before doing so he concluded a short lived treaty with the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The peace is broken murder of six Malabairs by the Portuguese.[43]
1504 March-July Pacheco and a small garrison of 150 men guard Fort Manuel. 57,000 Nairs from all over the kingdom of Kozhikode, assisted by 5 cannon guns and 160 boats attacks Pacheco at the Edappally ferry. He manages to drive back the enemy several times. The Cochin Nairs provided little help in preventing the Kozhikode forces. As the monsoon set in, cholera broke out among the Kozhikode forces. The Zamorin of Kozhikode at last gave up the attempt in despair.[43]
1504 July Pacheco quells a partial outbreak at Quilon.[43]
1504 September Suarez de Menezes arrives in Cannanore. He unsuccessfully tries to rescue some of the prisoners taken at Kozhikode in Cabral's time. He cannons the city of Kozhikode and sails to Cochin.[43]

The fleet raid and burn the city of Cranganore, held by Patinjattedam chief under the Kozhikode. The Portuguese spared the Christian houses, shops and churches, but they looted those of the Jews and Muslims.[43]

1505 March The destruction of a large Muslim fleet at Pantalayini Kollam in the Kingdom of Kozhikode. It had assembled there to take back a large no. of Muslims to Arabia and Egypt, who were leaving the Kingdom of Kozhikode disappointed at the trade losses caused to them recently. De Menezes captured 17 vessels and killed 2,000 men.[46][43]
1505 September Building of Anjediva Fort commenced by Francisco de Almeyda.[43]
1505 October Building of St. Angelo Fort, Kannur commenced. De Almeyda visited by a Vijayanagara delegation. Francisco de Almeyda arrived at Cochin.[43]
1505 November Murder of the Portuguese factor António de Sá and his 12 men by a mob in Quilon. Lorenzo de Almeyda, finding 27 Kozhikode vessels at Quilon, engaged and sank them all. Francisco de Almeyda crown the new chief in Cochin.[43]
1506 February Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt sent a fleet, commanded by Amir Hussain al-Kurdi al-Askar, into the Indian Ocean. The Ottomans helped in the construction of the fleet. The fleet left Jiddah only in August/September 1507 and set sail to Diu (ruled by Malik Ayaz).[47]
1506 March Lorenz de Almeyda intercepted an armada of 210 large vessels of Turks (Ottoman) and Muslims whom the Zamorin had launched against Cannanore. Around 3,000 Muslims were killed in the assault and the Portuguese loss was very trifling.[43]
1507 April Joined forces of Cannanore and Kozhikode attack St. Angelo Fort. The old Kolattiri - the original friend of Vasco da Gama - had died and the new ruler was already displeased with Portuguese for harming prominent Muslims merchants at Cannanore. Combined forces - including around 60, 000 Nairs - lay siege to the St. Angelo Fort. Brito, the Cannanore Commandant, resisted the Malabaris for four months.[43]
1507 August Portuguese - assisted by eleven ship under da Cunha arrived from Europe - break the blockade. Ruler of Cannanore forced to accede to the sailors.[43]
1507 November Portuguese under Almeyda attacked Ponnani. Destroyed the town and shipping. 18 Portuguese were killed in the assault on the place. Number of Muslims took oath to die as "matrys" on this occasion.[43]

The family of Kunjali Marakkars - a title conferred to them only later - relocates to Puthupattanam in North Malabar from Ponnani. The Zamorin of Kozhikode appoints Marakkar I as his admiral. Kutti Ali serves under Marakkar I as a captain.[48]

1508 March Albuquerque imprisoned by Almeyda. Cairo's navy - under the command of Admiral Amir Hussain - supported by the forces of Mahmud Begarha (Sultan of Gujarat) defeat Portuguese at Battle of Chaul, killing Lorenzo de Almeyda in the process. The Egyptian force of 1500 Mamluks also included Kozhikode's ambassador to Cairo, Mayimama Marakkar. Marakkar was also killed in the action.[43][42] The alliance - between Amir Hussain and Malik Ayaz - begins to fall apart. Ayaz enters into secret negotiations with de Amleyda.[47]
1508 November De Almeyda - with a fleet carrying 1300 Europeans among others - sails to Cannanore.[43]
1509 February De Almeyda counter-attack and defeat the Egyptian navy - assisted by Kozhikode forces - at the Battle of Diu.[43] The defeat off Diu was major blow to the Muslims.[49] Amir Hussain, though wounded, fled to the Gujarat capital. He eventually reached Cairo in December, 1512.[47]
1509 November A new fleet arrives from Europe. Albuquerque takes charge of as Capitão-Mor.[42]
1510 Fernando Coutinho arrives at Cannanore. He brought instruction from Lisbon that Kozhikode should be destroyed. Such had been, it is said, the counsel sent to Europe by the Kolattiri and the by the chief of Cochin.[43]

Governor Albuquerque and Fernando Coutinho lands in the city of Kozhikode. Fernando Coutinho and his men were slain in this misguided adventure, Albuquerque was shot, the Mananchira palace was sacked, and was set on fire.[43]

1510 Septmeber Chief of Cochin decides to relinquish the throne. Albuquerque eventually succeeds in preventing the abdication.[43]
1510 November Governor Albuquerque took Goa - Adil Khan was absent from the place - and it finally supplanted Cochin as the chief Portuguese settlement in India. Among others he was assisted by the 300 hand-picked Nairs from Cannanore. [40][43]
1511 July Albuquerque took Malacca in the East Indies.[40]
1511 February Albuquerque established schools for the benefit of 400 natives - who were converted to Christianity - in Cochin.[43]
1513 Albuquerque landed at Kozhikode and had an interview with the Zamorin. Kozhikode and Portuguese sign a treaty giving Portuguese right trade as "they pleased", and to erect a fort in the Kingdom of Kozhikode.[43][42]
1514-15 Fort Calicut is built near [right bank of the Kallayi river] the city of Kozhikode.[43] Albuquerque granted the Zamorin a certain number of cartazes for the merchants based at Kozhikode, enabling them to resume trade with Aden and Jiddah, and Gujarat.[13][41] The Zamorin sent envoys to the king of Portugal with a letter expressing his readiness to supply goods. [4]
1515 Albuquerque took Hormuz (Ormus) in the Persian Gulf[40]
1515-17 Lopo Saores demanded that the Zamorin should repair to the Fort Calicut and wait upon him. Hostilities were averted only by the good sense of the captains posted in the fort.[4]
1517 Assassination attempt on the Zamorin. The Portuguese invited the Zamorin to a house within their fort under the pretext of presenting the king with some gifts. The Zamorin, with the help of a Portuguese officer, escaped from the fort. The officer was later banished with all kin to Cannanore.[4]
1519 One of Cochin chief's nobles invade some lands belonging to one of the Zamorin's barons. This lead to a general battle, and the Cochin chief suffered a defeat.[4]
1521 Cochin Nairs - assisted by some men sent by Governor Sequeiro - invade Chetwai. But the Cochin chief was soon outnumbered, and pursues right up to his capital.[4]
1523 The Muslims under the leadership of Kutti Ali, captured ten Portuguese vessels, and raided Cochin and Cranganore harbours. The Muslims later insulted the Governor Duarte de Menezes. In 1524 he bombarded Fort Calicut.[4]
1524 Duarte de Menezes came to Fort Calicut. The Zamorin was dead and his successor (1522-1531) did not favour the Portuguese alliance. Kutti Ali anchored his fleet of 200 vessels at Kozhikode, to load eight ships with spices, and to despatch them with a convoy of 40 vessels to the Red Sea before the very eyes of the Portuguese.[43]
1524 King of Portugal sends Vasco Da Gama again to India. His mission was to reform the abuses which had crept into the administration in India. Ruler of Cannanore (Kolattiri) surrendered a "pirate" chief called Bala Hassan to da Gama, who was thereupon thrown into a dungeon in Cannanore Fort. This man was related to the family of the Arakkal Raja. Martu Alfonso de Souza under his orders relieved Kozhikode, engaged the famous Kutti Ali's fleet and drove it to Cannanore. Kutti Ali finally abandoned his ships. [43][41]
1524 December The Muslims, with Kozhikode's approval, made an onslaught on Cranganore Jews and Christians. They killed many Jews and drove out the rest to a village to the east. When the fleet attacked Christians, the Nairs of the place retaliated, and drove all Muslims out of Cranganore.[43]
1525 Henry de Menezes reaches Cannanore and executes Bala Hassan. The Kolattiri asked the Viceroy to punish those Muslims who had taken refuge at Dharmapattanam Island. An expedition was organised, and the towns, bazaars and shipping at Dharmapattanam and at Mahe were destroyed.[43]
1525 February-March Portuguese navy led by new Viceroy Henry Menezes raided Ponnani and Pantalayini Kollam, and burnt the towns. Pantalayini Kollam was defended by 20,000 Nairs and Muslims. On reaching Kozhikode, he had earlier found that the place had been attacked by the Kozhikode forces.[43] Kutti Ali in retaliation stormed the port of Cochin, set fire to the Portuguese ships and managed to get away unhindered.[41][43]

The Nairs of the chief of Kurumbranad and Kozhikode forces invested Fort Calicut (Siege of Calicut). They were helped by a band of Muslims under the command of a European engineer. Kutti Ali's ships blockaded the port. Captain Lima, with 300 men, defended the fort.[43][41]

1525 June The Zamorin himself marched in with an additional force.[43]
1525 October Viceroy arrived with 20 ships and relieved the garrison, the besiegers were driven back. Around 2,000 Kozhikode men were killed in this effort. The fort was later abandoned, and destroyed by the Portuguese.[43]
1528 October Viceroy Sampayo attacked Purakkad - a Kozhikode ally - and obtained a very rich booty.[43]

Kutti Ali is taken prisoner after a battle off Barkur. The Zamorin's fleet suffered severe reverses. Pachachi Marakkar and Ali Ibrahim Marakkar leads the Zamorin's fleet. The first foray of the fleet was against the Portuguese settlement in Ceylon.[41]

A stake was the trade in Ceylon cinnamon and the high-volume trade in foodstuffs that passed through the Gulf of Mannar.[39]

1531 Thirty Portuguese ships blockade the Kozhikode coast. [41] Peace Treaty Between Nunho de Acunha and the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Fort Chaliyam, south of Kozhikode, is constructed. The fort was "like a pistol held at the Zamorin's throat" as it was a strategic site, only 10 km south of Kozhikode.[43]

Kutti Ali Marakkar is killed. His place is taken up by Marakkar II.[41]

1532 Mass conversion of the Paravas of the Pearl Fishery Coast.[39]
1533 Marakkar raids Nagipattinam settlement of the Portuguese.[48]
1535 The Portuguese fleet withdraw their forces to face Turkish admiral Suleiman Pasha.[41]
1537 Portuguese killed Kutti Ibrahim Marakkar. Fort Cranganore is erected. [43]
1539 Kozhikode enters into an agreement with the Portuguese. The Malabarians again agreed to accept the Portuguese "passes". The wedge between the Zamorin and the Mappilas widens.[43]
1540 Pattu Marakkar leads the Kozhikode navy. He is assisted by captain Kutti Pokkar of Ponnani.[48] Chinna Kutti Ali sues for peace with the Portuguese. Defeat of Ibrahim and Pattu Marakkar (at Vedalai), and the killing in Ceylon of a third notable was one factor that forced Chinna Kutti Ali to this move.[39]
1545 The Portuguese assassinates Abu Bakr Ali, the qazi of Cannanore.[13]
1550 Battles by Kozhikode near Cochin. The Portuguese made descents on the coastal towns, particularly on Pantalayini Kollam, destroying mosques and houses, and killing one-third of the inhabitants.[43]

The Portuguese manages to reach an accommodation with some Middle Eastern merchants, such as Khoja Shams ud-Din Gilani of Cannanore.[13]

1552 The Zamorin received assistance in heavy guns landed at Ponnani, brought there by Yoosuf, a Turk who had sailed against the monsoon.[43]
1555 Peace between the Zamorin and the Portuguese on the condition that "passes" should be taken by traders.[43]
1557-59 Muslims of North Malabar began hostilities, and then made the usual submission and agreed to take out the "passes". The Muslim sailors comes under enormous pressure under these stringent measures. The Muslims organise in small fleets of boats to engange with the Portuguese shipping. The Portuguese continuous hostilities against the Zamorin and the Malabarians. Emergence of the Kunjali Marakkar.[43]
1560 The Inquisition was established at Goa.[40]
1564 The Portuguese besieged in their fort at Cannanore, but the attack is repulsed.[43]
1564 The Zamorin and his Muslim allies attacked Cochin chief at o or near Cranganore. Two Cochin princes killed in the engagement. The Portuguese enlarged and strengthened the Cranganore Fort. Jews finally deserted Anchuvannam and migrated to Cochin. They resided within the fort limits.[43]
1566 Kutti Poker of Ponnani captures a Portuguese ship.[43]
1567 Jew's Town is built, and the Jews in a body moved into the town from the Cochin fort limits.[43]
1569 Kutti Poker of Ponnani captures a second Portuguese ship. Around 1000 Portuguese sailors from these ships are killed.[43]
1569 Kutti Poker made a successful raid on Mangalore Fort. His fleet fell in with a Portuguese fleet as he was returning south off Cannnanore, and he and all his sailors are killed.[43]

The Zamorin of Kozhikode forms alliances with rulers of Ahmadnagar and Bijapur.[43]

1571 Siege of Fort Chaliyam.[43] The Zamorin is assisted by the naval forces of Marakkar III.[48]
1571 September Fort Chaliyam surrenders to Kozhikode. The Zamorin destroys the fort.[43]
1572 Chaliyam burnt by the Portuguese.[43]
1573 Parappanangadi town burnt by the Portuguese.[43] Pattu Marakkar (Marakkar III) obtains permission from Zamorin to build a fortress and dockyard at Puthupattanam. This fort later came to be called "Fort Marakkar".[48]
1577 The fleet Muslim ships, carrying rice, seized by the Portuguese, and 3000 sailors are killed.[43]
1578 Peace negotiations between Kozhikode and the Portuguese. The Zamorin refuses to agree to construct a fort at Ponnani.[43]
1579 The Zamorin visits Cranganore. The Portuguese continuous hostilities against the Zamorin and the Malabarians. The rice embargo results in the Famine of 1579. [43]
1584 Kozhikode shifts policy towards the Portuguese because of his estrangement with the Marakkar who begins to defy the Zamorin. Treaty of peace with Viceroy Mascarenhas.[43] Sanction the Portuguese to build a factory at Ponnani. The decision is much resented by the Marakkars, and they strengthens the Fort Marakkar.[48]
1591 Saamoothiri allow the Portuguese to build a factory at Kozhikode. He lays the foundation of church granting them necessary ground and building materials.
1595 Possible date of the succession of Marakkar IV. Another date in the 1570s - a few years after the erection Fort Marakkar - is also proposed.[48]
1597 The Zamorin had grown nervous about the royal pretensions of the Marakkar.[39] The Marakkar had styled himself "King of Muslims" and "Lord of the Indian Seas.[48] Father Franciso de Costa is sent to Kozhikode. Agreement between the Zamorin and the Portuguese on Marakkar IV. The allies decide to proceed together against Fort Marakkar - the Kozhikode forces by land the Portuguese by sea.[48]
1599 Forcible subjection of the Syrian church to Rome at the Synod of Diamper[40] The Archbishop of Goa, Alexis Menezis, visited Kottakkal in 1599.[41]

Siege of Fort Kottakkal (Fort Marakkar) from land by the Kozhikode forces alone. The siege ends in a frustating defeat of the Kozhikode forces. Marakkar IV calls himself "Defender of Islam" and the "Expeller of the Portuguese".[48]

Treaty between the Zamorin of Kozhikode and the Portuguese. He declared that he would from then on cease persecuting Christians, permit the edification of churches in the kingdom of Kozhikode, support the Synod of Diamper, release all Christian prisoners, and provide spices for the ships of the Portuguese at the usual prices. In return the Portuguese agreed to grant him "cartazes" every year for ships bound for Jiddah, Bengal, Aceh and the Canara. Most importantly the Zamorin anticipated their help in a joint attack on Kunjali Marakkar's fort at Ponnani.[13]

1600 Siege of Fort Marakkar by the combined forces of the Portuguese (under Andre Furtado) and the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The assault on the fort was begun by the Nairs force consisting 6,000 men.[48]

The Portuguese executes Kunjali Marakkar IV - surrendered in person to the Zamorin - at Goa.[48] The Zamorin took over Fort Marakkar and the town of Kottakkal.[48]

The relations between the Zamorin and the Portuguese again reverts back.[13]

Relations with the Dutch and English

[edit]

In 1602, the Zamorin sent messages to Aceh, where the Verenigde Zeeuwsche Compagnie had a factory, promising the Dutch a fort at Kozhikode if they would come and trade there. Two factors Hans de Wolff and Lafer were sent on an Asian ship from Aceh, but the two were captured by the chief of Tanur, and handed over to the Portuguese. These men were later hanged in Goa.[13]

A Dutch fleet under Admiral Steven van der Hagen arrived in Kozhikode in November 1604. It marked the beginning of the Dutch presence in Kerala and they concluded a treaty with Kozhikode on 11 November 1604. By this time the Kingdom and the port of Kozhikode was much reduced in importance.[13] The treaty provided for a mutual alliance between the two to expel the Portuguese from Malabar. In return the Dutch East India Company was given facilities for trade at Kozhikode and Ponnani, including spacious storehouses.

In 1610, Cornelis Jacobsz van Breekvelt and Hans Bullardm arrived at Kozhikode and re-promulgated the old treaty. In 1617, Pieter van den Broecke was asked by a Zamorin prince to aid them in a battle against Cochin. The Dutch refused to help the Kozhikode rulers.[13]

The Dutch - some fifteen years after the Zamorin's first asked for help - had promised much and delivered almost nothing. The Zamorin finally turned to the English.[13] In September 1610, the English factors at Mocha were approached by the head of the Mappilas there to their shipping in the region from the Portuguese fleets.[13] The English reached Kozhikode under Captain William Keeling and concluded a treaty of trade (1616) under which, among others, the English were to assist Kozhikode in expelling the Portuguese from Fort Cochin and Fort Cranganore. The English set up a factory at Kozhikode, and a factor George Woolman is sent there with a stock of presents. But the Zamorin soon found the English as unreliable as the Dutch where the military aid was concerned. The factory was wound up in March, 1617. [26][13]

Later in 1661, Kozhikode joined a coalition led by the Dutch to defeat the Portuguese and Cochin and conducted a number of successful campaigns. As a result of the Kew Letters, the Dutch settlements on the Malabar Coast were surrendered to the British in 1795 in order to prevent being overrun by the French. Dutch Malabar remained with the British after the conclusion of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, which traded the colony with Bangka Island.

Mysore occupation and settlement negotiations

[edit]
See also: Mysorean invasion of Kerala
Palghat Fort
Kozhikode Railway Station was established during the Colonial rule

It was in 1732, at the invitation of the chief of Palakkad, Mysore forces marched to Kerala for the first time. They appeared again in 1735, and in 1737 they raided the Zamorin's frontier outposts. In 1745, the Mysore forces fought three battles with the Kozhikode warriors.[4][8] In 1756 they invaded Kozhikode for the fifth time. The chief of Palakkad had placed himself under the protection of the King of Mysore, agreeing to pay an annual tribute of 12,000 Fanams. The Faujdar of Dindigul, Hyder Ali, sent Mukhdam Sahib, with 2000 cavalry, 5,000 infantry, and 5 guns to Kerala. The Zamorin tried to buy off the enemy by promising (Treaty, 1756) to refrain from molesting Palakkad and pay 12 lakhs of Rupees for the expenses of the expedition. However the Zamorin was not able pay anything to Hyder Ali.[4] In 1766, 12,000 Mysore forces under Hyder Ali marched to Malabar from Mangalore. Mysore's intentions were made easy by the help they received from the Muslims in Malabar. Ali Raja of Cannanore - a Muslim ruler in northern Kerala - also helped the invading forces. The Mysore army was able to conquer northern Kerala up to Cochin with relative ease. Hyder Ali inflicted a major setback on the Kozhikode warriors at Perinkolam Ferry on the Kotta River.[4] As Mysore edged closer to the outer reaches of the city of Kozhikode, the Zamorin sent most of his relatives to safe haven in Ponnani - and from there to Travancore - and to avoid the humiliation of surrender committed self-immolation by setting fire to his palace at Mananchira (27 April). Hyder Ali absorbed Malabar district to his state.[50][8]

But as soon as the Haider Ali marched to Coimbatore, Nair rebellions broke out in Malabar. Some members of the Zamorin family rebelled against the Muslim occupiers. This included the Eralpadu Krishna Varma with his nephew Ravi Varma. The princes were aided by the English East India Company.[51] In 1768 the Zamorin prince was restored in Kozhikode, agreeing to pay an annual tribute to Mysore. For nearly six years, till 1774 nothing was hear of Hyder Ali.[4] In 1774, Mysore forces under Srinivasa Rao occupied the city of Kozhikode. The prince retired to Travancore in a native vessel. The baton of resistance now passed to his nephew Ravi Varma. Ravi Varma helped the Company occupy Kozhikode in 1782.[4] By the Treaty of Mangalore, concluded in 1784, Malabar was restored to Mysore. In 1785 the oppression of revenue officers led to a rebellion by the Mappilas of Manjeri. As a reward for aiding to put down the rebels, and partly as an incentive, Tipu Sultan settled upon Ravi Varma a pension and a jaghir in 1786. The peace was soon broken and Tipu sent 6,000 troops under Mon. Lally to Kerala.[4]

In Lord Cornwallis, invited the Kerala chiefs to join him in 1790, promising to render them in future entirely independent of Mysore and to retain them upon reasonable terms under the protection of the Company. Prince Ravi Varma met General Meadows at Trichinopoly and settled with him the terms of the Kozhikode's cooperation. After the Third Mysore War (1790-92), Malabar was placed under the control of the Company by the Treaty of Seringapatam.[8]

In the settlement negotiations with the Joint Commission in 1792, the Zamorin proved recalcitrant. To pressure him, a portion of his former territories (Payyanadu, Payyormala, Kizhakkumpuram, Vadakkampuram and Pulavayi) was leased to the ruler of Kurumburanadu as manager for the East India Company. Finally, after prolonged negotiations, the hereditary territory of the Zamorin, together with the coin mint and the sea customs, was leased back to him. He was also temporarily given jurisdiction over the petty rulers and, as a mark of the Zamorin's "exceptional" position in Malabar, the revenue fixed for Beypore, Parappanadu and Vettattunadu was to be paid through him. As previously noted, these tax-payment and jurisdictional arrangements were terminated later and the Zamorin of Kozhikode became a mere pensioned landlord receiving the "malikhana". On July 1, 1800 Malabar was transferred to the Madras Presidency. On November 15, 1806 was executed the agreement upon which rested the future political relations between the Zamorin of Ko zhikodeand the English.[4][8]

Governance

[edit]

The hereditary chiefs, more or less independent in their region, acknowledged the overlordship of the Zamorin in Kozhikode. The "local magnates" were dependent on the Zamorin of Kozhikode.[8] Women were not allowed to be the ruler of Kozhikode, and the oldest male member traced the female becomes the next Zamorin.[4]

The Palace of the Zamorin of Kozhikode in 17th century - from Dutch archives

The Zamorin was assisted in the work of government by four hereditary chief ministers called Sarvadhi Karyakkar and number of ministers called Karyakkar and Polttis. Adhikaris, Thalachennavars, Achanmar and temple functionaries also belonged to the later group. The Karyakkar were appointed and removed by the Zamorin. Zamrin had a naval fleet which was commanded by Kunjali Marakar. There were ritual specialists like Hindu priests of the palaces, astrologers etc. as well as various occupational groups like physicians, weavers, and militiamen all of whom were attached to the royal establishment.[4]

Sarvadhi Karyakkar

[edit]
  1. Mangattachan - the prime minister
  2. Tinayancheri Elayatu
  3. Dharmottu Panikkar - the instructor-in-arms who commanded the forces
  4. Varakkal Paranambi - treasury and accounts

Shah Bandar Koya

[edit]

Shah Bandar Koya (sometimes Khwaja[41], popularly known as the Koya of Kozhikode, the port commissioner) was a privileged administrative position in Kozhikode. The Shah Bandar was the second most important official in most Asian polities after the ruler.[52]

According to legends, it was a merchant from Muscat, Oman who induced to the Zamorin to the conquer Valluvanadu. The Koya was subsequently given the [Persian] title "Shah Bandar" by the Zamorin of Kozhikode. He is also given all the privileges and dignities of a Nair chief, jurisdiction over all the Muslims residing in the city of Kozhikode, the right to receive small presents from the Iluvas the Kammalans and the Mukkuvans whenever the Zamorin conferred any honours on them on ceremonial occasions.[53]

Trade at port Kozhikode was controlled by this Muslim officer. The port commissioner supervised the customs on the behalf of the king, fixed the prices of the commodities and collected the share to the treasury. It is recorded that when a vessel reaches the port the commissioner along with another officer called "Farakan" would take a list of the goods and fix its prices.[53]

Revenue and trade

[edit]

The sources of revenue were,[4]

  • Taxing trade via ports
  • Cherikkal lands (royal estates, agricultural lands owned by the Zamorin)
  • Amkam (fee for permitting to held a trail by battle)
  • Chunkam (tolls and duties)
  • Ela (proceeds of lands confiscated)
  • Kola (forced contribution for emergencies)
  • Tappu (mulets/unconditional offences)
  • Pizha (fines)
  • Purushantaram (vassal succession fee)
  • Pulyatta pennu (the proceeds from the sale of out-casted women) etc.
  • Tirumulkalcha (gifts on various occasions)
  • Virinnamittu panam (amount for the royal feast)
  • Kannukku panam (amount presented for the death rituals) etc.

The Zamorin of Kozhikode derived greater part of his revenues by taxing trade.[39] [54]Trade - both coastal and overseas - was dominated the Muslims, though Jews, Chettis from Coromandel, and Banias from Gujarat all traded in and from Kozhikode. The mouros included natives (Mappilas) and Muslims from Arabia, Cairo, Turkey, Iraq and Persia. The foreigners dominated Indian Ocean, whereas as the Mappilas dominated the coastal trade and the trade to Pegu, Mergui, and Melaka.[13]

Maritime Corridor Name Nature Dominant Community
West Asia - Malabar (Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf) International / Overseas Muslims from Arabia, Cairo (Kareme), Turkey, Iraq and Persia
East Asia - Malabar (Pegu, Mergui, and Melaka) International / Overseas Muslims - Mappilas
East Coast of India - Malabar (Coromandel and Bay of Bengal shores) and Ceylon Domestic / Coastal Muslims (Marakkars[10]), and Chettis from Coromandel
Gujarat - Malabar Domestic / Coastal Muslims, and Banias from Gujarat
Malabar Coastal Domestic / Coastal Muslims - Mappilas

The long-distance trade trade on the Malabar Coast was relatively centralised in the 15th century, the major port in this respect being Kozhikode. Kozhikode - despite being located at a geographically inconvenient spot - owed much of its prosperity of the Zamorins of Kozhikode. Trade was oriented in two directions: to the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the ports of Gujarat on the one hand, and to Melaka and the eastern Bay of Bengal shores on the other. The goods carried across the Arabian Sea included spices - pepper, ginger and cardamom - and textiles, and coconut products. The import into Kozhikode consisted of gold and copper, silver, horses (Cannanore especially), silk, aromatics other minor items.[13] The Malabar coastal trade network encompassed commodities such as coconuts, coir, pepper, cardamom and rice. The rice was a major import item into Kerala from Canara and Coromandel.[13] The local people were suppliers and consumers of goods in Kozhikde ports. The merchant guilds also played an active role in the maritime activities.[55]

Military

[edit]

Kozhikode's attitude towards the vanquished chiefs and European governors was generally marked by moderation. The whole conquered area was not ruled directly from Kozhikode but was ruled by a Kozhikode official (general, minister or Eradi prince). Sometimes, its former rulers allowed to rule as a vassal or feudatory.[4]

Kozhikode forces consisted mainly of feudal levies, brought by the vassal rulers and chiefs. The former were divided into five (Commanders of the Five Thousand, of the Thousand, of the Five Hundred, of the Three Hundred, and of the Hundred) classes. Standing armies were kept at strategic locations like Kozhikode, Ponnani, Chavakkad, Chunganadu etc. Dharmottu Panikkar - the instructor in arms - commanded the warriors. The nominal cavalry was commanded by the Kuthiravattattu Nair. Nair militia was slow moving as compared to the cavalry, and always fought on foot. The use of firearms and balls had been known before the advent of the Portuguese. As gunpowder and shot made by the natives were poor quality, Kozhikode later employed the Europeans to manufacture them. The Mappilas formed the main corps of the musketeers, led by Thinayancheri Elayathu.[4]

Kunjali Marakkars

[edit]

The admirals of Kozhikode were the famous Kunjali Marakkars and the navy ships (Sambuks, Kappals, Patakus, Ferry Boats and Kettuvalloms) were manned by the Mappilas. Every port in Kozhikode had a Chief Pilot, whose duty it was to see the ships safely anchored from the sea pirates. The Mappila seamen was famous for their guerrilla warfare and hand-to-hand fighting on board. But, the ships were smaller, inferior in artillery, and incapable of joint/organised operations.[4] Some assume that the Marakkars, before the beginning of the hostilities with the Portuguese, were traders of rice from Konkan. One Ismail Marakkar seems to be a prominent rice trader in Cochin. Even after the execution of Marakkar IV in 1600 AD, the title of the Kunjali Marakkar continued to exist for almost century.[41]

The four key Kunjali Marakkars:[48]

Birth name Titles Notes
Kutti Ahmed Ali (Muhammed of Cochin?[41]) Kunjali Marakkar I Admiral from 1507. Assisted by captain Kutti Ali.
Kutti Pokker Ali Kunjali Marakkar II Son of Kutti Ali, a captain who served under Marakkar I
Pattu (Pata) Kunjali Marakkar Kunjali Marakkar III Active from around 1540 AD, died c. 1575.[41] Assisted by captain Kutti Poker of Ponnani. Instrumental in the Fall of Fort Chaliyam (1571). Erection Fort Marakkar (Kottakkal) in 1572-73.

"Rise in Ponnani of Pattu Kunjali Marakkar appeared to have signalled a real threat to rulers such as the Kolathiri and the Samoothiri as much as to the Portuguese"[13] - Sanjay Subrahmanyam in "The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India 1500-1650", Cambridge University Press (2002)

Muhammad Kunjali Kunjali Marakkar IV Admiral from c. after 1573 or 1595, Nephew of Marakkar III. First (1599) and Second Siege (1600) of Fort Marakkar. Executed at Goa in 1600 AD.

Coinage

[edit]

The coins minted in Kozhikode included Panam (made of gold), Taram (made of silver) and Kasu (made of copper). Sixteen Kasu made one Taren, and sixteen Tarams made one Panam. The officer in-charge of the mint was called the "Goldsmith of Manavikraman". The royal mint was destroyed in 1766. [4]

Ma Haun's table (1409)[10]

  • 1 Kochi Panam = 15 Tarams

Holzschuher's table (1503)[10]

Gold Coins

  • Kozhikode/Kannur/Kochi Panam [15 carats gold] 19 panams = 1 cruzado [Portuguese] or ducat [European]
  • Kollam Panam [19 carats gold] 12 panams = 1 cruzado [Portuguese] or ducat [European]

Silver Coins

  • [All Malabar] Taram - 16 Tarams = 1 panam

Copper Coins

  • Kollam Kasu - 15 Kasus = 1 panam

Coins in circulation in the pre-Portuguese kingdom of Kozhikode included gold coins called pagoda/pratapa, silver tangas of Gujarat, of Bijapur, of Vijayanagara and the larines of Persia, Xerafins of Cairo, the Venetian and the Genoan ducats.[10] Other coins in circulation in the kingdom of Kozhikode - in sometime or other - included riyal ("irayal"), dirhma ("drama"), rupee ("uruppika"), rasi ("rachi"), and venadu chakram. Venadu coins - it seems - came to circulation after the Mysorean Interlude. Rasi later gave way to the kaliyuga rayan panam. Of kaliyuga rayan panam there were two varieties. One of these [issued by Cannanore] was afterwards imitated by the Zamorin called virarayan putiya panam, to distinguish it from the coin of Cannanore, which then became pazhaya panam. The four pazhaya panams made a rupee while three and half putiya panams equalled a rupee. [8]

Present day location of the Mananchira Palace. The Fort and Palace were destroyed by the Mysore army in 18th century

List of Kozhikode Samoodiris

[edit]
Zamorin of Kozhikode (1868-1892). In 1766 Haider Ali of Mysore defeated the Zamorin of Calicut - an English East India Company dependant at the time - and absorbed Malabar district to his state. After the Third Mysore War (1790-92), Malabar was placed under the control of the Company. Later the status of the Zamorins as independent rulers was changed to that of pensioners of the Company.
K C Manavedan Raja (1932 - 1937)

Historical documents rarely mentions the individual names of the Zamorins of Kozhikode. However, it is generally assumed that Mana Vikrama, Mana Veda and Viraraya were the only names given to them. Portuguese historian Diogo de Couto was the first to attempt the construction of chronological scheme.[56]

The following is a list of rulers of Kozhikode from "The Zamorins of Calicut" (1938) by K. V. Krishna Iyer. The first column (No.) gives the number of the Zamorin reckoned from the founder of the ruling family, based upon de Couto's assumption that there had been 98 Zamorins before the Zamorin reigning in 1610.[56]

First Dynasty

[edit]

The original seat of the aristocratic clan was Nediyiruppu and the head of the house was known as Nediyiruppu Mutta Eradi, a title enjoyed by the fifth in rank from the Zamorin. Under the Chera rulers of Tiruvanchikkulam the Mutta Eradi governed Ernad with the title of "Ernad Utaiyar". Later the clan abandoned its ancestral house and transferred its residence to the present day Kozhikode.[56]

No. of Zamorin Name Reign Important Events
1 Mana Vikrama (Manikkan) N/A The legendary founder of the ruling family.
27 8 years Kozhikode city is established
65 1339-1347 Ibn Battuta at Kozhikode (1342-1347)
73 1402-1410 Ma Huan at Kozhikode (1403)
78 1442-1450 The visits of Abdur Razzak (1442) and Niccolò de' Conti (1444)
81 Mana Vikrama the Great 1466-1474 Athanasius Nikitin (1468-1474) visits Kozhikode.
82 Mana Veda 1474-1482
84 1495-1500 The arrival of Vasco da Gama (1498)
85 1500-1513 The occupations of Cochin (1503-1504)
86 1513-1522 Treaty with Portuguese (1513), and the erection of the Portuguese fort at Kozhikode (1514)
87 1522-1529 The expulsion of Portuguese from Kozhikode
88 1529-1531 The building of Portuguese fort at Chaliyam (1531)
89 1531-1540 Battles with Portuguese
90 1540-1548 Treaty with Portuguese (1540)
91 1548-1560 Adoption of the chief of Bardela (150) and the battles with the Portuguese.
92 Viraraya 1560-1562
93 Mana Vikrama 1572-1574 The expulsion of the Portuguese from Chaliyam (1571)
94 1574-1578 Battles with the Portuguese
95 1578-1588 The Portuguese allowed a factory at Ponnani (1584)
96 1588-1597 The settlement of the Portuguese at Kozhikode (1591)
97 1597-1599 Battles with Marakkar (1598-1599)
98 1599-1604 Capture of Marakkar's stronghold (1600)
99 1604-1617 Siege of Cannanore (1604-1617) and treaties with the Dutch (1604 and 1608) and the English (1615)
100 Mana Vikrama 1617-1627
101 1627-1630
102 1630-1637
103 Mana Vikrama (Saktan Tampuran) 1637-1648 The uncle of the author of the Krishnanatakam
104 Tiruvonam Tirunal 1648-1655
105 Mana Veda 1655-1658 The author of the Krishnanatakam
106 Asvati Tirunal 1658-1662 The expulsion of the Portuguese from Cranganore (1662)
107 Puratam Tirunal 1662-1666 The expulsion of Portuguese from Cochin (1663)
108 1666-1668 Battles with the Dutch
109 1668-1671 The destruction of Cheraman Sword
110 Uttrattati Tirunal 1671-1684 Cession of Chetwai to the Dutch
111 Bharani Tirunal Mana Vikrama[57] 1684-1705 The terror of the Dutch. Two Mamankams (1694 and 1695)
112 Nileswaram Tirunal 1705-1711 Adoptions from Nileswaram (1706 and 1707)
113 1711-1729 The Dutch War (1715-1718)
114 Mana Vikrama 1729-1741

Note: Italic names only indicate the asterism under which the Zamorin is born

Second Dynasty

[edit]

It seems that the original ruling family came to an end with the 114th Zamorin of Kozhikode. The 115th Zamorin, the first of the second ruling family, was the oldest of the princes adopted from Nileshwaram in 1706.[56]

No. of Zamorin Name Reign Important Events
115 Zamorin from Kilakke Kovilakam 1741-1746
116 Putiya Kovilakam 1746-1758 The Dutch War (1753-1758)
117 Kilakke Kovilakam 1758-1766 Battles with Travancore and the invasion of Mysore, committed suicide. Annexed by Mysore.
118 Putiya Kovilakam 1766-1788
119 Kerala Varma Vikrama[57] (Putiya Kovilakam) 1788-1798 Treaty of Seringapatam (1792)
120 Krishna Varma[57] (Putiya Kovilakam) 1798-1806 Agreement of 1806 with EIC (died in 1816)

Zamorin family today

[edit]

"Kerala had many royal families which together may have more than 10,000 descendants. The Kochi family alone has more than 600. All these families had properties taken over by governments without compensation. Many of them are living in penury now. Shouldn't the state pay pensions to all of them then?"[58]

K. K. N. Kurup

Historians say any special treatment to the Zamorins would be against the [Indian] Constitution, which does not grant any privilege on the basis of birth. M. G. S. Narayanan says the Zamorins have not donated any property to the state. "The Zamorin's family had fled from Calicut when Hyder Ali from Mysore invaded Calicut in 1766. When defeat was imminent, the Zamorin committed suicide and set fire to the palace," he says. "That led to Calicut falling into the hands of [Hyder] Ali, his son Tipu Sultan and finally the British [Company] by 1792. The Zamorins had lost all their property by the time they were allowed to return to Calicut by 1800."[58]

M. G. S. Narayanan

The Zamorins of Kozhikode returned to Kozhikode from Travancore by 1800. The Company reduced the Zamorins to the position of "pensioned" landlord by giving them an annual payment called mali khana. Payments (mali khana) were taken over by the Government of India after independence in 1947.[58] The royal family has been trying to get a pension from the various governments over fifty years. The Kerala government decided to award a monthly pension to members of the royal family in 2013.[58]

At present the Zamorin of Kozhikode is trustee to 46 Hindu temples (under Malabar Devaswom Board, as Madras H. R & C. E Act 1956) in northern Kerala, including five special grade temples, which generate a substantial revenue. The Zamorin also has a permanent seat on the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple's managing committee. Zamorin’s High School - situated overlooking the Tali temple - was established in 1877 and the family manages the Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College.[59][60]

The family has sought the government's help to preserve the artefacts in their private colllection. This collection include palm leaf manuscripts, swords, shields and other valuables.[61] Malabar Devaswom Board Commissioner recently proposed to the Kerala state government that the temples under the hereditary (private) trustees - such as the Zamorin - should be attached to the Board.[62]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c M. G. S. Narayanan, Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy—Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cera Perumals of Makotai (c. AD 800–AD 1124). Kerala. Calicut University Press, 1996, pp 512.
  2. ^ a b Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' [1433]. Translated and Edited by J. V. G. Mills. Cambridge University Press for the Hakluyt Society (1970).
  3. ^ a b Varier, M. R. Raghava. "Documents of Investiture Ceremonies" in K. K. N. Kurup, Edit., "India's Naval Traditions". Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, 1997
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax K. V. Krishna Iyer, Zamorins of Calicut: From the earliest times to AD 1806. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938.
  5. ^ a b c d e Eila M.J. Campbell, Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, "Vasco da Gama." Encyclopædia Britannica Online [1]
  6. ^ William A. Noble. "Kerala" Encyclopædia Britannica Online [2]
  7. ^ World States Men: Indian Princes Princely states of India
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m V. V., Haridas. "King court and culture in medieval Kerala - The Zamorins of Calicut (AD 1200 to AD 1767)". [3] Unpublished PhD Thesis. Mangalore University
  9. ^ "Lectures 26-27". Purdue University. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g THE PORTUGUESE, INDIAN OCEAN AND EUROPEAN BRIDGEHEADS 1500-1800. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Subairath C.T. "CALICUT: A CENTRI-PETAL FORCE IN THE CHINESE AND ARAB TRADE (1200-1500)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. Vol. 72, PART-II (2011), pp. 1082-1089
  12. ^ C. J. Fuller. "Changing Cultures: The Nayars Today". Cambridge University Press, 1976. pp. 116.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India 1500-1650". Cambridge University Press, 2002
  14. ^ Kunhali. V. "Calicut in History" Publication Division, University of Calicut (Kerala), 2004
  15. ^ Kunhali. V. "Calicut in History" Publication Division, University of Calicut (Kerala), 2004
  16. ^ Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India 1500-1650". Cambridge University Press, 2002
  17. ^ Aoyagi, Y., and Ogawa, H., 2004. "Chinese Trade Ceramics of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries in the Malabar Coast", in N. Karashima (Ed.), Search of Ceramic Sherds in Southern India and Sri Lanka, Taisho University Press, Tokyo: pp. 47-54.
  18. ^ Raghava Varier, M. R., 2003. "Pantalayani Kollam: A Medieval Port Town on the Malabar Coast", in Kesavan Veluthat and P. P. Sudhakaran (Eds.), Advances in History, Essays in Memory of Professor M. P. Sridharan, Professor M. P. Sridharan Memorial Trust, Calicut: 154-179.
  19. ^ Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy, Ins. 98 of 1909
  20. ^ "officialwebsite of". Kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  21. ^ Divakaran, Kattakada (2005). Kerala Sanchaaram. Thiruvananthapuram: Z Library.
  22. ^ The table is compiled from V. V., Haridas. "King court and culture in medieval Kerala - The Zamorins of Calicut (AD 1200 to AD 1767)". Unpublished PhD Thesis. Mangalore University.
  23. ^ Menon. A Sreedhara, "A Survey of Kerala History", DC Books, 2007 - Kerala (India)
  24. ^ Narayanan. M. G. S. "Calicut: The City of Truth Revisited". University of Calicut, 2006 - Calicut (India)
  25. ^ 'Manavikrama alias Punturakkon of Eranad - A New Name in the Twilight of the Cera Kingdom in Kerala’, M. G. S. Narayanan. paper presented at the 18th Annual Congress of Epigraphical Society of India, Pune, 1992.
  26. ^ a b c Panikkassery, Velayudhan. MM Publications (2007), Kottayam India
  27. ^ K. V. Krishna Iyer, Court Historian of the Zamorins, describes the event: "The nominal reason for the military expedition was to protect the rights of the Brahmins in Quilon. Quilon had earlier opposed the expansion Calicut supremacy south of Cochin (former Perumpadappu). However, the Calicut forces advanced by Chetwai and Kanhur River, the Zamorin crossed the backwater at Vypin, marching through Chiranganad Karappuram, Payattukad, Alleppey, Trikunnappuzha and Kartikappally, and entered Odanad. Soon, the ruler of Quilon propitiated Calicut by paying the expenses of the battles, ceding the lands known as Munjiramukkattam (Munjiramukkattam was later transferred by the Calicut to the temple of Padmanabha or to Mathappuram shrine). Quilon also agreed to send annual tribute along with the flag of fealty to Tirunavaya for the Mamankam festival."
  28. ^ Muzaffar Alam, Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "Indo-Persian Travels in the Age of Discoveries, 1400-1800". Cambridge University Press, 2007
  29. ^ a b c Michael Keevak. "Embassies to China: Diplomacy and Cultural Encounters Before the Opium Wars". Springer (2017)
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  31. ^ Dreyer, Edward L. (2007). "Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405–1433". New York: Pearson Longman.
  32. ^ John King Fairbank, Denis Crispin Twitchett, Frederick W. Mote. "The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7, Part 1". Cambridge University Press, 1978. pp 233-36.
  33. ^ Tansen Sen. "India, China, and the World: A Connected History". Rowman & Littlefield (2017)
  34. ^ Chan, Hok-lam (1998). "The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-hsi, and Hsüan-te reigns, 1399–1435". The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  35. ^ Duyvendak, J.J.L. (1938). "The True Dates of the Chinese Maritime Expeditions in the Early Fifteenth Century". T'oung Pao. 34 (5): 341–413. doi:10.1163/156853238X00171. JSTOR 4527170.
  36. ^ Levathes, Louise (1996). "When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405–1433". New York: Oxford University Press.
  37. ^ Das Gupta, A., 1967. Malabar in Asian Trade: 1740-1800. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  38. ^ "Vasco da Gama never landed at Kappad: M G S" [4] The Hindu FEBRUARY 06, 2017
  39. ^ a b c d e f g Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "The Portuguese Empire in Asia, 1500-1700: A Political and Economic History". John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
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  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n K. K. N. Kurup, Edit., "India's Naval Traditions". Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, 1997
  42. ^ a b c d Harold V. Livermore. "Afonso de Albuquerque". [6] Encyclopædia Britannica Online
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv Logan, William. Malabar. District Manual. Asian Educational Services, 1887.
  44. ^ a b c Pedro Calmon. "Pedro Álvares Cabral". Encyclopædia Britannica Online [7]
  45. ^ Schwartz, Stuart. Implicit Understandings, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 665 pp, 1994, 302. ISBN 0-521-45880-3
  46. ^ Robert Swell. "A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar"., Book 1, Chapter 10.
  47. ^ a b c Muzaffar Alam, Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "Writing the Mughal World: Studies on Culture and Politics". Columbia University Press, 2012.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Menon. A. Sreedhara. "Kerala History and its Makers". D. C. Books (Kerala). pp. 101-107.
  49. ^ [8]
  50. ^ Logan, William. Malabar. Asian Educational Services, 1887.
  51. ^ "Tipu Sultan — Villain Or Hero?". Voiceofdharma.com. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  52. ^ Eric Tagliacozzo, "An Urban Ocean, Notes on the Historical Evolution of Coastal Cities in Greater South East Asia", in David R. Goldfield (ed.), Journal of Urban History, Vol.33, No. 6, (London: September 2007), p. 913.
  53. ^ a b Kunhali. V. "Calicut in History" Publication Division, University of Calicut (Kerala), 2004
  54. ^ Chakravarti, R., 2012. Merchants, Merchandise and Merchantmen: The Western Sea-board of India and the Indian Ocean (500-1500 CE). In Om Prakash (Ed.), History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. VIII (1), Centre for Studies in Civilization, Delhi: 59-116.
  55. ^ Karashima, N., (Ed.), 2002. Ancient and Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean: Testimony of Inscriptions and Ceramic-sherds. Taisho University, Tokyo.
  56. ^ a b c d Ayyar, KV Krishna. The Zamorins of Calicut. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938. Print.
  57. ^ a b c Ben Cahoon. "Indian Princely States K-Z". Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  58. ^ a b c d M. G. Radhakrishnan. "The inheritance of loss". India Today [9] July 26, 2013
  59. ^ Krishnadas Rajagopal. "Zamorin of Calicut passes away". [10] The Hindu MARCH 28, 2013
  60. ^ Hari Govind. "Zamorin opposes temples’ takeover". [11] Deccan Chronicle Sep 8, 2017
  61. ^ "Zamorin’s family seeks govt. help to preserve rare artefacts" The Hindu [12] MAY 18, 2017
  62. ^ Hari Govind. "Zamorin opposes temples’ takeover". [13] Deccan Chronicle Sep 8, 2017

Sources

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