Chirakkal Raja
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Mooshaka kingdom, present Kasaragod, Kannur and other nearby places of north Kerala state in India, had come to be known as Kolathunad and the rulers known as Kolathiris. The Kovilakam (Palace in Malayalam language) of Kolathiris were in Chirakkal, 6 km from present Kannur town. Kolathiri were also known as Chirakkal Raja or King of Chirakkal.
Kolathiris are the successors of Mooshiks Kings who ruled Northern Kerala in AD First Century. The detailed history of this dynasty and Hidden history of this region is mentioned in "Mooshika Vamsham" a Sanskrit poetic Text, written by Athulan in the AD 10th century. Mooshika Vamsham is believed to be one of the earliest Sanskrit Books written based on the History of Northern Kerala.
Kolathiris were political and commercial rivals of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.
Bekal Fort now in Kararagod and Chandragiri Fort were originally under the Chirakkal Rajas until the time of Shivappa Naik's Invasion of Kolathunadu
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[edit] Portuguese in Kolathunad
St. Angelo Fort in Kannur was constructed 1505 by Don Francisco De Almeida, Portuguese admiral. The fort was under the Portuguese till the Dutch captured the fort in 1663 they sold the fort to the king Ali Raja of Arakkal kingdom (Please read about "Arakkal kingdom" to know more about the relation between Chirakkal Kings and Arakkal Kingdom). .
[edit] Kolathiries and Zamorins
The Portuguese followed a policy of religious persecution and forcible conversion. They therefore clashed with most of the native princes and chieftains.
The Zamorin was able to convince the Kolathiri of the real motives of the Portuguese in India and the perils inherent in his policy of befriending them.
By providing support to the Kunjali Marrikkars of Kozhikode, in 1558 AD the Koalathiri came openly into the field against the Portuguese. In 1564 AD the Kolathiri and the Zamorin fought war against the Portuguese and they besieged the fort of St. Angelo at Kannur. But the Portuguese continued to maintain a precarious foothold at Kannur till 1663.