Nannan

Ezhimalai Konkanam Nannan (ഏഴിമല നന്നൻ) (approx. 3rd century BC, sometimes approx 1st-5th century AD) was a South Indian ruler of the Mushika kingdom and was a suspected contemporary of Mauryan emperor Bindusara, in the Sangam Period. Ezhimalai Nannan, a celebrated hero in the Sangam literature, is famous for his military expansions and battles against their powerful neighbors, the Chera kingdom.^[1]

Mushika kingdom (Puzhinadu, Ezhimalai kingdom, or Eli-nadu) roughly included parts of present day Kozhikkode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts of Kerala state, India with capital at Ezhimalai (Mount Eli). Ezhimalai was a flourishing seaport and center of trade around the beginning of the Common Era, it was also one of the major battlefields of the Chola-Chera Wars of the 11th century. Mooshika Vamsham, written by Athulan in the 10th century, throws light on the history of the Mushika Royal Family in particular and of North Kerala in general.^[2][3][4] The first recorded king of Mooshika Vamsham (the Mooshika Dynasty) was Ramaghata Mooshika, and his capital was Ezhimala.

Under Nannan, an able military commander also, Mushika kingdom transformed into a force in South India, and stretched into Wynad and Gudalur Districts in the foothills of the Western Ghats, and the northern parts of present day Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Eager to expand his kingdom, Nannan waged war against the Cheras, and successfully defeated the Chera commanders at the Battle of Pazhi.

It is believed that Nannan buried an immense treasure of coins in the foothills of Ezhimalai. Sangam literature gives us a vivid picture of the life of people at Ezhimalai. Paranar, the court poet of Nannan, describes the victory of Pazhi in his works. The victories of Nannan over the Cheras and other neighbouring chieftains are alluded to in the Agamnanuru, Nattinai and other works.

But the Chera king, Narmudi Cheral, defeated him at the Battle of Vakaipperum Turai and consequently the Mushika kingdom passed into the hands of the Cheras.^{[5][6] [7] [8]}

Kolathiris of Kolathunad traces their ancestry back to the ancient Mushika kingdom of the Tamil Sangam Age. After king Nannan of Mushika dynasty was killed in the Battle of Vakaipperum Turai against the Cheras, the history of the dynasty is obscure. However, it is generally agreed among the scholars that Kolathris are the descendents of king Nannan, and later literary works point towards kings such as Vikramaraman, Jayamani, Valabhan and Srikandan from Mushika dynasty. Kolathunad was the northernmost province of the Later Chera kingdom and had considerable autonomy during 12th century.

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