Following the end of the Chera kingdom, the city of Calicut and its suburbs formed part of the Polanad Kingdom ruled by the Porlatiri. The Eradis of Nediyirippu in Ernad (somewhere around present Kondotty) where land-locked and sought an outlet to the sea to initiate trade and commerce with the distant lands. To accomplish this, the Eradis marched with their Nairs towards Panniankara and besieged the Porlatiri in his headquarters, resulting in a 50-year long war(c. 1290 - 1340) called Samoothiri - Polarthiri Wars.
The Saamoothiri originally were the rulers of Eranad and were known as the Eradis. According to legends, two Eradis brothers known as Manikkan and Vikraman established the ruling family at Nediyirippu.[1] Eranad was a small fiefdom, one of the four states that made up the Chera Empire.[2] The others were Kolathunadu, Perumpadappu,Nedungadu and Venadu. After the breakup of the Chera empire in the 12th century AD, several of its chieftains proclaimed independence. The Eradis in order to gain access to the sea and establish trade with foreign lands marched towards the coastal fiefdom of Polanad. The Porlathiri, the ruler of Polanad was killed during 48 year long war. The Eradis subsequently moved their capital to the coastal marshy lands and established the city of Kozhikode, then also called 'Thrivikramapuram'. The events coincided with the great flood of Periyar river in about 1341 AD that led to silting of the harbour of Kodungallur (Cranganore), a town with flourishing trade with the Arab, Roman and Chinese empires. The near destruction of the Kodungallur port led to the rise in prosperity of Kochi (Cochin) and Kozhikode. The Zamorin assumed the title of Samudrāthiri ("one who has the sea for his border") and continued to rule from Kozhikode. The title Samudrāthiri was shortened to Sāmoothiri over time in common usage. The present Saamoothiri is Kunhikuttan Raja of Thriukunna Kovilakam.[3]