Zamorin of Calicut

Samoothiri of Kozhikode
കോഴിക്കോട് സാമൂതിരി
Kingdom
c. 12th century–1806
Image of Calicut from Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg's atlas Civitates orbis terrarum, 1572
The Zamorin of Calicut on his throne as painted by Veloso Salgado in 1898
Capital		Kozhikode
Languages		Malayalam, Sanskrit
Religion		Hinduism
Government		Feudal Monarchy
Samoodiri of Kozhikode		Manavikraman
Historical era		Late Medieval
•	Fall of Later Cheras	c. 12th century
•	Reduded to an estate by the British Raj	1806
Currency		Kozhikode Fanam
Preceded by Succeeded by Later Cheras Presidencies and provinces of British India

Temples at Calicut by Henry Salt (1809)

Samoothiri of Kozhikode (Zamorin of Calicut; Malayalam: സാമൂതിരി, Portuguese: Samorim, Dutch: Samorijn) is the hereditary royal title used by the Hindu Eradi Nair rulers of the medieval Kingdom of Kozhikode on the Malabar Coast (present day Kerala). The Samoodiris ruled for almost six centuries, between c. 12th and 18th century AD based at the city of Kozhikode, one of the more important trading centres in southern India.^[1]

The Portuguese trader and navigator Vasco da Gama visited Kozhikode in 1498, opening the sailing route directly from Europe to India.

Capitals

The Eradis with their original base at Nediyiruppu (near present Kondotty) and were land-locked and sought an outlet to the Arabian Sea. The Eradis subsequently moved their capital to the port of Kozhikode ("Calicut" for the Europeans), then also called Thrivikramapuram. According to K. V. Krishna Ayyar, a historian, the city of Kozhikode was founded on a marshy tract along the Malabar coast in the 11th century AD. During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices.^[2] The name Kozhikode is thought to be derived from Koyil (Palace) and Kota (Fort) meaning 'Fortified Palace'. Others have called the city by different names. The Arabs called it Kalikooth, Tamils called the city Kallikkottai, for the Chinese it was Kalifo. The name of the famous fine variety of hand-woven cotton cloth called Calico that was exported from the port is also thought to have derived from Kozhikode.

Other seats of the Samoothiri were Ponnani, Trichur and Cranganore.^[3]

Succession line

Five Places of Dignity (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.^[3] The Samoothiri's family, being Eradis are connected to several other Eradi clans who are resident in Nilambur, Ponnani and nearby localities in Malappuram district.

• The first Place of Dignity was the Samoothiri himself
• The second in line successor to the throne (Crown Prince) is known as the Eralppad (the Eranad Ilamkur Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad) and his official seat was in Karimpuzha (in the north eastern region of the present-day Palakkad district). This area was annexed from Valluvanad in the leadership of the then Eralppad in the first half of the 14th century.
• The third was the Eranad Moonnamkur Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad (the Munalpad)
• The fourth known as the Itattoornad Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad and
• The fifth the Nediyiruppu Mootta Eradi Thirumulpad (the Naturalpad)

The three Royal Branches were,

• Kizhakke (Eastern),
• Padinhare (Western) and
• Puthiya (New)

The senior female member of the whole Samoothiri family, the Valiya Thamburatti, also enjoyed a Places of Dignity with separate property known as the Ambadi Royal Branch.^[3]

Dominions

Map of Samoothiri kingdom

Apart from the southern half of Kurumburanad, Payyanad, Eralnad, Ponnani,Travancore, Cheranad, Venkitta kkotta, Malappuram, Kappul, Mannarakkad, Karimpuzha, Nedunganad, Naduvattom, Kollangodu, Kotuvayur, Mankara and Polanad the Kingdom of Kozhikode included the following territories as tributary states in the during the late 15th century: Kottayam (of Kannur District which is distinct from the Kottayam District in Southern Kerala), Payyormala, Pulavayi, Tanore, Chalium, Beypore, Parappanad, Tirunavaya, Kakkad, Talapalli/Punnattur, Chittur, Chavakkad, Kavalappara, Edappally, Patinhattedam, Cranganore, Kollengod, Kochi and all of its vassal states, Paravur, Purakkad, Vadakkumkur, Tekkumkur, Kayamkulam and Quilon.

The Kingdom only included the following territories during the late 18th century: Payyanad, Polanad, Eralnad, Cheranad, Venkattakkotta, Malappuram, Kappul, Mannarakkad, Karimpuzha, Nedunganad and Ponnani. The Samoothiri claimed to be (with more or less influence) the paramount sovereign over Payyormala, Pulavayi, Beypore, Parappanad, Tanore, Talapalli, Chavakkad and Kavalappara. Calicut had also taken possession of (the more full and immediate) sovereignty over Kollangodu, Kotuvayur and Managara.

The chief ports under direct control were Putuppattanam, Pantalayani Kollam, Calicut, Tanur, Ponnani, Chetwai and Cranganore.^[3]

History

According to tradition Kozhikode State was founded around 826 AD as Nediyirippu Swarūpam. The city of Kozhikode was founded in 1026. Between 27 April 1766 and 1792 the state was annexed by the Mysore Kingdom (Mahisur). On 18 Aug 1792 it became a princely state under British protectorate. The territory was annexed by the British Raj on 15 November 1806 and reduced to an estate (zamindari).^[4]

Early history

Legendary origins

Famous legends such as The Origin of Kerala tell the establishment of a local ruling family at Nediyiruppu, near present-day Kondotty by two young brothers belonging to the Nair Eradi clan. The brothers, Manikkan and Vikraman were the most trusted generals in the army of the Cheras.^[5][6] However, during the legendary partition of Chera Kingdom, the king didn't give any land to these two brothers. Due to his feeling of guilt, the king later gave his personal sword and his favorite 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 general conquered neighboring states 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.

Rulers of Eralnadu

Historical records regarding the origin of the Samoothiri of Kozhikode is obscure. However, its generally agreed that the Samoothiris were originally the rulers of Eralnadu region of the Later Chera Kingdom (9th-12th century AD) and were known as the Eradis. Eralnadu province was situated in the northern parts of present-day Malappuram district and was landlocked by the Valluvanad and Polanadu in the west. It is known that Eradis, along with other governors and chiefs, helped the Later Cheras during an attack by Western Gangas on the kingdom. This event is even now celebrated as a historical event in Chittur taluk where the fight took place. Eralandu Utaiyavar appears as signatories in the Jewish Copper plate (11th century) and the Syrian Christian Copper plate (13th century). Around the break up the Later Chera Kingdom in 11-12th century AD, several of its chieftains and governorates became independent. Eralnadu was perhaps one of these new states originated from the ruins of the Later Chera state.

Although there is no solid basis for the famous partition legend surrounding the end of Later 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 (fiefdoms) gained independence, proclaiming it as their gift from the last sovereign.

Rule from Kozhikode

Ettanettan Thampuran

After the de-establishment of Later Chera kingdom, the Eralppadu came to rule over the city of Kozhikode. 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 A. Sreedhara Menon, a prominent historian, after the Later Cheras, Kozhikode and its suburbs formed part of a kingdom called Polanadu ruled by Polartiris. The Eradis of Eralnadu were land-locked and sought an outlet to the Arabian Sea to initiate trade and commerce with the distant lands. To accomplish this, the Eradis marched with their Nairs towards Panniyankara and besieged the Porlatiri in his headquarters, resulting in a 48-year-long war. Finally, the Eradis emerged victorious in their conquest of Polanadu and shifted their headquarters 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).

The stories about the origin of the Kadathanadu dynasty (Vatakara) is associated with battles of the Eradis with Polanadu. When the Samoothiri attacked Polanadu, he exiled a Polarthiri royal princess from his territory and she was welcomed in Cannanore, the Samoothiri's rivals, and after the marriage with Cannanore prince with this princess the Kadathanadu dynasty originated. The name Kadathanadu refers to as the passing way between Cannanore and Calicut.^[7]

• M.G.S. Narayanan, another famous historian, in his book, Calicut: The City of Truth states that the Eradi was in fact a favourite of the last Later Chera king as the Eradi was at the forefront of the battles with the Chola-Pandya forces to the south of his kingdom and led the army to victory. The king therefore granted him, as a mark of favor, a small tract of land on the sea-coast in addition to his hereditary possessions (Eralnadu province). This patch of wasteland is called chullikkad. The Eradis subsequently moved their capital to the coastal marshy lands and established the city of Kozhikode, then also called Thrivikramapuram.^[8]

The Eradi later assumed the title of Samudrāthiri ("one who has the sea for his border") and continued to rule from Kozhikode. The term came into use only after the 15th century, first time in the writings of Abdul Razzak. Ibn Battuta visited the country in the 14th century and refers to the rulers as Punthureshan Kunnalakkonathiri. The title Samudrāthiri was shortened to Sāmoothiri over time in common usage. Access to the sea helped the Eradi chief to develop the city into one of the major trading centers of the Eastern world abounding in a wide variety of goods like black pepper, textiles, lac, ginger, cinnamon, myrobalans, and zedoary. Vessels of various sizes from around the world, like Chinese junks, arrived on the shores of Calicut.

Stele installed in Kozhikode by Zheng He (modern replica)

Early conquests

Small vessels used in Malabar from Thomas Astley's A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels, London, 1745

The power balance in Malabar changed as Eralnadu rulers developed the port at Kozhikode, allied with Muslim Arab and Chinese merchants and used most of the wealth from Kozhikode to develop huge Nair army. The Samoothiri became the most powerful king in the Malayalam speaking regions during the Middle Ages and harboured greater ambitions to extend their rule over the whole of former Chera state. This motivated them to enter into battles with neighbouring kingdoms with great success.^[3]

Smaller states south of Kozhikode (Chalium, Parappanad and Tanore) soon had to submit to her and became their feudatories one by one. The rulers of Payyormala, Kurumbranad, and other Nair chiefs on the suburbs of Kozhikode also acknowledged the supremacy of Kozhikode. There were battles between Kozhikode and Kurumbranad for a long coastal region called Payyanad. Payyanad was a part of Kurumbranad in early times, and was given as a royal gift to Kozhikode. Kozhikode easily overran the Kurumbranad forces in the battle and Kurumbranad had to sue for peace by surrendering Valisseri.^[3]

Battle of Thirunavaya

It took almost a hundred years for Kozhikode to organize an attack on Valluvanad- the most powerful adversary of Kozhikode in their early conquests- after the possible conquest of Kozhikode in the 13th century. The immediate aim of the Kozhikode rulers was to capture the holy city of Thirunavaya. They took advantage of the Saivite- Vaishnavite enmity (called Kurmatsaram or Panniyur - Chovvaram feuds) in western Valluvanad. In the most recent conflict, the Vaishnavites of Tirumanasseri province of Valluvanad had attacked and burned a nearby Saivite village. The rulers of Valluvanad and Perumpadappu (modern Kochi) came to help the Saivites and attacked the Vaishnavites simultaneously. Tirumanasseri province was soon occupied by its neighbors on south and east, Koçhi and Valluvanad. The ruler of Tirumanasseri appealed to Kozhikode and Tanur for help, and promised to cede Ponnani to Kozhikode as the price for his military protection. Ponnani was an important port in the Tirumanasseri province, and was an ancient centre of Muslims in Malabar. Kozhikode, looking for such an opportunity, gladly accepted the offer. Along with the combined armies of their subordinate kings (the kings of Chalium, Beypore, Tanur and Cranganore) and that of "Shah Bandar" Koya's, Kozhikode army advanced by both land and sea on their first major expedition to the south.^[3]

The main army under the command of Samoothiri himself attacked (encamping at Trpangode) an allied army of Valluvanad and Kochi from the north, initiating the Thirunavaya war (approx. 1351- 1363). The battles were fought between Tirunavaya and Vakayur. Meanwhile, another huge force under Eralppadu (crown prince) commanded the navy across the sea and landed at Ponnani and later moved to Tirumanasseri, with intention to attack Thirunavaya in Valluvanad from the south with help of the army of the Vaishnavites. Eralppadu also prevented the army of Kochi joining Valluvanad army. The Muslim naval merchants and commanders at Ponnani supported this army with food, transport and provisions.^[3] The army of the Eralppadu moved north and crossed the Nila river and took up position on the northern side of the river.

In spite of the fact that the soldiers of Valluvanad did not get the timely help of Kochi, they fought vigorously and the battle dragged on. In the meantime, the Kozhikode was also successful in turning Kadannamanna Elavakayil Vellodi (junior branch of Kadannamanna) to their side. Finally, two Valluvanad princes were killed in the battle and Kozhikode annexed Tirunavaya, winning the Thirunavaya war.^[3]

The Thirunavaya war was not the end of Kozhikode's expansion into Valluvanad.The Samoothiri continued attacks on Valluvanad. Malappuram, Nilambur, Vallappanattukara and Manjeri were easily occupied from Valluvanad. He encountered stiff resistance in some places and the fights went on in a protracted and sporadic fashion for a long time. Further military operations (in the east) against Valluvanad were neither prolonged nor difficult for Kozhikode. Moreover, Samoothiri successfully followed a policy of appeasing the feudatories/governors of Valluvanad and conferring upon them the areas they originally held under Valluvanad.^[3]

Battles for Pantalur and Ten Kalams

The battles along the western borders of Valluvanad were bitter, for they were marked by treachery and crime. Pantalur and Ten Kalams came under Kozhikode only after a protracted struggle. The assassination of a minister of Kozhikode by the Chief Minister of Valluvanad while visiting Venkitakkotta in Valluvanad sparked the battle, which dragged on for almost a decade. At last the Valluvanad minister was captured by Samoothiri's forces and executed at Padapparambu, and his province (Ten Kalams, including Kottakkal and Panthalur) were occupied by the Samoothiri. The Kizhakke Kovilakam Munalappadu, who took a leading part in this campaign, received half of the newly captured province from Samoothiri as a gift. The loss of this brave and fiercely loyal Chief Minister was the greatest blow to Valluvanad after the loss of Tirunavaya and Ponnani.^[3]

Further conquests in the south

Kozhikode faced defeat for the first time in their next attack on Kochi. The combined army of Kochi and Valluvanad resisted Kozhikode forces and a bloody battle ensued for three days, at the end of which Kozhikode army was on the retreat. After a period of uneasy calm in Malabar, Kozhikode invaded Nedunganad, a small state between Valluvanad and Palghat. Nedunganad was annexed without striking even a single blow. At Kodikkunni, the king of Nedunganad surrendered to the Kozhikode forces. Then the Kozhikode forces annexed a number of smaller towns around Tirunavaya such as Tiruvegappuram from Valluvanad. But, at Kolakkad, the Valluvanad governor tried to overcome the Kozhikode prince’s advance. Near Karimpuzha in Valluvanad, the common people (the Cherumas and Pananns of Kotta) resisted the advancing army. The Kozhikode won their affection by gifts and presents. At Karakkad, Kozhikode prince was met by an ancestor of Kavalappara Nairs, a vassal of Valluvanad. At Vengotri, Nellayi and Kakkathodu, the governors of Palakkad surrendered to Kozhikode.^[3] Samoothiri 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 Chengazhinad (ruled by Chengazhi Nambiar) submitted to Kozhikode without any resistance after an invasion by Kozhikode’s Nair army.^[3]

Conquests of Kochi

Kozhikode then annexed the whole of Ponnani taluk from Valluvanad and captured Vannerinadu from Kochi. The Kochi ruler was forced to shift their capital further south to Thiruvanchikkulam.^[3] In the 14th century, Kozhikode temporarily conquered large parts of central Kerala. Even Trikkanamatilakam near Thiruvanchikkulam was under their control and Kochi ruler again shifted their capital (c. 1405 AD) further south to Kochi.

In the 15th century, Kozhikode conquered large parts of the Kochi Kingdom, and reduced it to a vassal/feudatory state. The Family feud between the Elder and Younger branches of the royal family of Kochi was exploited by the Kozhikode to conquer Kochi. The military intervention was initiated as Kozhikode’s help was sought against the ruling Younger branch of the Kochi royals. The rulers of Cranganore, Idappalli, Airur, Sarkkara, Patinhattedam (Thrissur) and Chittur supported or joined Kozhikode forces in this occupation of Kochi. Some of these were the vassals of Kochi. The Kochi king was defeated in a battle at Thrissur and his palace was occupied. But, the defeated king escaped to further south. Pursuing the king to south, the Kozhikode army under Samoothiri penetrated and occupied the city of Kochi. Unable to withstand the attacks, Kochu finally accepted Kozhikode's rule and became his feudatory.^[3] The Elder branch ruler was installed on the throne of Kochi as vassal ruler. However the sway did not last long.

The battles against Kochi were followed by a war against Palakkad and the conquest of 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 Valluvanad by Kozhikode continued. But even after the loss of his superior ally Kochi, Valluvanad did not submit to Kozhikode. Nair unrests continued in the occupied regions of Valluvanad, and to counter this 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 Valluvanad. Kozhikode invaded Valluvanad (now shrank to Attappadi valley, parts of Mannarkkad, Ottappalam and Perinthalmanna) but could not make much progress, because these regions were dense forests and hills. It was impossible for Kozhikode's large army to march forth through these areas. Valluvanad numerically inferior army successfully kept the armies of Kozhikode at bay.^[3]

Relations with Cannanore

Calicut was also successful in bringing the powerful state of Cannanore under their control. During his conquests, the Zamorin occupied Pantalayini Kollam as a preliminary advance to Cannanore. Kolattri immediately sent ambassadors to submit to whatever terms Calicut might dictate. Cannanore officially transferred the regions already occupied to Calicut and certain Hindu temple rights. Calicut and Cannanore fought numerous battles before the arrival of the Portuguese. Later, this rivalry paved the way for an anti-Zamorin alliance between the Portuguese and Cannanore.^[7]

Possible expedition to Venadu

After their conquests in central Kerala, Calicut probably waged war against Quilon (Venadu Swaroopam) and led a southern expedition. However, some historians reject the whole of idea of the southern expedition by Calicut. According to them, some land and Hindu temple rights were transferred to Calicut during an official visit to Quilon by the ruler of the Calicut. 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 kingdom). 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.^[3]

Calicut’s attitude towards the vanquished kings and foreign governors was generally marked by moderation. The whole conquered area was not ruled directly from Calicut but was ruled by a Calicut official (general, minister or prince). Sometimes, its former rulers allowed to rule as a vassal or feudatory.^[3] Now, the kingdom covered almost all of Malabar and Cochin and the rulers of Quilon were made tributaries.

Soon afterwards, Deva Raya II (1424-1446 CE) of Vijayanagara Empire conquered the whole of present-day Kerala state. He defeated (1443) Quilon as well as Calicut. 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, Calicut and Quilon rebelled against their Vijayanagara overlords, but Deva Raya II quelled the rebellion. As the Vijayanagara power diminished over the next fifty years, Zamorin again rose to prominence on the Malabar coast. Samoothiri built a fort at Ponnani in 1498.

Relations with the Portuguese

A steel engraving from the 1850s, with modern hand coloring - It shows meeting between Vasco da Gama and Zamorin

The landing of Vasco da Gama in Calicut in 1498 with two ships has often been considered as the beginning of a new phase during which the control of the Indian Ocean passed into the hands of the Europeans. The strong colony of Arab merchants settled in Calicut was hostile, but the Zamorin welcomed the Portuguese and allowed them to take pepper, drugs, etc., on board. In Portugal, the goods brought by Gama from India were computed at sixty times the cost of the entire expedition. Calicut soon allied with the other Indian states on the western coast against the Portuguese and participated in a number of naval battles against them. Kunhali Marakkar were the famous hereditary Grand Admirals of Calicut and organized a powerful navy to fight the Portuguese.

A sword used in army of Calicut.

Relation with the Dutch and English

A Dutch fleet arrived in Calicut in November 1604 and marked the beginning of the Dutch presence on the Indian coast and concluded a treaty with Calicut on 11 November 1604. It 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 Calicut and Ponnani, including spacious storehouses. Later in 1661, Calicut joined a coalition led by the Dutch to defeat the Portuguese and Cochin and conducted a number of successful campaigns. The Dutch virtually ruled Malabar for a period of 135 years. 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 British after the conclusion of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, which traded the colony with Bangka Island.

The English reached Calicut in 1615 under Captain William Keeling and concluded a treaty of trade under which, among others, the English were to assist Calicut in expelling the Portuguese from Cochin and Cranganore. In 1664, Zamorin gave the English permission to build a "factory" (trading depot) in Calicut but did not extend any other favours.^[7]

Mysore occupation and settlement negotiations

In 1766, Mysore forces under Hyder Ali marched to Malabar and easily conquered Malabar up to Cochin. As Mysore edged closer to the outer reaches of the city of Calicut, the Zamorin sent most of his relatives to safe haven in Ponnani and to avoid the humiliation of surrender committed self-immolation by setting fire to his palace at Mananchira.^[10]

After the suicide of the king, some members of the Zamorin family rebelled against the occupiers. The Crown Prince Krishna Varma with his nephew Ravi Varma lead anti-Mysore activities based in southern Malabar. Anti-Mysore activities were secretly supported by the English East India Company.^[11] Though Mysore conferred on the Zamorin prince a jagir (vast area of tax-free land), after taking charge he continued the revolt. Mysore soon sent an army under the command of M. Lally and Mir Asrali Khan and crushed the uprising. Later, Ravi Varma joined the infamous Pychy Rebellion of Pazhassi Raja Cotiote Rajah. He died in combat, while Krishna Varma committed suicide upon capture by the Company.

In the settlement negotiations with the Joint Commission after the Anglo-Mysore Wars, the Zamorin proved recalcitrant. To pressure him, a portion of his territories (Payyanad, Payyormala, Kizhakkampuram, Vadakkampuram and Pulavayi) was leased to the ruler of Kurumburanad as manager for the English 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, Parappanad and Vettattunad was to be paid through him. As previously noted, these tax-payment and jurisdictional arrangements were terminated in 1799 and the Zamorin became a mere pensioned landlord.

Sailors first came to face with the idol of Deumo at Calicut on the Malabar Coast and they concluded it to be the god of Calicut. It is described that the ruler of Calicut (Zamorin) has an image of Deumo in his temple.

A misunderstood depiction of the "hook-swinging" ritual in Calicut once commonly performed as part of some popular Hindu religious festivals.

Manavikrama the Great

Manavikrama was the ruler of the Kingdom of Calicut between 1466 and 1471. There are no records indicating the actual personal name of the king, since the rulers of Calicut only used titles.

The Zamorin of Calicut made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Calicut. He himself was a scholar and distinguished himself in the field of letter writing. He wrote the Vikramiya, a commentary on Murari's Anargharāghava. The Zamorin of Calicut married Vasumati, the daughter of the Mangattachan (Prime Minister, the Mangattachan is one of the Calicut's four hereditary Chief Ministers). Afanasy Nikitin, the earliest known Russian to India, visited the Kingdom of Calicut during the rule of this Zamorin. He was impressed by the big market of the city of Calicut.

The Zamorin of Calicut's court was adorned by 18 celebrated royal poetic scholars called "Eighteen-and-Half Poets". Scholars like Uddanda Sastrikal and Damodara Bhattatiri of Kakkasseri were also associated with the famous literary assembly known as the Revathi Pattathanam.

Some of the prominent members of the "Eighteen-and-Half Poets" were,

• Uddanda Sastrikal (author of the Kokila Sandeśa and Mallika Maruta)
• Maharshi Payyur Bhattatiri
• Parameswara Payyur Bhattatiri
• Damodara Bhattatiri of Kakkasseri
• Narayanan Namboothiri of Chennas
• Punam Namboothiri

Governance

There were no recognized organs in Calicut, and the government was an autocracy. Women were not allowed to be the ruler, and the oldest male member traced the female becomes the next Zamorin.^[3]

The Zamorin was assisted in the work of government by four hereditary Chief Ministers called Sarvadhi Karyakkar (the Mangattachan-the Prime Minister, the Tinayancheri Elayatu, the Dharmottu Panikkar- the instructor-in-arms who commanded the Army and the Varakkal Paranambi- treasury and accounts) and number of Ministers called Karyakkar. Zomarin had a good naval fleet which was commanded by Kunjali Marakar. The Karyakkar were appointed and removed by the Zamorin.^[3]

The sources of revenue were,^[3]

• Cherikkal lands (royal estates)
• 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.

Military

Calicut army 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 Calicut, Ponnani, Chavakkad, Chunganad etc. Dharmottu Panikkar- the instructor-in-arms who commanded the Army. The nominal cavalry was commanded by the Kutiravattattu 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, Calicut later employed the Europeans to manufacture them. The Moplahs formed the main corps of the musketeers, led by Tinayancheri Elayatu.^[3]

The hereditary Grand Admirals of Calicut were the famous Kunhali Marakkars and the navy ships (Sambuks, Kappals, Patakus, Ferry Boats and Kettuvalloms) were manned by the Moplahs. Every port in Calicut had a Chief Pilot, whose duty it was to see the ships safely anchored from the sea pirates. The Moplah 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/organized operations.^[3]

Coinage

The coins minted in Calicut included Fanams (made of gold), Tarens (made of silver) and Kasu (made of copper). Sixteen Kasu made one Taren, and sixteen Tarens made one Fanam. The mint was destroyed in 1766. The officer in-charge of the mint was called the "Goldsmith of Manavikraman".^[3]

List of Kozhikode Samoodiris

Historical documents rarely mentions the individual names of the Zamorins of Calicut (also known as 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.^[12]

The following is a list of rulers of Calicut 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 dynasty, based upon de Couto's assumption that there had been 98 Zamorins before the Zamorin reigning in 1610.^[12]

First Dynasty

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 Calicut.^[12]

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

Second Dynasty

It seems that the original dynasty came to an end with the 114th Zamorin of Calicut. The 115th Zamorin, the first of the second dynasty, was the oldest of the princes adopted from Nileshwaram in 1706.^[12]

See also

• Revathi Pattathanam
• Samanthan Nair

References

• ^ Schwartz, Stuart.Implicit Understandings, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 665pp, 1994, 302. ISBN 0-521-45880-3
• Hamilton, Alex. A new Account of the East Indies, Pinkerton's Voyages and Travels, viii. 374
• Hart, Henry H. The Sea Road to the Indies. New York:MacMillan Company, 1950.
• Danvers, Frederick Charles. The Portuguese in India. New York:Octagon Books, 1966.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zamorin of Calicut.

• Zamorin at Columbia University
• History of Calicut at Calicut Press Club
• Tali Temple, Calicut