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Padmanbhapuram is believed to have been designated as the capital of Kerala by parasurama himself. King Bhanu Vikrama, the first king established the supremacy of Brahmins throughout the State. Of the later days, King keralan ruled for 12 years and there is a belief that the state gets its name from him. However, Kerala means land of coconut trees which undoubtedly it is.
The golden era of kerala was under the rule of kulasekhara perumal, who initiated technological advances. All his successors were elected and they mainly came from outside the kingdom.
It appears that the trading with Kerala, known as Malabar for most of its history, began in the 1st century BC. Greek and Roman traders first made the trips to kerala via Africa, looking for its exotic spices, during this period, Jainism and Buddhism were the prominent religions in kerala. But by the 3rd century BC, Hinduism had regained its strength, even before the 3rd century BC, Egyptians, phoenicians. Chinese and babylonians had trade relations with kerala.
The legend has it that St.Thomas, the appostle landed in Kodungalloor in AD 52 to spread the gospel . Upper caste Hindus were converted and they were known as Syrian Christians as St. Thomas came from Syria. Malik-ibn-Dinar, disciple of prophet Mohammed brought Islam to India. Incidentally the first Mosque in India was built in Kerala by Malik-ibn-Dinar. His visit was during AD 643.
When the Chera Empire, which ruled kerala from AD 800 till Ad 1102 disintegrated, the local kings divided the state amoungst themselves. They were the Zamorins of Calicut, the Raja of Cochin, the Kolathiris of Cannanore and the king of Travancore. By the end of the 15th century, the Zamorin had half of Malabar under his rule.
European Rediscovery
In
the 15th century, when the semitic monopoly of the spice trade became
too expensive for the European markets to bear, Portugal financed Vasco
da Gama to discover the sea route to the spice lands of kerala. He landed
at kapped near Calicut in 1498. Vasco da Gama found a direct though lengthy
route from Europe to India, by sailing round the southern tip of kerala.
Vasco da Gama journey was followed by a compatriot, Pedro Cabral, who
was more commercially inclined than Gama However his demands to the Zamorin,
the ruler of calicut were exorbitant and he was chased out of Calicut.
He found a better ally in the Raja of Cochin, who was looking for a prospective
partner against his rival, the Zamorin.
Portuguese Trading
The second visit of Vasco Da Gama in 1502 was more aggressive. Arab merchant ships were sunk enroute. But again the Portuguese were unable to strike a trade agreement with the Zamorin because the Zamorin did not concede to the Portuguese demand of expelling the Malabar Mulsim from the area. After a fierce attack on calicut, the Portuguese moved to Cochin, where they were welcomed by the Raja of Cochin. In return to the gifts, the Cochin Raja granted exclusive trading agreement to the Portuguese. An infuriated Zamorin on hearing about the treaty attacked Cochin and established his garrison. But once the Zamorin returned to Calicut with his strike force, Portuguese squadron led by Albuquerque reinstated the Raja of Cochin. The Zamorin was defeated in 1509 by the Portuguese.Thus the Portuguese supremacy on the Malabar thus established continued for 150 years. Later the Portuguese base was shifted to Goa. However their interest in India receded after Philip ll of Spain conqured Portugal. The Portuguese never won popularity in India.
The Dutch Invasion
The
Dutch formed and
alliances with the Zamorin in 1604, with a view
of expelling the Portuguese from kerala. By 1663, the Dutch were in control
of Cochin and Cannanore and had established a trading Monopoly assisted
by the Kolathiri.
Their dislike far the Roman Catholics was very open and all Catholic priests were expelled from their areas of control and Jesuit buildings demolished. However the Dutch were weakened by the wars with England and eventually they abandoned India, but not before returning to the Portuguese, with whom a rapproachement was reached, all their possessions in the Malabar coast, expect Cochin. The Dutch were lest corrupt and had better and fairer administration than the Portuguese. They had introduced advanced techniques in agriculture, salt farming & dyeing.
Arrival of the English
The first trading agreement between the East India company & Zamorin of calicut was made in 1625.This was in return to the help the English rendered to the Zamorin in expelling the Portuguese from Crangannore & Cochin. In 1662, the English made up with the Portuguese with the royal wedding of Charles ll to the Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza.
The Disputes
The kerala of 17th century lacked a central authority and the governance was degenerated by feudalism. The main rivalry was between the Zamorin of calicut and the Raja of Cochin spanning over a period of 500 years. A brief period of Moghul rule in kerala ended with the assassination of Aurangabad, the last great Moghul. The Travancore royality expanded its domain northward to the periyar river during the rule of Raja Marthanda Varma (1729-58) Many great developments were initiated including construction of water ways for transportation. The Raja then dedicated this Kingdom to Lord Sree Padmanabha Swamy and became the 'servant' of the Lord. His successors were also to follow the system .
Muslim Invasion
The
first Muslim invasion came from the adjoining state of Mysore by Hyder
Ali, who was encouraged by Ali Raja of Cannanore to take over karala.
Hyder Ali's supremacy was established in 1766 and Ali Raja was appointed
governor of all conquests as a reward to his assistance to Hyder Ali.
The English found this an opportunity to help the Zamorin to get ride
of Hyder Ali's forces. But the Muslims supremacy continued till the English
defeated Tipu Sultan, son and successor to Hyder Ali, and killed him in
the Battle of Srirangapatnam.
During the
reign of Tipu, kerala had a general improvement in the administrative
system and technology . However, the economy took a nose-dive since trading
came to a stand still. The gold and silver reserves were cartid away to
the Mysore coffers.
State
Express