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Tamil Nadu Political History
Tamil Nadu Political History
CHARTER IV. y ’
POLITICAL HISTORY
and names among them the Pandae and the Charmae, who are considered
works give much information about the early Cheras. The Sangam
works are dated to .about 2nd century A.E. Among all the Sangam
king. Of it, the first and the tenth tens have not come to light.
and Karur. This was due to the expansion of their empire and
Kollimalai
110
did not ascend the throne* Most of them helped the reigning
Utiyan Gheral:-
Utiyan was the first king of the Chera line with his capital
at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (Agam. 168). He was the y
Nedum Cheralathan:-
He also won a victory over the Havanas’ on the coast, The name
Yavana was used in Kerala not only for the Greeks and the Romanas,
hut also for the Persians and the Arabs, Even the foreigners who
11
are settled down in Kerala were also called Yavanas, In this
respect, ledum Cheralathan might have fought against any one
of these people. During this period, the Romans and the Parthians
were powerful in Western Asia and Eastern Europe, The Parthians
has stopped Roman advance and successfully repelled them. The
Romans were trading by sea with the Indian kingdoms. Does this
the Pandyas from Kuttanad and later the Ays of Yenad were forced
upheld the claims of his Chola cousin and defeated his nine
15
He was a patron of scholars and poets* The poet Paranar
monk. Sel Kelu Kuttavan dedicated his only son to a hermits life.
the Cholas and the Pandyas. The seat of this king was Tondi.
Many rulers who lived there at Tondi used the terms Irumporai
that the hilley regions like Uilgiri, the Wynad and Kollimalai
Ham Cheral Irumporai is the hero of the 9th Ten of’ Patittu-
pattu. He was the son of the previous ruler Perum Cheral. He
He might have been the son and successor of Ilam Cheral and
the hero of the missing 10th decad of Patittupattu. Yanaikatchai,
literally the king with the elephant look was the last of the
Cheramans. He won a victory over the Chola king, but with the
assistance of Thevan Malayan Kari, the Chola king retained his
capital. Yanaikatchai was caught by the Pandyan king Nedum-
chezhiyan, but he managed to escape to his capital and regain
his country’s freedom.
115
After Xanai Katchi, the Gheramans began to decline.
Killivalavan of Kongunad.
The Kadambas seized Thulunad from the Oheras in the 4th century
tory also.
The position did not change much during the time of Yel Kelu
-116
power was crushed and the last Cheraman laid down his life.
an end.
India also. The history of Kerala in the 6th, 7th and 8th
117
The Ay Dynasty;
Andiran;-
Titiyan;-
there were any conflicts between the Ays and the Pandyas
Athiyan:-
hears about the Ays at the end of 7th century only from the
Karunandadakkan:-
Yikramad1tya Yaraguna;-
from 855 to, 925 A.P. During Ms time,, the struggle for poli
tical supremacy "between the Pandyas and Cholas had reached a
critical phase and hence the pressure on Ays was not only
reduced, but their help was sought# Yaraguna seems to have
helped the Pandyas in their fight against the Chola king
Parantaka ( 907 - 955 A#D.). The reign of Yaraguna might
threat from Oheras, and in the battle of Pazhi, the Chera coalm
Minili and the Oheras were defeated. But the attack from
His capital was taken and Nannan was forced to flee to the
ruled over Kerala from 800 A.D. to 1102 A.D. with their
capital at 2iruvanchikulam or Mahodayapuram and their
have originated from the fact that the founder of the dynasty
of God.8
bhisheka,
from Kerala.
120
temple.
continued.
whole of Kerala was under his rule and they had been an
their power over the Dandyas and under Parantaka, their power
999 A.D., he attacked the Chera again and took Kanyakumari and
Kottar. Further north, he advanced up to Yizhinjam and
Kandalur Salai. He sent an expedition against the city of Quilon
and sacked it. The northern part of Chera kingdom was
attacked and ravaged. But the Chola power was not able to
for the time being and not only freed many parts of Kerala
from Choia menace, but also helped Ceylon against their common
the battle. The Cholas used the land force as well as navy.
But it is seen that although Rajendra won the battle, only the
Chola yoke. But Rajendra Chola sent his son Rajadhi Raja to
were also killed in this battle. The prolonged war with the
ted.
Kerala once again became free from the Chola control. But
danger and rallied all patriotic forces under him for war to
131
But in the long war, his capital Mahodayapuram and the neighbo
uring places were burned down, This defeat made him to shift
Eastern Chalukyas, had their own trouble and had to face invas
Kerala was left to its own activity, till the advent of the
Yenad.
849 A.D. The next king for which we get evidence is from
the Mampalli plate-^ of 914 A.D., is of Sri Yallabhan Kotha.
133
of Venad.
uram was also destroyed by the Ohola army and the Chera ruler
Kotha Yarma had. four sons, viz., Kotha Kerala Yarma. Yira Ravi
Rise of Kolathunad.
the Sangam period, the area was under the ruler of Ezhilmala and
in the age of the second Ohera rulers, the whole area was
dynasty.
the Korapuzha in the south and from Kudumala in the east to the
in the later half of the 13th century and the Swarupam migrated
was also brought under his rule. The Kolathiri Raja's of the
lorth Kerala were also defeated and the areas annexe'di to his
was very complex. The whole area of Kerala was divided into
the Kolathiri, the Zamorin and the Yenad had full soverigin
who hails from the Arakkal family. The senior most member
of the family is given the name Ali Raja and the "family was
Yalluvanad;-
lum in Travancore.
Bdapalli;-
Cranganore
Yadakkumkurj -
in Yadakkumkur in 1600 A.D, and from that time they had their
Tekkumkur:-
Purakkads-
Kayamkulam: -
V
Narmudi Cheral (IV) Vel Kelu Kuttavan (V) A-tukot Pattu knthuvan
(VI)
Oheralathan
■
Selvakatumko (VII)
r '
Mahodayapuram.
Cheras.
Y arman I
Yarman II
Bhaskara
Ravi Rama
Rama Yarma
M
5
• /TO O
hOO & o V 100io3).
- -
u
002 -i&nchi
Narmudi ’** 200 ”
/'
, Hannan
Yel Eelu Kuttavan
Selva Kadumko
Takadur Perum Cheral Irump oral
250 " ' 111am Cheral Irumporai . 250 «
---------- -
--
- -<r1x-„; i-- '
Yanikatchai *' " Hedum Ch.ezM.yan I
0>
' Chengannan Eanikkal Irumporai
300 300 ”
Nayars Jt '
Ealabhras
Eadambas
-- < m
350 ” . . 350
146
References:
2. Ibid: p.25.
Asoka, p*5.
p • 53»
5® Ibid, p.57.
7. Ibid,
8. Ibid.
9. Murti Sreenivasa, G: and Aiyangar Krishna, A.Ns Ibid.
13. Ibid.
23. Ibid.