Mohammed Kunjali Marakkar was the
Muslim:A Muslim , , is an adherent of the religion of Islam. The feminine form is Muslimah . Literally, the word means "one who submits ". Muslim is the participle of the same verb of which Islam is the infinitive. Muslims believe that there is only one God, translated in Arabic as Allah...
naval chief of the
Samoothiri Raja Manavikraman, a
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
kingA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
of
KozhikodeKozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
(anglicized
Calicut), in present day state of
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
,
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
during the 16th century. He was the first of the four Kunjalis who played a part in the
Raja's naval wars with the
PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
, who arrived in India in 1498. The Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defence of the Indian coast, to be later succeeded in the 18th century by the
Maratha Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste or to the Maratha and Kunbi castes together; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people; historically, it describes the Maratha empire...
Sarkhel Kanhoji AngreKanhoji Angre or Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angre was the first notable chief of the Maratha Navy in 18th century India. He fought successfully all his life against the British, Dutch and Portuguese naval interests in the Indian Ocean during the eighteenth century, and hence was alleged by them to...
.
The title of
MarakkarMarakkar or Maraikayar or Maraicayar or Maricar is a common title, surname or name of a distinctive Tamil and Malayalam speaking Muslim people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu...
was given by the Raja.
Mohammed Kunjali Marakkar was the
Muslim:A Muslim , , is an adherent of the religion of Islam. The feminine form is Muslimah . Literally, the word means "one who submits ". Muslim is the participle of the same verb of which Islam is the infinitive. Muslims believe that there is only one God, translated in Arabic as Allah...
naval chief of the
Samoothiri Raja Manavikraman, a
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
kingA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
of
KozhikodeKozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
(anglicized
Calicut), in present day state of
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
,
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
during the 16th century. He was the first of the four Kunjalis who played a part in the
Raja's naval wars with the
PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
, who arrived in India in 1498. The Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defence of the Indian coast, to be later succeeded in the 18th century by the
Maratha Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste or to the Maratha and Kunbi castes together; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people; historically, it describes the Maratha empire...
Sarkhel Kanhoji AngreKanhoji Angre or Conajee Angria or Sarkhel Angre was the first notable chief of the Maratha Navy in 18th century India. He fought successfully all his life against the British, Dutch and Portuguese naval interests in the Indian Ocean during the eighteenth century, and hence was alleged by them to...
.
Title
The title of
MarakkarMarakkar or Maraikayar or Maraicayar or Maricar is a common title, surname or name of a distinctive Tamil and Malayalam speaking Muslim people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu...
was given by the Raja. It may have been derived from the Malayalam word
marakkalam meaning ‘boat,’ and
kar, a termination, showing possession.
The four key Marakkars:
- Mohammed Kunjali Marakkar - Marakkar I
- ? Kunjali - Marakkar II
- Pattu Kunjali - Marakkar III
- Mohammed Ali Kunjali - Marakkar IV
Origins
According to tradition, Marakkars were originally marine merchants of Kochi who left for
PonnaniPonnani is a coastal town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the smallest Taluk in Malappuram district. This tiny, picturesque town is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west. It is the only port in Malappuram district and one of the oldest ones in Kerala...
in the Samoothiri Rajas dominion when the Portuguese came to Kochi. They offered their men ,ships and wealth in the defence of their motherland to the Samoothiri of Kozhikode-The Raja took them into his service and eventually they became the Admirals of his fleet.
Of the four Marakkars, Kunjali Marakkar II is the most famous.
Portuguese
The
PortugueseThe Portuguese people are the ethnic group or nation native to the country of Portugal, in the far west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe...
initially attempted to obtain trading privileges in 1498, but soon had troubles because the pressure from the Arabs over the Raja
, since they had traditionally been trading in his ports, and did not want to lose the monopoly in trading spices. The Raja
resisted these attempts which resulted in the Portuguese trying to destabilise his rule by negotiating a treaty with his arch enemy, the Kingdom of Kochi in 1503. Sensing the Portuguese superiority at sea, the Raja set about improving his navy. He appointed Kunjali to the task.
The fight between the Raja and the Portuguese continued on until the end of the 16th century, when the Portuguese convinced the Raja in 1598 that Marakkar IV intended to take over his Kingdom. The Raja then joined hands with the Portuguese to defeat Marakkar IV, ending in his defeat and death in 1600.
Key events
- 1498 - Raja builds a fort at Ponnani
Ponnani is a coastal town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the smallest Taluk in Malappuram district. This tiny, picturesque town is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west. It is the only port in Malappuram district and one of the oldest ones in Kerala...
.
- 1500 December - Raja expels Portuguese from Kozhikode
Kozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
.
- 1500 December 24 - Portuguese (led by Pedro Álvares Cabral) take refuge at port of Kochi, where the King offers them spices.
- 1501 January - Portuguese conclude a treaty with Tirumulpad, the King of Kochi, allowing them to open a feitoria there.
- 1503 - Portuguese crown the new King of Kochi, effectively making him a vassal of the King of Portugal.
- 1503 March - Samoothiri Raja attacks foe Hindu
A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
Kingdom of Kochi, also known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam.
- 1503 - Portuguese Viceroy D. Francisco de Almeida arrives in Kochi to find it destroyed, manages to obtain permission to build a fort. Thus the first Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
an fort is built in India by 1505 called Fort Manuel or Manuel Kotta.
- 1505 November - murder of the Portuguese factor António de Sá, the other Portuguese men and the destruction of the church of St. Thomas in Kollam
Kollam is a city and a municipal corporation in Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies 71 Kilometres north of the state capital Thiruvanathapuram . It is also the headquarters of the Kollam District, one among the 14 districts in the state of Kerala...
.
- 1506 - Samoothiri Raja now approached Raja of Kolathiri. The Portuguese had behaved contemptuously to the Muslims at Kannur
Kannur is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the district of Kannur. It is known as Land of Looms and Lores. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its Portuguese name of Cannanore which is still in...
, and so Raja of Kolathiri also intended to teach them a lesson. The Raja laid siege the St. Angelos fort at Kannur. But the Portuguese won this battle, and the Raja of Kolathiri was forced to plea for peace.
- 1506 - Raja's naval forces join the Turkish
The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
and ArabArab people or Arabs are an ethnic group whose members identify along linguistic, cultural or genealogical grounds...
navies to defeat the Portuguese navy led by D. Lourenço de Almeida, son of the Portuguese Viceroy. However, Portuguese repel the attack.
- 1507 November 14 - Portuguese under Almeida attacked Ponnani
Ponnani is a coastal town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the smallest Taluk in Malappuram district. This tiny, picturesque town is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west. It is the only port in Malappuram district and one of the oldest ones in Kerala...
.
- 1508 March - Sultan of Cairo's navy defeats Portuguese at Battle of Chaul
Chaul is a former city of Portuguese India, now in ruins. It is located 60 km south of Bombay, in Raigad District of Maharashtra state in western India....
, killing D. Lourenço de Almeida
- 1509 February - Portuguese counter attack and defeat the Samoothiri's forces and the Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia...
ian/TurkishThe Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
Navy at the Battle of DiuThe Battle of Diu sometimes referred as the Second Battle of Chaul was a naval battle fought on February 3 1509 in the Indian Sea, near the port of Diu, India, between the Portuguese Empire and a joint fleet of the Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, the Zamorin of Calicut and the...
. Turks and Egyptians withdraw from India, leaving the seas to the Portuguese.
- 1513 - Raja and Portuguese sign a treaty giving Portuguese right to build a fort at Kozhikode
Kozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
, in return for their assistance in the Raja's fight with the Kingdoms of Kochi and Kolathiri.
- 1520? - Assassination attempt on Raja
- 1524 - King of Portugal re-sends Vasco Da Gama
Dom Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the European Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India...
back to India to control the Raja.
- 1525 February 26 - Portuguese navy led by new Viceroy Menezes raids Ponnani, but the Raja defeats them with assistance from Tinayancheri, and Kurumliyapatri.
- 1530 - Formation of Chalium (also known as Challe, now Chaliyam) fort by Portuguese - the Raja of Vettathunad enabled the Portuguese to erect a fort at Chalium at the mouth of the Beypore river. Chalium was a strategic site, for it was only 10 km south of Kozhikkode. Raja of Chaliyam also helped the Portuguese.
- 1540 - Samoothiri Raja entered into an agreement with the Portuguese and stopped the war. Treaty allows the Portuguese a trade monopoly at Kozhikode port.
- 1550 - Portuguese attacked, pillaged and plundered Ponnani. They set fire to several houses and four mosques, including the Valia Palli.
- 1569-1570 - War between the Portuguese and Samoothiri's forces at Chaliyam fort. The battle of Talikota
The Battle of Talikota Kannada ತಾಳಿಕೋಟೆ , a watershed battle fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, resulted in a rout of Vijayanagara, and ended the last great Hindu kingdom in South India...
in 1565 in which Vijayanagar, the ally of the Portuguese, was defeated, emboldened the Samoothiri to start large scale operations against the Portuguese.
- 1571 September 15 - Portuguese lose the war and surrender Chaliyam fort. Samoothiri Raja destroys the fort.
- 1573 - Pattu Marakkar (Kunjali III) obtained permission from Samoothiri to build a fortress and dockyard at Puthupattanam. This fort later came to be called the Marakkar Kotta (Marakkar Fort).
- 1584 - Samoothiri Raja needed free navigation without the passes of the Portuguese, to the ports of Gujarat, Persia and Arabia, to continue his trade. So an agreement with the Portuguese was made. The sanction to the Portuguese to build a factory at Ponnani was given. By now the Raja had clearly shifted his policy towards the Portuguese.
- 1586 - Marakkars defeat the Portuguese in a naval battle.
- 1588 - The Portuguese settle again in Kozhikode with the Samoothiri's permission.
- 1589 - Marakkars inflict a crushing defeat on the Portuguese.
- 1591 - Samoothiri Raja allowed the Portuguese to build a factory at Kozhikkode. He even laid the foundation stone of their church and granted them the necessary land and building materials. His commanders like Kunjali III who were sworn enemies of the Portuguese were ignored again. Kunjali III began to distance himself from Samoothiri.
- 1595 - Kunjali IV becomes the Chief of the Marakkars. Marakkar, who had been given the powers and privileges of any Nair noble in the Samoothiri's service, strengthened the fortress at Kottakal and openly challenged his master by styling himself as the "Lord of the Indian seas". He cut off the tail of one of Samoothiri's elephants and ill treated a Nair noble and his wife, who had been sent to get his explanation for the deed.
- 1598 - The overbearing attitude of his vassal exasperated the Samoothiri, who joined up with the Portuguese and fought Kunjali Marakkar III. The first joint operation went very bad for the allies, owing to a lack of communication between the Portuguese and the Samoothiri. They suffered heavy losses.
- 1600 - In the second battle, the Samoothiri attacked Marakkar Kotta from the land with an army of 6000 and the Portuguese navy under André Furtado bombarded it from the sea. Left with no choice, Kunjali Marakkar surrendered to Samoothiri on a solemn promise of pardon, but the Samoothiri broke his word and handed his former Admiral over to the Portuguese, who executed him and his men, after taking them to Goa
Goa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.Panaji is...
.
Tributes
- Cochin University of Science and Technology in Cochin, Kerala, India, has got its new Marine Engineering department named after Kunjali II as 'Kunjali Marakkar School Of Marine Engineering'.
- The Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. It currently has approximately 55,000 personnel on active duty, including 5,000 members of the naval aviation branch and 2,000 marine commandos, making it the world's fifth largest navy...
shore-based naval air training centre at Colaba, Mumbai is named Naval Maritime Academy INS Kunjali II in honour of the second Marakkar.
- The Indian Department of Post issued a Rupee 3 colour stamp commemorating the maritime heritage of Kunjali Marakkar on 17 December 2000 on the 400th anniversary of the end of the Marakkars. The stamp design shows the war-paroe, a small craft used by the Kunjalis, which, manned by just 30-40 men each, could be rowed through lagoons and narrow waters. Several of these crafts were deployed at strategic points and they would emerge from small creeks and inconspicuous estuaries, attack the Portuguese ships at will, inflict heavy damage and casualties by setting fire to their sails and get back into the safety of shallow waters. In these guerilla raids, the Marakkars had shown remarkable prowess.
- At Payyoli
Payyoli is a village on the Malabar Coast of Kozhikode district in the South Indian state of Kerala. Payyoli is the birth place of Indian sports legend P.T.Usha.-How to reach there:* Nearest city: Kozhikode - 35 km...
, a village about 35 km north of KozhikodeKozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
, a small museum has been built in a hut that used to belong to the Marakkar family, with collection of ancient swords, cannonballs and knives. This is maintained by the State Archeology Dept http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_archaeology/monuments.htm.
- There is a place called Marakkarkandy
Marakkarkandy is a small coastal village in Kannur district of Kerala state, south India. It is 2 km from Kannur City and 6 km from Kannur town. People from all religion resides in this small city and is famous for its communal harmony. It was under the rule of Arakkal Adi Raja before independece...
in Kannur CityKannur City is a location within Kannur municipality in Kannur District of Kerala state, south India.Kannur City, although just a few kilometres away, is different from Kannur town, which houses the major shopping areas and business establishments....
, in Kannur districtKannur District கண்ணூர் is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the...
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Additional reading
- Gundert, Herman Keralappalama (History of Malabar from A.D. 1498 - 1531) in Malayalam, first published 1868, Kottayam:Vidyarthi Mithram, 1964
- Mathew, K.S. Portuguese Trade with India in the sixteenth century
- Queyroz Fr. The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylaö,
- Tufhatal Mujahideen by Shaykh Zainuddin Makhtum.