Walluvanad
Encyclopedia
This article is about an erstwhile Nair
feudal state in Kerala
, India
, for ancient Dravidian people of Valluvar, see Valluvar
or Valluvanadu
Valluvanad (Malayalam:വള്ളുവനാട്) or Arangottu Swaroopam (Velatra, Velnatera, Vellatiri's kingdom, Valluvanad Proper) was an erstwhile late medieval
feudal state in present state of Kerala
in South India
extending from the Bharathapuzha River in the south to the Pandalur
Mala in the north during their zenith in the early middle ages. On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea
at the port
Ponnani
and on the east by Attapadi Hills. According to local legends, the last Later Chera ruler gave a vast extension of land in South Malabar to to one of their governors, Valluvakkonithiri and left for a hajj
. The Valluvakkonithiri was also given last Later Chera ruler's shield (presumably to defend himself from the sword received by the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Kozhikkode, another governor
, from the departing ruler). Not surprisingly, the Vellatiri rajas were hereditary enemies of the Samoothiri. Valluvanad is famous for the Mamankam festival
s, held once in 12 years and the endless wars against the Samoothiri of Kozhikkode. In 1793 management of the kingdom had to be stopped as the chief and his family found political refuge in Travancore
.
Celebrated poets, Kunchan Nambiar and Poonthanam
were born in Valluvanad.
, which is now famous for its Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. During the British Raj, the capital was moved to Perinthalmanna, a few km from Angadipuram. The family deity of the Valluvanad Royal family was Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati at Thirumandhamkunnu Temple.
Valluvanad Dynasty is considered to be of very ancient lineage. It's believed that Valluvanad were the land of the Valluvar (Parayar) people. But, Unnu Neeli Sandesam and Unni Yadi Charithram contain a mention of Vallabha Kshiti ("home of Vallabha") or Vallabhakshoni, the land of Prince Vallabha, which, by all indications, is likely to be Valluvanad. So, some say that Valluvanad Kings are descendants of a Pallava
prince "Sreevallabha". It's said that he moved the entire family from Srivilliputhur
in north Tamil Nadu
to the area around the Nila River about 4th century CE.
The eldest person in the family is called Valluvakonathiri. In most records, the hierarchy was called Arangot Swamplanad. Titles according to seniority were - Valluvakkonathiri, Vellalpad, Thacharalpad, Edathralpad, Kolathur and Padinjarekkara.
The four branches of this family, namely Aripra
, Ayiranazhi, Kadannamanna and Mankada
are now in Mankada panchayath, Perinthalmanna taluk, Malappuram district.
Among the male members the eldest sthani (designate) is titled as Valluvakonathiri and the rest four were "Vellalpadu", "Thachalpadu", "Idatharapadu" and "Kulathur Thampuran" respectively. Another sthani is nominated by Vellattiri and is called "Patinharakkara Thampuran". He has rights over some landed property and privileges. The eldest Thampuratti of the family is called "Kulathur Thampuratty" and the next eldest is called "Kadannamootha Thampuratty".
These eldest five male members and eldest two female members are eligible for malikhan- a monthly remuneration to compensate for properties or rights taken over by the British. Apart from this, the eldest female members of each Kovilakom have their own rights and privileges.
chief minister of Vellattiri.
Kunnathattil Madambil Nair (Mannarghat Nair
) was the chieftain (desavazhi) who looked after the affairs of the eastern boundary and hilly areas of Vellattiri. Chondathil Mannadiar (Puthumana Panicker) and Nair of Kavada were other chiefs under him. Other dignitaries consisted of 14 swaroopies, which included two Nairs from central regions, two Namboothiris, two persons of the royal house, four Panicker
s, Elampulakkad Achan, Kulathur Warrier, Uppamkalathil Pisharody, Pathiramanna Vellodi, Parakkatt Nair, Kakkoott Nair, Mannarmala Nair and Cherukara Pisharody.
kingdom or Kulashekhara kingdom. At one point of time the Valluvokonathiri exercised sovereign powers over a considerable portion of South Malabar under the Chera (Kulasekhara) rulers and as an independent state after the Cheras. Valluvanad comprised the whole of the Perinthalmanna taluk, Mannarkkad
and Ottapalam
taluk and also parts of Ponnani taluk
, Tirur taluk
and Eranad taluk
s.
Rajasekharan is the first Valluwanad Raja about whom there are inscriptions.
Konganpada Attacks in the 9th century CE were the attacks of the king of Kongunad to the Nedumpurayoor region (Palakkad) of the Kulasekhara kingdom. But Kongunad army was defeated by combined armies of the Kulasekhara vassals- Nedumpurayoor (Palakkad), Valluvanad, Ernad (later Samoothiri) and Perumpadappu Kingdoms (later Cochin). After the war, in honour the Valluvanad Raja received Kurissi Vilayan Chathanur and Kaithala villages from Nedumpurayoor Kingdom. This event is even now celebrated as a historical event in Chittur taluk where the fighting took place.
In the 10th century, King Vallabhankumaran, son of Rajasekharan, fought Rashtrakuta
Ruler Krishna III
. The inscriptions of Tiruvattiyur gives the story of Vallabhankumaran renouncing his worldly life and assuming the ascetic order because he could not help his friend Rajaditya Chola
who died in the battle of Takkolam in this war.
Mention is made of Rayiran Chathan, the governor of Valluvanad, as a witness in the Jew's Copper Plate ("Joothasasanam") of 1000 CE given to Joseph Rabban
by Bhaskara Ravi Varma I, the Chera
(Kulasekhara) King of Mahodayapuram. William Logan is of the opinion that Vellaattiri was also not directly under the Chera kings but enjoyed more freedom and rights than other chieftains under them. Valluvanad rulers also of find mention in the Parthivapuram Sasanam and Viraraghavapattayam.
After the end of Kulasekhara kingdom around 1102 CE, right to the Mamankam festival passed to the Perumpadappu kingdom and then to the Valluvakkonathiri (Vellaattiri). When Samoothiri of Calicut
became a major force on the western coast, they captured a large portion of Valluvanad and the right of Mamankam was usurped by Samoothiri, when he captured the town
in the latter half of the 13th century by Thirunavaya War
s.
Ever since, the elite suicide squad called the Chaver Pada, were dispatched at every Mamankam by Valluvanad to kill the Samoothiri and take back its lost pride though they were quite aware of the impossibility of the task. Most of the Houses in the captured areas accepted only Vellattiri as their legitimate king. Nair
houses and kalari
had kudippaka (blood feud) against the Zamorin and had lost their members in the wars against him. More deaths meant incitement to the blood feud and new recruits to the suicide squads. To counter the local unrest, the Zamorin followed a custom of 'implanting' Muslim families and the families of other commanders who had allegiance to him, in the captured areas of Malappuram
.
The severe and frequent wars on Valluvanad by the Zamorin continued. Even after the loss of his ally Kochi Raja
, Vellattiri did not submit to Samoothiri.
By now all that was left to Vellattiri were Attappadi
valley, parts of Mannarkkad
, Ottapalam
and Perinthalmanna. Zamorin invaded these territories but could not make much progress, because these regions were sparsely populated and most parts were dense forests and hills. It was impossible for Zamorins's large army to march forth through these areas. The fights with Vellaattiri's men became more and more difficult for Zamorin. Vellattiri's smaller army in turn made the most of the landscape and successfully kept the armies of Zamorin at bay.
Later during the Mysore invasion, Valluvanad was confined in area, and the Vellattiri sought asylum in Travancore
. On the cessation of Malabar
to the British by Tipu Sultan
, Vellattiri entered into an agreement with the British
, and became a pensioner
.
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
feudal state in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , 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 with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, for ancient Dravidian people of Valluvar, see Valluvar
Valluvar
Valluvar is a caste belonging to the Hindu community in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are the hereditary priests preaching and practicing Astrology, Astromomy and Medicine in Tamil Nadu.They are the subset of sambavars.- Origin :...
or Valluvanadu
Valluvanadu
- Valluvanadu :Valluvars were an ancient Dravidian people who were agriculturists,pastoralists who founded many small principalities within the limits of ancient Chera,Chola and Pandyan Kingdoms. Valluvans excelled in astronomy and medicine.The Panchankam a Dravidian astronomical guide which helped...
Valluvanad (Malayalam:വള്ളുവനാട്) or Arangottu Swaroopam (Velatra, Velnatera, Vellatiri's kingdom, Valluvanad Proper) was an erstwhile late medieval
Medieval India
Medieval India refers to the Middle Ages i.e. 5th to 15th century AD in the Indian subcontinent, it includes:*Early Middle Ages: Middle kingdoms of India*Hoysala Empire*Kakatiya Kingdom*Delhi Sultanate*Ahom Kingdom*Reddy Kingdom...
feudal state in present state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
extending from the Bharathapuzha River in the south to the Pandalur
Pandalur
Pandalur is a small town in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located at 11° 29' 0" North, 76° 20' 0" East, at an altitude of 880 metres. Its standard time zone is UTC/GMT+05:30. Pandalur is the headquarters of the Pandalur Taluk. It is categorised as a third-grade municipality.One...
Mala in the north during their zenith in the early middle ages. On the west, it was bounded by the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
at the port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
Ponnani
Ponnani
Ponnani/Ponani is an ancient port, a coastal town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 9.32 km2. Ponnani taluk is the smallest Taluk in Malappuram district. This tiny, picturesque town is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west...
and on the east by Attapadi Hills. According to local legends, the last Later Chera ruler gave a vast extension of land in South Malabar to to one of their governors, Valluvakkonithiri and left for a hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. The Valluvakkonithiri was also given last Later Chera ruler's shield (presumably to defend himself from the sword received by the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Kozhikkode, another governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, from the departing ruler). Not surprisingly, the Vellatiri rajas were hereditary enemies of the Samoothiri. Valluvanad is famous for the Mamankam festival
Mamankam festival
Mamankam festival or Mamangam festival was an ancient festival celebrated in Thirunavaya, Malabar coast, south India, in the present day state of Kerala from the time of Kulasekharas in every 12 years until 18th century, mostly remembered for the bloody battles occurred during the festivals...
s, held once in 12 years and the endless wars against the Samoothiri of Kozhikkode. In 1793 management of the kingdom had to be stopped as the chief and his family found political refuge in Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
.
Celebrated poets, Kunchan Nambiar and Poonthanam
Poonthanam
Poonthanam was a famous devotee of Guruvayurappan, who lived in Keezhattoor in , Kerala, India. He was a famous devotee of Lord Krishna . He is remembered for his masterpiece, Jnanappana which means 'the song of wisdom' in Malayalam...
were born in Valluvanad.
Capital
The capital of Valluvanad was the present day town of AngadipuramAngadipuram
Angadipuram is a town, important pilgrimage center for Hindus, and a suburb of Perinthalmanna located 1.5 km from Perinthalmanna taluk headquarters, in Malappuram District of Kerala, southern India on the Chennai-Calicut road. Angadipuram was the capital of the powerful medieval kingdom of...
, which is now famous for its Thirumandhamkunnu Temple. During the British Raj, the capital was moved to Perinthalmanna, a few km from Angadipuram. The family deity of the Valluvanad Royal family was Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavati at Thirumandhamkunnu Temple.
The State
The ruler of the kingdom was called Valluvakkonathiri. Valluvakkonathiri was also known by the names like Vellaattiri, Vallabhan, Rayiran Chathan, Chathan Kotha and Arangotte Udayavar.Valluvanad Dynasty is considered to be of very ancient lineage. It's believed that Valluvanad were the land of the Valluvar (Parayar) people. But, Unnu Neeli Sandesam and Unni Yadi Charithram contain a mention of Vallabha Kshiti ("home of Vallabha") or Vallabhakshoni, the land of Prince Vallabha, which, by all indications, is likely to be Valluvanad. So, some say that Valluvanad Kings are descendants of a Pallava
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
prince "Sreevallabha". It's said that he moved the entire family from Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
in north Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
to the area around the Nila River about 4th century CE.
The eldest person in the family is called Valluvakonathiri. In most records, the hierarchy was called Arangot Swamplanad. Titles according to seniority were - Valluvakkonathiri, Vellalpad, Thacharalpad, Edathralpad, Kolathur and Padinjarekkara.
The four branches of this family, namely Aripra
Aripra
Aripra is a place in India located between the villages of Mankada and Tirurkkad, in Malappuram district, Kerala. National Highway 213 passing thru the centre of this village & the people of this village are leaving with harmony. Most of the breadwinners of this village are working in Gulf...
, Ayiranazhi, Kadannamanna and Mankada
Mankada
Mankada is a hillside village in the Malappuram district of Kerala state. It is part of the Malappuram parliament constituency, now represented by E. Ahammed MP, the Minister of State for Indian Railways. In the previous UPA cabinet he was handling the Ministry of External Affairs portfolio...
are now in Mankada panchayath, Perinthalmanna taluk, Malappuram district.
Among the male members the eldest sthani (designate) is titled as Valluvakonathiri and the rest four were "Vellalpadu", "Thachalpadu", "Idatharapadu" and "Kulathur Thampuran" respectively. Another sthani is nominated by Vellattiri and is called "Patinharakkara Thampuran". He has rights over some landed property and privileges. The eldest Thampuratti of the family is called "Kulathur Thampuratty" and the next eldest is called "Kadannamootha Thampuratty".
These eldest five male members and eldest two female members are eligible for malikhan- a monthly remuneration to compensate for properties or rights taken over by the British. Apart from this, the eldest female members of each Kovilakom have their own rights and privileges.
Government
Karuvayoor Moosad, was the BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
chief minister of Vellattiri.
Kunnathattil Madambil Nair (Mannarghat Nair
Mannarghat Nair
Kunnathatil Madambil Nair or Mannarghat Nair or Mannarkad Moopil Nayar was the title usually given to the eldest male member in the Mannarkad Moopil Veedu. Mannarkad Nair was the desavazhi of the Vellatiri ,who ruled over Valluvanad, looking after the eastern boundary and the hilly areas of the...
) was the chieftain (desavazhi) who looked after the affairs of the eastern boundary and hilly areas of Vellattiri. Chondathil Mannadiar (Puthumana Panicker) and Nair of Kavada were other chiefs under him. Other dignitaries consisted of 14 swaroopies, which included two Nairs from central regions, two Namboothiris, two persons of the royal house, four Panicker
Panicker
Panicker is an Indian title or last name used by members of various communities in the state of Kerala. The Kaniyars community of Kerala, particularly central and northern region, by virtue of their traditional occupation as teachers of a martial art are commonly known as Panicker...
s, Elampulakkad Achan, Kulathur Warrier, Uppamkalathil Pisharody, Pathiramanna Vellodi, Parakkatt Nair, Kakkoott Nair, Mannarmala Nair and Cherukara Pisharody.
History
Valluvanad has a recorded history going back to the days of the Second CheraChera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
kingdom or Kulashekhara kingdom. At one point of time the Valluvokonathiri exercised sovereign powers over a considerable portion of South Malabar under the Chera (Kulasekhara) rulers and as an independent state after the Cheras. Valluvanad comprised the whole of the Perinthalmanna taluk, Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad , formerly known as Mannarghat is a town in Palakkad district of Kerala State, South India. It is the headquarters of Mannarkkad Taluk, and is one of the largest revenue Taluks in Kerala. It is situated 40 km north-east of the district headquarters Palakkad, on the way to...
and Ottapalam
Ottapalam
Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here...
taluk and also parts of Ponnani taluk
Ponnani taluk
Ponnani Taluk is a tehsil in the Indian state of Kerala. Its Headquarters is in Ponnani.- Villages :There are 11 villages this taluk:# Perumpadappu# Veliyankode# Marancheri# Alamcode# Nannamukku# Ezhavathuruthi# Vattamkulam# Edappal# Tavanur...
, Tirur taluk
Tirur Taluk
- Villages :The Tirur Taluk contains the following 29 Villages# Ananthavoor# Athavanad# Cheriyamundam# Edayur# Irimbiliyam# Kalpakancherry# Kattiparuthy# Kottakkal# Kurumbathur# Kuttippuram# Mangalam# Marakkara# Melmuri# Naduvattom# Ozhur...
and Eranad taluk
Eranad taluk
Eranad Taluk is a Taluk in Malapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The headquarters of the taluk is Manjeri.It comprises 33 villages:*Vazhayur*Cherukavu*Pulikkal*Kondotty*Nediyiruppu*Manjeri*Narukara*Payyanad*Pandikkad...
s.
Rajasekharan is the first Valluwanad Raja about whom there are inscriptions.
Konganpada Attacks in the 9th century CE were the attacks of the king of Kongunad to the Nedumpurayoor region (Palakkad) of the Kulasekhara kingdom. But Kongunad army was defeated by combined armies of the Kulasekhara vassals- Nedumpurayoor (Palakkad), Valluvanad, Ernad (later Samoothiri) and Perumpadappu Kingdoms (later Cochin). After the war, in honour the Valluvanad Raja received Kurissi Vilayan Chathanur and Kaithala villages from Nedumpurayoor Kingdom. This event is even now celebrated as a historical event in Chittur taluk where the fighting took place.
In the 10th century, King Vallabhankumaran, son of Rajasekharan, fought Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
Ruler Krishna III
Krishna III
Krishna III, whose Kannada name was Kannara , was the last great warrior and able monarch of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty of Manyakheta. He was a shrewd administrator and skillful military campaigner. He waged many wars to bring back the glory of the Rashtrakutas and played an important role in...
. The inscriptions of Tiruvattiyur gives the story of Vallabhankumaran renouncing his worldly life and assuming the ascetic order because he could not help his friend Rajaditya Chola
Rajaditya Chola
Rajaditya Chola was a 10th century monarch of the Chola empire. He was one of the sons of Parantaka Chola I.-Death:The Rashtrakutas under Krishna III mounted multiple invasions into the Chola territories between 940 and 950 A.D. In order to ward of the attacks, Rajaditya stationed himself at...
who died in the battle of Takkolam in this war.
Mention is made of Rayiran Chathan, the governor of Valluvanad, as a witness in the Jew's Copper Plate ("Joothasasanam") of 1000 CE given to Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban was a Jewish merchant, possibly from Yemen, who came to the Malabar Coast in the mid eighth century. According to the traditions of the Cochin Jews, Joseph was granted the rank of prince over the Jews of Cochin by the Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarman II.He was granted the rulership...
by Bhaskara Ravi Varma I, the Chera
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
(Kulasekhara) King of Mahodayapuram. William Logan is of the opinion that Vellaattiri was also not directly under the Chera kings but enjoyed more freedom and rights than other chieftains under them. Valluvanad rulers also of find mention in the Parthivapuram Sasanam and Viraraghavapattayam.
After the end of Kulasekhara kingdom around 1102 CE, right to the Mamankam festival passed to the Perumpadappu kingdom and then to the Valluvakkonathiri (Vellaattiri). When Samoothiri of Calicut
History of 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....
became a major force on the western coast, they captured a large portion of Valluvanad and the right of Mamankam was usurped by Samoothiri, when he captured the town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the latter half of the 13th century by Thirunavaya War
Thirunavaya War
Thirunavaya Wars were a series of battles between the Saamoothiri Raja and the kingdoms of Perumpadappu and Walluvanad. The Saamoothiri was successful in capturing Thirunavaya and Vanneri and he styled himself as Rakshapurusha...
s.
Ever since, the elite suicide squad called the Chaver Pada, were dispatched at every Mamankam by Valluvanad to kill the Samoothiri and take back its lost pride though they were quite aware of the impossibility of the task. Most of the Houses in the captured areas accepted only Vellattiri as their legitimate king. Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
houses and kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
had kudippaka (blood feud) against the Zamorin and had lost their members in the wars against him. More deaths meant incitement to the blood feud and new recruits to the suicide squads. To counter the local unrest, the Zamorin followed a custom of 'implanting' Muslim families and the families of other commanders who had allegiance to him, in the captured areas of Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
.
The severe and frequent wars on Valluvanad by the Zamorin continued. Even after the loss of his ally Kochi Raja
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
, Vellattiri did not submit to Samoothiri.
By now all that was left to Vellattiri were Attappadi
Attappadi
Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area comprising 249 km² of land covering the westernmost part of the 745 km² Attappadi block of Mannarghat Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala, south India....
valley, parts of Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad
Mannarkkad , formerly known as Mannarghat is a town in Palakkad district of Kerala State, South India. It is the headquarters of Mannarkkad Taluk, and is one of the largest revenue Taluks in Kerala. It is situated 40 km north-east of the district headquarters Palakkad, on the way to...
, Ottapalam
Ottapalam
Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here...
and Perinthalmanna. Zamorin invaded these territories but could not make much progress, because these regions were sparsely populated and most parts were dense forests and hills. It was impossible for Zamorins's large army to march forth through these areas. The fights with Vellaattiri's men became more and more difficult for Zamorin. Vellattiri's smaller army in turn made the most of the landscape and successfully kept the armies of Zamorin at bay.
Later during the Mysore invasion, Valluvanad was confined in area, and the Vellattiri sought asylum in Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. On the cessation of Malabar
Malabar District
Malabar District was an administrative district of Madras Presidency in British India and independent India's Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad , and Chavakad Taluk of Thrissur District in the northern part of...
to the British by Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
, Vellattiri entered into an agreement with the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and became a pensioner
Pensioner
In common parlance, a pensioner is a person who has retired, and now collects a pension. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom and Australia where someone of pensionable age may also be referred to as an 'old age pensioner', or OAP. In the United States, the term retiree is more...
.