HISTORY OF TRAVANCORE

1. Anizham Thirunal Veerabaala Marthanda Varma 1729–1758

2. Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) 1758–1798

3. Avittom Thirunal Balarama Varma 1798–1810

4. Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810–1815 (ruled pending the birth of a son,

1810–13; regent for her new-born son, 1813–1815)

5. Gowri Parvati Bayi (Regent for her nephew) 1815–1829

6. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma 1829–1846 (king from birth in 1813,

crowned in 1815, ruled from 1829–1846)

7. Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1846–1860

8. Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma 1860–1880

9. Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma 1880–1885

10. Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma 1885–1924

11. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (Regent for her nephew) 1924–1931

12. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma (born in 1912, succeeded in

1924, received power in 1931, ruled until 1949, Titular Maharajah until
1971, died in 1991)

 ‘Tripapur Swarupam' was the old name of Travancore dynasty.

 Travancore kings were known as 'Vanchibhupati’.
 ‘Vanchisha Mangalam' is the anthem of the Kingdom of Travancore.
 The first written code of law in Travancore was the "Chattavariolas".
 Col. Munro wrote and prepared the “Chattavariolas.
 ‘Shanku’ is the symbol of the Travancore dynasty.
 Chief Ministers of Travancore are known as Dalava (Dewan).
 Nanchinad is known as 'Paddy field of Thiruvithamkur.
 ‘Matilakam Granthavali' is associated with the Travancore dynasty
 'Sri Padmanabhaswamy' is the worship idol of Travancore.
 The kings of Travancore were known as 'Sripadmanabha Dasan'.

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First in Travancore

Dalava: Arumukham Pillai

Diwan: Raja Kesava Das

British Diwan : Colonel Munro.

Resident Diwan: Colonel Munro

British Resident: Colonel Macaulay

Muslim Diwan : Muhammad Habibullah

1. Anizham Thirunal Marthandavarma

(1729-1758)

 Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma is the founder of modern

Travancore.
 Marthandavarma was born in 1706.
 Ruler of Travancore who styled himself as the 'Prince of Neyyattinkara'.

 He defeated eight Fedual Land lords called “Ettuveettil pillamar” and

“Ettara yogum”.
 Udayagirikotta is a renovated.
 Ruler built by Vattakota.
 Travancore ruler who built Krishnapuram Palace in Alappuzha.
(Gajendramoksham mural is located in Krishnapuram Palace)
 The ruler who merged Kottarakkara with Travancore.
 Ruler who annexed Thekumkur and Vadakkumkur to Travancore.
 The ruler who started the temple ceremony called 'Hiranyagarbha'.
 Kalkulam was the headquarters of Travancore during
Marthandavarma's reign.
 Mavelikkara is Marthanda Varma's business head quarters.
 Ramayan Dalava was a famous minister of Marthandavarma.
 Murajapam is an important celebration at Sri Padmanabhaswamy
Temple.
 Murajapam was first introduced in 1750.
 Murajapam is celebrated every 6 years.

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 Bhadradeepam (twice a year) is a ceremony associated with
Murajapam.
 Marthandavarma is the ruler who led Venad to modernity.
 Venad became the modern kingdom of Travancore
 Travancore's army became more powerful during Marthandavarma's
reign.
 The King of Kayamkulam and Marthandavarma, signed the Treaty of
Mannar (1742).
 Veera Keralavarma was the king of Kottarakkara who died in
Marthandavarma's imprisonment.
 Marthandavarma captured Kayamkulam (Odanad) through Purakkad
War (1746).
 Varma established a layered system of administration in Travancore.
An individual pravitri (village) would be administered by a pravarthikar
(village officer) on behalf of the state. A group of villages comprised
the mandapathum vathukkal (thaluk), governed by a karyakar (“a
prototype of the modern Tahsildar” or district revenue officer,
according to Sreedhara’s survey of Kerala history).
 Marthandavarma eliminated the feudal barons of his kingdom and
established a centralized monarchy.
 Ramapurathu Waryar and Kunchan Nambiar were prominent poets who
lived in Marthandavarma's kigdom.
 Palliyadi Mallan Sankaran is the revenue minister of Martha Ndavarma
 Krishna Sharma was the chief poet of Marthandavarma.
 On January 3, 1750, Marthandavarma performed Thripadidanam.( He
Dedicated the kingdom to Lord Sri padmanabha and he rulled as
“Servant of Padmanabha”(padmanabhadasan) .This is Known as
'Thrippadidaanam')

 Treaty of Mavelikara was signed in 1753 between Marthandavarma

and the Dutch. The Treaty of Mavelikkara was a peace and friendship
treaty signed between the Dutch East India Company and Maharaja
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma of Travancore on August 15, 1753:
 The treaty marked the end of the Dutch's political and
commercial dominance in Kerala.
 The treaty established an agreement of mutual territorial
integrity.
 The Dutch agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the
smaller kingdoms and not to form an alliance with Travancore's
enemies.

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  Battle of Colachal
 Battle in which Marthandavarma defeated the Dutch.
 The Battle of colachal took place on 10th August 1741.
 The cause of Colachal War was disputes over trade.
 The battle was the first time an Asian kingdom defeated a
European power, and it ended the Dutch's plans for colonial
expansion in India.
 The Dutch never regained their strength and shifted their
focus to Indonesia.
 Eustachius De Lannoy was the Dutch commander ,defeated
by Marthanda Varma in the Battle of Colachal.
 Eustachius De Lannoy became a senior admiral in the
Travancore army and trained the army in modern warfare.
 He was known as ‘Valiyakappithan’
 Delanoy's tomb is located at Udayagirikotta (built by Veera
Ravi Varma)near Thakala in Tamil Nadu.
 Ammachiplav, where Marthandavarma hid, is located near
Neiyattinkara Sri Krishna Swamy Temple.
 The historical novels 'Marthandavarma' and 'Dharmaraja' were written
by C.V. Ramanpilla.

Wars and Treaties

 The Treaty of Venad was signed with the British in 1723.

 Atingal was added to Travancore in 1730.
 In 1742 Marthanda Varma captured Kili Manor.
 Treaty of Mannar was signed in 1742.( Maharaja forced the
Kayamkulam King to sign a treaty at Mannar in 1742. Raja agreed to
merge a major portion of Kayamkulam with Travancore and also pay
1000 rupees every year.)
 Kayamkulam was captured in 1746 (Battle of Purakkad).

 During the time of Marthanda Varma, the commercial department was

known as Mulakumadishsheela.

 The industrialists of Travancore were known as

‘mulakumadisheelakkar’.

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  It was Marthandavar who established an army called 'Maravapada'.

 Ponmana Anna and Puthan Anna are the dams built during
Marthandavarma's time

'Ashoka of Thiruvithamkur' - Marthandavarma.

'Ashoka of Kerala' - Vikramaditya Varaguna.

'Asoka of South India' - Amoghavarshan.

'Second Ashoka' - Kanishka

2.Karthika Thirunal Ramavarma (Dharmaraja)

(1758-1798)
 Ruler known as Tripapur Muppan, "Chiravayur Muppan" and 'Kizhavan
Raja'.
 Ruler of Travancore who was a contemporary of Pazassi Raja and
Shaktan Thampuran.
 The ruler of Travancore who corresponded with the Pope at the
Vatican.
 The ruler who built ‘Nedumkota’.
 The ruler who ruled for the longest time in Travancore..
 The ruler who shifted the capital of Travancore from Padmanabha
Puram (Kalkulam) to Thiruvananthapuram.
 Ruler of Travancore who wrote 'Balaramabharata'.(A work composed
by Dharma Raja based on Natya Shastra: Balarama Bharatam)
 King of Travancore during the invasion of Kerala by Hyder Ali and Tipu
Sultan.
 The ruler who built 'Kulashekhara Mandapam' in Padmanabhapuram
Palace.
 Treaty of Suchindram was signed between the native kingdoms of
Cochin and Travancore (1762).
 This agreement was signed at Suchindram temple.
 Colonel Macaulay (1795 - 1810) was the first British Resident of
Travancore
 Kunchan Nambiar and Unnaivaryar were prominent poets who lived in
the audience of Karthika Tirunal.

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  In 1766, Dharmaraja made the second ‘ tripadidanam’.
 Tipu Sultan attacked Nedungota in 1789.
 Dharmaraja died in 1798.
 Major plays of Dharmaraja - Subhadraharana, Rajasuyam, Kalyana
Saugandhikam, Panchali Swayamvaram, Gandharva Vijayam

Rajakesavadasa

 First Prime Minister of Travancore to assume the post of Dewan.

 Known as 'Valia Divanji'.
 Kesavapillai is the real name of Rajakesavadasa
 Kesavadasa got the name 'Raja' by Lord Mornington
 The prominent places built by Raja Keshavdas are Alappuzha Town and
Chala Kampolam.
 Varkala town was founded by Ayyappan Marthandapilla.
 MC Road (State Highway 1) built by Diwan Rajakesavadasa.
( Kesavadasapuram-Angamali)

3. Avittam Thirunal Balaramavarma

(1798-1810)

 Avitam Thirunal Balarama Varma is the weakest ruler in the history of

Travancore.
 It was during Balarama Varma's reign that a trade agreement was
signed between Travancore and the British East India Company .
 First resident of Travancore- Macaulay
 Balaramapuram and Vizhinjam harbor are the places built by
Umminithambi who was the divan of Avitam Thirunal.

Veluthampi Dalava

 Avitam Thirunal Balaramavarma's powerful minister.

 Kalkulam (Kanyakumari) is the birthplace of Veluthampi.
 Veluthambi Dalava's real name is Thalakulath Velayudhan
Chempakaraman Thambi.
 In 1802, Veluthampi Dalava became the Dewan of Thiruvithankur.
 Veluthampi Dalava led the anti-British struggles in Thiru Vithankur.
 Veluthampi Dalava was helped by Paliathachchan, minister in Kochi to
fight against the British

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  Diwan who established Hajoor Kacheri (secretariat) in Kollam.
 Changanassery slave market founded by Veluthambi.
 Divan made Pathiramanal island in Vembanatukayal arable.
 Veluthampi Dalava sacrificed his life in 1809.
 Veluthampi Dalava committed suicide at Mannadi temple in
Pathanamthitta
 Veluthampi Dalava's memorial is located at Mannadi.

Kundara Proclamation

 Veluthampi Dalava issued the 'Kundara Proclamation' on 11 January

1809 (Year 984 Makaram 1).
 Ilampallur temple is the temple where Kundara Proclamation was
witnessed.

Umminithambi

 After Veluthampi Dalava, Umminithambi was the Diwan of Travancore

 Diwan who built Vizhinjam port
 Diwan who established courts called ‘Insuwaf Kacheri kal‘ in
Travancore.
 Diwan who started the police force in Travancore.( Before the police
force there was a force of Nair soldiers.)
 1810 Diwan founded weaving town at Balaramapuram.

4. Ayilyam Thirunal Gauri Lakshmi Bhai

(1810 - 1815)
 First woman ruler to rule Travancore.
 The ruler who ruled for the shortest time in Travancore.
 Ruler who abolished the slave trade in Travancore.
 Slave trade was abolished in Travancore on 5th December 1812.
 An administrator who implemented the secretarial system of
administration and the pattayam (Land deed) system.
 Ruler who established District Court and Appellate Court at Travancore.
 The ruler who introduced vaccination and allopathic treatment in
Travancore.
 The Devaswom administration was taken over by the government
during the reign of Rani Gaurilakshmibai.
 Swati Thirunal is the son of Rani Gauri Lakshmi Bhai.

Colonel Munro

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 Diwan of Travancore at the time of Rani Gauri Lekshmi Bhai(Dewan
after Ummini Thambi).
 First European Diwan in Travancore.
 He was appointed as Travancore Resident in 1811.
 First Resident of Travancore.
 First Non-Hindu Diwan in the history of Travancore.
 Diwan who prepared the legal code called 'Chattavariolas'.
 British who was Diwan in Travancore and Kochi.

5. Uthritati Thirunal Rani Gauri Parvati

Bhai (1815-1829)
 First regent ruler of Travancore.
 Ruler who abolished export and import duties.
 The ruler of Travancore declared that education is the duty of the
government.
 Ruler who made primary education compulsory in Travancore.
(Educational colleges were taken over by the government.)
 Parvati Puthanaar was constructed during the time of Rani Gauri
Parvathi Bhai.
 Parvati Puthanaar is a canal that connects Veli backwater and
Kadinamankulam backwater.
 Ruler in Travancore who allowed lower castes to wear gold, silver etc.
jewellery.
 The Maharani passed a proclamation allowing everyone in her
kingdom to tile the roofs of their houses.

 Coffee cultivation was introduced into Travancore for the first time.
 The ruler who abolished the 'Uzhiyam vela’ in Travancore.
 Ruler at the time when the London Mission Society started its work in
Travancore.
 London Mission Society was first started in Nagercoil.

6. Swati Thirunal Rama Varma (1829-

1846)
 The King ,who was known as Dakshina Bhojan' and 'Garbhashreeman'.
 Ruler of Travancore known as 'King of Musicians' and 'Musician of
Kings'.

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  King of Travancore who was fond of Carnatic music and ‘veena
vayana’.
 Ruler who moved ‘ Hajoor Kacheri’ from Kollam to Thiruvanantapuram
 The ruler who abolished the ancient punishment method of
'Suchindram Kaimuk'.
 Ruler who started English education in Travancore.
 Mohiniyattam is a dance form that flourished during Swati Thirunal.
 Ruler of Travancore, who managed more than twenty languages.
 Travancore army was given the name 'Nair Brigade' by the ruler.
 The reign of Swati Thirunal is known as the 'Golden Age of Modern
Travancore'.
 The head scholars of Swati Thirunal's congregation were known as
'Thanjavur nalvar'.
 Vadivelu, Ponnaiah, Chinnaiah and Sivanandan were known as the
‘Thanjavur nalvar sangam’.
 Swati Thirunal established the English School in Travancore in 1834. (It
later became Raja's Free School and later University College)
 Swati Thirunal was the first king of Kerala to appear on a postage
stamp.
 Iraimman Thambi is the head poet of Swati Thirunal.
 The song 'Omanathingal kidao' is composed by Iraimman Thambi.

First in Travancore

Census - Swati Thirunal (1836)

Regular Census - Ayilyam Thirunal (1875)

Established by Swati Thirunal

Thaikkad Hospital

Horsemanship(Kuthira malika)

Trivandrum Zoo

Observatory

Travancore Public Library

Nakshathra Bungalow

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Court of Munsif

Departments initiated by Swati Thirunal

Irrigation Department

Engineering Department

Department of Agriculture

7. Uttaram Thirunal Marthandavarma

(1847 - 1860)
 The ruler who issued the proclamation freeing the children of slaves.
 The ruler who gave permission to Channar women to wear upper
clothes and agree (July 26, 1859).
 The ruler who established the ‘ pen pallikkoodam’ in
Thiruvananthapuram.
 The King of Travancore at the time of the 1857 revolt (Sepoy Mutiny).
 Administrator at the time of establishment of post office system in
Travancore.
 The first post office in Kerala was established in 1857 at Alappuzha.
 Ruler of Travancore at the time of establishing the first coir factory in
Kerala (1859, Alappuzha).
 Darragh Smail, the first coir factory in Alappuzha, was established by
James Darragh and Henry Smail.
 James Darragh is an American of Irish descent.

8. Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1860-

1880)
 King of Travancore who made the ‘Pandarapatta Proclamation’ (1865).
 The Pandarapatta Declaration is known as the 'Magna Carta' of
Travancore.
 The temple entry proclamation is known as the 'Magna Carta of
Kerala'.
 Travancore ruler who made the ‘Janmi-kudiyan Valambaram’ (1867).
 The ruler at the time of confiscating the newspaper Sandishtavadi.
 The ruler at the time when Travancore got the title of 'Mathruka Rajya'
(Model State).

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  The ruler who started vernacular schools in Travancore.
 Ruler instituted special class for legal studies.
 Queen Victoria was the British Queen who bestowed the title of
'Maharaja' on Ayilyam Thirunal in 1866.
 T. Madhava Rao is the famous Diwan of Ayilyam Thirunal.
 In 1860, T. Madhava Rao was the minister who started the public works
department in Travancore.
 In 1861, the government opened the Anchal (post office) to the public.
 Eminent in the audience of Ayilyam Thirunal were Kerala Varma Valiya
Koi Thampuran, A.R. Rajaraja Varma and Raja Ravi Varma.

Established by Ayilyam Thirunal

 Thiruvananthapuram District General Hospital, Civil Hospital, Mental

Hospital, Arts College, Latex
 Kollam-Punalur Suspension Bridge (1877)
 Albert Henry was the architect of the Punalur Suspension Bridge.
 Secretariat building was constructed at Thiruvananthapuram.
 William Barton was the architect of the Secretariat building.
 The Secretariat building was inaugurated in 1869.
 It was Swati Thirunal who worked hard to get the status of 'Mathruka
Rajyam (Model State)' for Travancore.
 Ayilyam Thirunal was the ruler at the time when Travancore got the
status of 'Mathruka Rajyam' (model state).

9. Visakham Thirunal Rammarma (1880-

1885)
 The King of Travancore, famous as a 'scholar'.
 The King of Travancore at the time of drafting Mullaperiyar lease
agreement.
 Ruler who described the Mullaperiyar lease as 'written with my heart's
blood'.
 Ramayankar was the famous minister of Visakham Thirunal.
 A complete land survey was held in Travancore during the reign of
Visakham Thirunalin.
 Visakham Thirunal was the king who encouraged the cultivation of
Tapioca in Travancore.
 ‘Sree Visakh’ is a Tapoica variety named in memory of Sree Visakham
Thirunal.

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  Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma separated the police and
administration of justice in Travancore.
 The first cotton mill in Travancore was established in 1881 in Kollam
district.
 Irrigation projects in Nanchinadu were extended by Visakham Thirunal.
 Nanchinad is known as the 'Paddy field of Thiruvithamkur'.

10. Shri Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma

(1885-1924)
 King of Travancore to whom the Malayali Memorial (1891) and first
Ezhava Memorial (1896) was submitted.
 Malayali Memorial was submitted on 1 January 1891.
 KP Shankara Menon was the first to sign the Malayali Memorial.
 GP Pillai was the second to sign the Malayali Memorial.
 Dr. Palpu signed the third at the Malayali Memorial.
 On September 3, 1896, the first Ezhava Memorial was submitted to Sri
Moolam Thirunal.
 Ruler who passed the Janmi-Kudian Regulation Act (1896) in
Travancore.
 The King of Travancore made primary education free.
 A ruler who allowed children from backward communities to enter
government schools.
 The Travancore ruler who started the Archaeological Research
Department.
 Sree Moolam Thirunal was the ruler of Travancore when the Vaikom
Satyagraha was started on 30 March 1924.
 Ayyankali is the first Harijan to become a member of Srimoolam
Prajasabha.
 P. Rajagopalachari is the Diwan of Travancore who exiled
Swadesabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai.
 Sree Moolam Thirunal was the ruler of Travancore when the Travancore
Legislative Council came into force in 1888.
 In 1904, the Travancore Legislative Council became the Sree Moolam
Praja Sabha.
 The first meeting of Sri Moolam Prajasabha was held in 1904 (VJT Hall).

Mullaperiyar Dam

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  Sri Visakham Thirunal was the king at the time of Mullaperiyar lease
agreement was written.
 The king at the time of the inauguration of the Mullaperiyar Dam was
Sri Moolam Tirunal (1895).
 Ramayankar was the Diwan of Travancore who signed the Periyar
Lease Agreement for the Mullaperiyar Dam.

Prominent institutions started during the era of Shri Moolam

Thirunal

Finger Print Bureau, Handwriting Library(Hastha Likhitha Library), Women's

College, Low College, Ayurveda College, Sanskrit College, Durguna Parihara
Padasala, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Ayyangkali Hall (VJT Hall)

11. Puradam Thirunal Sethulakshmi Bhai

(1924-1931)
 Travancore ruler who abolished animal sacrifice and Devadasi system
in temples.
 Devadasi system is labeled as 'kudikari sambradayam'.
 Ruler at the time of Suchindram Satyagraha and Tiruvarppu
Satyagraha.
 Memorandum on the occasion of the Vaikom Satyagraha was
submitted to Sethulakshmi Bhai.
 Ruler who electrified the town of Thiruvananthapuram (1929).
 Ruler who ruled Travancore as regent from 1924 to 1931 as Sri
Chithirathirunal was a minor.
 Gram Panchayats was formed during the time of Rani Sethulakshmi
Bhai.
 Travancore ruler launched free mid-day meal scheme.
 The ruler of Travancore granted freedom of movement to the Avarnas
through temple streets in Travancore.
 The only ruler of Travancore visited by Gandhiji (1925).
 Ruler of Travancore when the Nair Act came into force.

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 Ruler who ended ‘Marumakkathayam’ in Travancore.
 Travancore Newspaper Act was passed in 1926.
 Sree Moolam Thirunal was the ruler of Travancore when the Vaikom
Satyagraha was started.
 Sethulakshmi Bhai was the ruler of Travancore when the Vaikom
Satyagraha ended.

12. Shri Chithira Thirunal

Balaramavarma(1931-1949)
 The last ruler of Travancore.
 Ruler issuing temple entry proclamation (November 12, 1936)
 The ruler issued the order, abolition of capital punishment in
Travancore.
 First King of Travancore who made the sea voyage.
 Ruler who introduced adult suffrage in Travancore.
 First Chancellor of Travancore University.
 The first ruler of Kerala to visit the Pope.
 Ruler who enacted the Widow Remarriage Act in 1938.
 Ruler of Travancore during Punnapra Vayalar struggle in 1946.
 The King of Travancore held the position of 'Rajapramukhan' of
Thirukochi.
 Travancore ruler during the Rajdhani march in 1938.
 Ruler of Travancore when India became independent.
 V.S.Subhamanya Iyer is the chairman of the temple entry study
committee appointed during the Chithira Thirunal
 Muhammad Habibullah was the only Muslim Diwan of Travancore
 The Travancore State Congress was formed in 1938.
 Pattam Thanupillai led the formation of the Travancore State Congress.
 Srichithira Thirunal died in 1991 at Kavadiyar Palace.
 The statue of Sreechithira Thirunalin has been installed in
Thiruvananthapuram University College.
 CP Ramaswami Iyer was the last Diwan of Travancore.
 P.G.N Unnithan was the last acting Diwan of Travancore. \
 'Travancore State Manual' was written by V. Nagamaiah.
 'Kochi State Manual' was written by C. Achyuthamenon.
 'Malabar Manual' was written by William Logan.

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Established during the reign of Sri Chithirathirunal

 Travancore Rubberworks, Kundara Clay Factory, FACT, Punalur Plywood

Factory.
 Nellikampetti Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala's first wildlife sanctuary (1934)
 Travancore Public Service Commission (1936)
 Travancore University was established in 1937. (Became Kerala
University in 1957)
 State Transport Service (1938)
 Thiruvananthapuram Radio Station (1943)

Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyer

 CP Ramaswamy Iyer was the first Vice Chancellor of Travancore

University.
 CP Rama Swamy Iyer implemented the American model of governance
in Travancore
 CP Ramaswamy Iyer was the Diwan who made the 'Independent
Travancore Declaration'.
 It was KCS Mani who tried to kill CP Ramaswamy Iyer.

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