Kaimal is a title that was historically used by chiefs from the Nair caste in the feudal period of what is now the Indian state of Kerala.The kaimals were one of the highest caste of Hindus in kerala. Various families used it thus, including the Kaimals of Koratti, Angi and Koddachery.
Portuguese ascendancy
The Fifth Portuguese India Armada under Afonso de Albuquerque arrived in 1503, just in time to save the Cochin king from the Zamorin of Calicut. The Portuguese then turned their attention to the chieftains who had fought against the Cochin and committed many atrocities where they killed inhabitants in large numbers and indiscriminately burnt downtowns and villages. The Portuguese impressed upon the king the need to deal with his chiefs and entered into a treaty with the Anchi Kaimals whereby they accepted the overlordship of the Cochin throne.
On 26 October 1662, the Dutch re-engaged the Portuguese and with the help of the Anchi Kaimals took complete possession of Cochin from the Portuguese. T. I. Poonen says
Dynasty
Kaimal The term is derived from Kai which in the Malayalam language means hand, signifying power. Earlier Kaimals were either recognized chieftains, Major areas of Vaikom, Niranampetti, Irinjalakuda, Ranni, Koratti, Niranampetti, Angi and Koddachery were under control of Kaimal naduvazhis. Old name of Eranamkulam was Anjukaimal nadu. Kartha is a related caste.
Chiefs of Cochin
KP Padmanabha Menon in his History of Kerala, Vol 2 mentions the Anji Kaimals whose Chief was the Cheranellur Kartha as owning all of Eranakulam. In fact, Eranakulam is known as Anji Kaimal in the early maps of Kerala. See Dutch in Malabar, 1910 shows a map from Common Era1740 that shows the area of AnjiKaimal as almost twice as large as the Cochin State. The other chiefs he mentions quoting Gollennesse Moorianatt Nambiar 2) Paliath Achan Codacherry Caimalieone Changera Codda Kaimal, and 6) Panamoocattu Kaimal. The last four Kaimals are known as the Kaimals of Nandietter Naddu. The Kaimals of Nandietter Naddu had Nayar troops of 43,000 according to Heer Van Reede of the Dutch East India Company from 1694.The Kaimal royal members had moved to Goa during the Portuguese era.
End of power
P. K. S. Raja gives the following factors for the end of feudalism in Travancore and Cochin:
His violation in his dealings with the Etavita Pillamar of the principal custom of Malabar that a Nair lord would not be punished
His dealing with Raja of Quillon where instead of making a conquered chief a subordinate, the Raja was made a state prisoner
His invitation of Hyder Ali to aid him in suppressing the revolt of the "whole country North of Kayamkulam" who did not appreciate his policies and his treatment of the nobility
The treaty between Cochin and Travancore and an inserted clause in 1701 that Travancore would aid Cochin in putting down the nobles of Cochin
Leading nobles of Cochin were brought to Tripunithra and asked to take an Oath of allegiance to the Rajas of Cochin and Travancore. After this, says P. K. S. Raja, the nobles of Cochin like those of Travancore lost their political powers
