Marthanda Varma
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma; 1706 – 7 July 1758, known as the Maker of Modern Travancore, was ruler of the Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma .
Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch forces at the Battle of Colachel in 1741. He then adopted a European mode of discipline for his army and expanded his kingdom northward. He built a sizeable standing army of about 50,000 men, as part of designing an "elaborate and well-organised" war machine, reduced the power of the Nair nobility, and fortified the northern boundary of his kingdom. His alliance in 1757 with the ruler of Kochi, against the northern Kingdom of Calicut, enabled the kingdom of Kochi to survive.
Travancore under Marthanda Varma made a deliberate attempt to consolidate its power by the use of Indian Ocean trade. It was the policy of Marthanda Varma to offer assistance to Syrian Christian traders. The principal merchandise was black pepper, but other goods also came to be defined as royal monopoly items between the 1740s and the 1780s. Eventually, Travancore challenged and broke the Dutch blockade of the Kerala coast.
Trivandrum became a prominent city in Kerala under Marthanda Varma. In January, 1750, Marthanda Varma decided to "donate" his kingdom to Sri Padmanabha and thereafter rule as the deity's "vice-regent". Marthanda Varma's policies were continued in large measure by his successor, Rama Varma .
Early life
Marthanda Varma was born in 1706 to queen Karthika Thirunal, the Queen of Attingal, and Raghava Varma of Kilimanur Palace. Queen Karthika Thirunal - an adoptee from the northern Kolathunadu ruling family - was the senior queen of Attingal at the time.At the time of Varma's birth, Trippappur Swaroopam was a small chiefdom extending from Edava in the north to Aralvaimozhi in the south. The fundamental politico-economic structure of medieval Kerala was going through a crisis.
The power of the king of Venad was very weak and he could not sustain his control over his territory. The old political structure of the medieval Kerala was going through a crisis in the beginning of the 18th century.
- Decentralized state. Influence of the local land lords and the barons. The authority of the throne was also curbed by the Council of Eight and a Half, the managing committee of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. There was no standing army.
- European monopoly in Indian Ocean spice trade. The constant Dutch blockade of the Malabar Coast. Trade with the Europeans was an important source for augmenting the financial reserves of the Kerala kingdoms.
- Quarrels and open warfare among the various royal lineages. Trade rivalries between the Dutch and English companies had a role in intensifying the conflict among the branches.
Rule of Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma ascended the throne when the crisis in Travancore had already deepened. King Rama Varma was forced to invite troops from Tamil Nadu to collect dues and impose order. Even the Padmanabha Swamy Temple affairs were heading towards a crisis for the lack of funds. The Thampi brothers, sons of Rama Varma, immediately revolted against Marthanda Varma with the assistance of a Tamil army.Marthanda Varma's reign was one of constant warfare, against opponents both inside and outside his territory. After reducing the power of the Ettuveetil Pillamar, the Nair aristocracy, and their associates, the Yogakkars, Marthanda Varma turned his attention to central Kerala. He realised that Dutch power in Kerala stemmed from their flourishing spice trade at the port of Kochi. He set out to conquer the major spice-producing areas supplying cargo to Kochi. After declaring a state monopoly on pepper in Travancore in 1743, between then and 1752, the king annexed Quilon, Kayamkulam, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur and Purakkad to Travancore.
- In 1731, the port of Kollam - which was ruled by a branch of the Venadu family to which Marthanda Varma also belonged - was defeated and its last chief was made to sign a treaty allowing the annexation of his chiefdom by Travancore after his death. The chief was brought to Trivandrum and lodged almost as a state prisoner in the Valikoikkal Palace. A contingent of the Travancore army under Dalavay Arumukham Pillai was stationed at Kollam.
- Marthanda Varma next turned his attention towards the little chiefdom of Marta and seized it. The neighbouring chiefdom of Kayamkulam - sensing an imminent invasion by Travancore - soon allied itself with Kochi, Purakkad and Vadakkumkur. The Kayamkulam chief was also successful in rescuing the Kollam chief from his Trivandrum prison. The allies built new fortifications and strengthened their defences against the threat of Travancore. The Dutch East India Company also professed to support the war effort.
- The subsequent invasion of Marta by the Kayamkulam chief signalled the outbreak of the war. The Travancore army seized Nedumangadu and Kottarakkara and prevented the joined forces of Elayadathu and Kayamkulam. Travancore Dalavay Ramayyan then lead an expeditionary force to capture the city of Kollam. But, he was forced to withdraw without accomplishing his mission.
- Having equipped their forces with the help of the French and the English Companies, Travancore renewed a military operation against the chief of Kollam. In the campaigns that ensued, the ruler of Kayamkulam was killed. But the defence of Kollam continued under the leadership of the brother of the deceased chief and Travancore forces were forced to fall back once again.
- Travancore's next campaign was against Elayadathu Swaroopam. When the chief of Kottarakara who was kept in solitary confinement in Trivandrum died in 1739, Marthanda Varma refused to recognise the claim of the senior female member to succession. The princess fled to Thekkumkur where the chief gave granted her asylum. At this juncture, the Dutch Governor of Ceylon Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff sensed an opportunity to involve further in the politics of Kerala.
- In 1739, van Imhoff arrived in Kochi, took up the cause of the female ruler of Kottarakara and protested against the annexation of that chiefdom by Marthanda Varma in a meeting between the two. In 1741, the Dutch reinstated the female ruler of Kottarakara against the wishes of Marthanda Varma, who attacked the chiefdom and defeated the combined Kottarakkara - Dutch forces before finally fully annexing the chiefdom to Travancore while the female ruler fled to Kochi.
Battle of Colachel (1741)
In the following battle at Colachel, the Travancore forces won a resounding victory over the Dutch. More than twenty Dutch were taken as prisoners of war from Colachel. Among them was Eustachius de Lannoy, who attracted the king's special notice. Eustachius de Lannoy, commonly known in Travancore as the 'Valiya Kappittan' was entrusted with the organisation and drilling of a special regiment, which he did to the "entire satisfaction of the king". De Lannoy was raised to the rank of general in Travancore army and proved of considerable service to Marthanda Varma in subsequent battles.
Treaty of Mavelikkara (1753)
- Following the expulsion of the Dutch, Marthanda Varma now turned his attention once again towards Kayamkulam. In 1742, Travancore forces attacked Kayamkulam possessions at Kollam and fought the Kayamkulam army led by Achuta Warrier and chiefs from Valiya Kakkanadu Madhom. Although Travancore was defeated in this battle, Marthanada Varma reinforced his army with cavalry brought in from Tirunelveli before mounting an attack on Kayamkulam, which led to the final defeat of the chiefdom. A treaty known as the Treaty of Mannar was signed, under which Kayamkulam became a tributary state of Travancore.
- However, by 1746, the Kayamkulam chief once again showed signs of rebellion and when his "conspiracies" with the northern chiefdoms such as Kottayam, Changanassery, Kochi and Ambalapuzha came to the attention of Marthanda Varma, Kayamkulam was annexed by a final battle in which the chief fled to Kochi and a branch of the family settled near Charamood known as "Moothantedom". Travancore now extended from Kanyakumari to Kayamkulam in the north.
- Following this, Ambalapuzha, Kottayam and Changanassery were also annexed to Travancore by 1753. The principality of Meenachil was also annexed.
- In 1753, the tributary states of Kochi collectively known as Karappuram and Alangad were ceded to Travancore. In 1755, the ruler of Kozhikode was also defeated at a battle in Purakkad. He was supported by the armies of some other local chiefs.
Administration
- Use of maritime outlets: Marthanda Varma made a determined bid to consolidate his authority by the use of Indian Ocean spice trade. The control of ocean trade was crucial for the statecraft of 18th century India. Travancore challenged and eventually broke the Dutch blockade of the southern Malabar Coast.
- Royal monopoly : a number of traded goods such as black pepper were defined as royal monopoly items. These items required a state license for trade in Travancore.
- Dismantling of the old aristocracy - complete restructuring of the medieval political framework: Marthanda Varma reduced the power of the Nair aristocracy in Travancore. Kings of Kerala had earlier been dependent militarily on these powerful community of nobles.
- Patronage to Syrian Christians: To limit the European involvement in trade, Marthanda Varma extended his patronage to the ancient mercantile community in Kerala. The Syrian Christians soon enhanced their position as landholders and those who controlled the new monopoly.
- Extensive bureaucratisation : a Dalavay was appointed to head the military, fiscal and commercial administration. Below the Dalavay was established an extensive hierarchy, from the Valia Sarvadhi Kariakkars to the Kariakkars, Manikars and Adhikaris. Upper positions of this new system was dominated by Brahmins effectively reduce the Nairs influences in the administration. The old Pandara Kariakkar and Swarupi Janam were replaced by a new administrative system. Divisions known as Adhikaram and Mandapattu Vatukkal were introduced.
- *Dalavays under Marthanda Varma
- **Arumukham Pillai 1729–1736
- **Thanu Pillai 1736–1737
- **Ramayyan Dalavay 1737–1756
- **Marthanda Pillai 1756–1758
- Military machine: a substantial standing army, roughly estimated at around 50,000, was created. The soldiers were mainly ordinary Nairs who received tax concessions for the period under service and a pension on retirement. Marava Cavalry and Pathan Cavalry was also used by Marthanda Varma. Assistance from some defected Dutch officers were also received. With the beginning of the conflict against Quilon and Kayamkulam, supply of English arms and ammunition also began to increase. Artillery batteries were positioned facing the Arabian Sea from Purakkad to Cape Comorin. Construction of intricate fortifications in Travancore, including the Travancore Lines.
- Expansion of agricultural production: development of water harvesting and irrigation projects, and the so-called "Kulikkanam" tenure. The Kulikkanam was applicable to "newly planted trees and freshly sown lands", where a tax reductions were granted. The tenure was found along with the Otti tenure, similar to the Kanam tenure. A number of commercial crops were cultivated in lands under this tenure. The Kulikkanam cultivators usually went to the market to sell their goods for cash.
- The basis for the changes in the political and economic relations was provided by the transformation of the old agrarian relations. Extensive land survey and settlement.
Culture and religion
Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram was re-created as the gigantic structure of today and new state ceremonies such Murajapam, Bhadra Deepam and others were introduced by Marthanda Varma. The main Vishnu idol of the shrine, which was mostly destroyed in a fire during his predecessor Rama Varma's time, was also re-constructed. He also created Ottakkal Mandapam as well as the Sheevelippura. Out of the seven floors of the temple gopura, five were finished during his reign.
Thiruvananthapuram became a prominent city in Kerala under Marthanda Varma. As a result of the annexation of neighbouring chiefdoms, the artists and scholars from these places migrated to Trivandrum, turning it into a cultural centre. Marthanda Varma gave patronage to different temple art forms including Koothu, Padhakam, Kathakali, Thullal and Koodiyattam. Noted artists such as Ramapurathu Warrier and Kunchan Nambiar amongst others served as his court poets.
Desiring the dignity of 'Ay' Kshatriya, he performed a set of elaborate and expensive Mahadaanam rituals. They included the Hiranyagarbha, in which has was reborn from a golden cow. While this secured him the status of a Kshatriya, the effect was temporary, he and his descendants had to perform these rituals at regular intervals.
Thrippadidanam
In 1749–50, Marthanda Varma decided to "donate" his realm to Sri Padmanabha and thereafter rule as the deity's "vice-regent".Purpose of Thrippadidanam
- Separation of the newly formed "unitary kingship" from the disputes and frictions in the civil society.
- Formalisation of the new power structure in Travancore.
- To integrate the existing social divisions in Kerala under the emerging power structure.
Death