Trivandrum became a prominent city in Kerala under Marthanda Varma. He undertook many irrigational works, built roads and canals for communication and gave active encouragement to foreign trade. Marthanda Varma's policies were continued in large measure by his successor, Rama Varma "Dharma Raja" — The territorial conquests of Marthanda Varma were intended not only for settling political differences but also for controlling areas that yielded food crops and commercial products, particularly pepper for the ports of trade in southern and central Kerala The reorganisation of land relations effected by Marthanda Varma following his conquest of Quilon, Kayamkulam, Tekkenkur and Vadakkenkur was essentially to ensure this control of resources.
We thank you for pitching in. However, Marthanda Varma was adamant about his plans to carve a large kingdom, making the Travancore-Dutch War a certainty. The Dutch, supported by the armies of Kollam and Kayamkulam, planned to occupy the entire region between Colachel and Kanyakumari. Legend has it that Marthanda Varma started his day with a visit to the Adi Kesava in the temple at Thiruvattar that still stands and consecrated his sword there.
He then marched on to face the Dutch force at Colachel. Marthanda Varma, led a siege and was able to trap the Dutch inside the Colachel fort. Marthanda Varma, used his military prowess to trap the Dutch inside the Colachel fort. Despite their desperate attempts, they could not break the siege. There were several attempts made by the Dutch fleet to attack from the sea, but the Travancore forces successfuly resisted them.
Marthanda Varma went on to establish his own monopoly over the pepper trade and create a powerful and rich kingdom. The Dutch leader, Captain De Lenoy was captured in the battle and interestingly Marthanda Varma spared his life on the condition that he train his soldiers as per the western Dutch techniques.
When the chief of Kottarakara who was kept in solitary confinement in Thiruvananthapuram died in Marthanda Varma refused to recognise the claim of the senior female member to succession. The princess fled to Tekkumkur where the chief gave granted her political asylum.
At this juncture the Dutch Governor of Ceylon Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff sensed an opportunity to involve further in the pepper politics of Kerala. In 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 the Dutch reinstated the female ruler of the 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.
Thiruvithaamkoor then launched a series of raids on the Dutch forts in the area and captured them all. In retaliation, a Dutch artillery force landed at Colachel Kanyakumari district from Ceylon and conquered up to Kottar. The Dutch forces then advanced against Kalkulam, Thiruvithaamkoor's capital.
Marthanda Varma, who was then in the north of his state promptly marched his forces to the south and arrived at Kalkulam just in time to prevent its fall to the Dutch. In the following battle at Colachel 10 August , the Thiruvithaamkoor 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 Thiruvithaamkoor as the 'Valiya Kappittan' Senior Captain was entrusted with the organization 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 Thiruvithaamkoor army and proved of considerable service to Marthanda Varma in subsequent battles. Marthanda Varma realised that Dutch power in the region stemmed from their flourishing trade at the port of Kochi English: Cochin.
He set out to conquer the major spice-producing areas and seize the Kochi hinterland to deny the Dutch access to these trade goods. After declaring a state monopoly on pepper in Thiruvithaamkoor in , between then and , the king annexed multiple spice-producing areas including Kollam, Kayamkulam, Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur and Purakkad to Thiruvithaamkoor thereby delivering a serious blow to the commerce of the Dutch.
A treaty was concluded between Marthanda Varma and the Dutch East India Company with both parties agreeing to live in peace and friendship. It was signed at Mavelikkara on 15 August Following the expulsion of the Dutch, Marthanda Varma now turned his attention once again towards Kayamkulam which continued to seek help from the Dutch.
In , Thiruvithaamkoor forces attacked Kayamkulam possessions at Kollam and fought the Kayamkulam army led by Achuta Warrier and chiefs from Valiya Kakkanadu Madhom. Although Thiruvithaamkoor was defeated at 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 the chiefdom.
A treaty known as the Treaty of Mannar was signed, under which Kayamkulam became a tributary state of Thiruvithaamkoor. However, by , 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.
The following is from related documents. In the 3rd year of the reign of sri marthanda varma- who having conquered dutch and set up a pillar of victory in colachel; having terrified dutch captain at Kolachel on the bank of the great river and having taken possession of his women and treasures; and having performed the anointment of victory, was graciously seated on the throne of heroes On the 86th day of the 3rd year of the king's reign. Following this, Ambalapuzha, Kottayam and Changanassery were also annexed to Thiruvithaamkoor by The Ettuveetil Pillamar and Ettara Yogam play an important role in the history of Travancore and were responsible, as per legend, for the murder of Rajah Aditya Varma in the previous century, the murder of five sons of Rani Umayamma and other similar crimes, all committed in a bid to extirpate the Travancore Royal House.
It was into these conditions, where the sovereign was powerless under the refractory nobles of the state that Marthanda Varma was born in Marthanda Varma, from his formative years was an intelligent prince and it was on his advice in that Rajah Rama Varma signed a treaty with the Madurai Nayaks and secured a foreign force in the country to check the activities of the Ettuveetil Pillamar and other rebellious chieftains.
Previously he had also signed a treaty with the English, styling himself as the "Prince of Neyatinkara" in This incurred the wrath of the Eight Lords and thus they bent upon murdering the prince. The result was that Marthanda Varma had to flee the capital for the safety of the northern states such as Kottarakara, Kayamkulam etc. Pages: 1 2 3 last. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help.
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