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67-678: English East India company's involvement in Attingal principality is believed to have begun 1680s. Rani Aswathi Tirunal Umayamma (1677-1684) gave permission to the English to create a settlement at Anjengo in 1684. The settlement was fortified beginning in 1695 and the Anjengo/Anchuthengu fort was completed in 1699. The Queen/Rani of Attingal, whose eldest son will be the King of Travancore, had special powers to deal directly with foreign powers. The Dutch and

134-777: A fort at Anjengo was secured from the queen in 1694. Umayamma also concluded an agreement with the Danes at Edava , near Attingal Queen Umayamma built the administrative foundation on which her grandson Marthanda Varma built modern Travancore. Dutch commander Henrik van Rheede (who met Umayamma in 1677) writing in 1694, concludes that Attingal could summon an army of 30,000 men at the time. Umayamma died in 1698 in Valiyathura. Collateral branches of Venad ruling family exercised independent authority in their domains. They were Elayadathu Swaroopam ( Kottarakara , Desinganad Swaroopam ( Quilon ), and Peraka Thavazhi ( Nedumangad ). Besides, even within

201-600: A group of nobles known as Madathil Pillamar ,often mistaken for the Ettuveetil Pillamar. Earlier historians stated that the King had no authority over the temple and the Ettara Yogam and Pillamar were outside his control. However temple documents show that it was the king who appointed the highest dignitary of the temple, known as the Swamiyar . In fact, the authority of the king is considered to have been greatly valued for

268-500: A palace for himself at his capital. With so much power in their hands they wished to do away with the Royal House. The earlier chroniclers of Travancore history state that their chief intention was to extirpate the Royal House and convert the state into a pseudo-republic under their control, and eventually under a monarchy under one of themselves. With this in mind they plotted and assassinated Maharajah Aditya Varma by poisoning him and set

335-488: A small battle took place. There is an opinion among a group of historians that the revolt took place with the prior permission of the queen. The local people then laid siege to the fort and it was said that the siege continued for about 6 months. Samuel Ince, the gunner, led the defence of the fort for six months till the arrival of the company's troops from the British controlled Tellicherry . The reinforced British then suppressed

402-642: A sovereign enclave in Trippapoor. In 1678, the English Company was invited by the Queen of Attingal to open a factory in her territory. She wrote to the Company offering trade in Attingal. Next year, the factory broker Verdamon Beca, was sent to her with a letter for the purpose of making inquiries as to the resources of Attingal for supplying spices. In 1687, Captains John Shaxton and Richard Clifton were sent to "treat with

469-616: A treaty with the Queen of Quilon. But the garrison left behind by Rijcklof van Goens had to be withdrawn because of local and Portuguese resistance. With aid of the Zamorin of Calicut and his allies, the Dutch recaptured Quilon in December 1661. In 1662 they signed agreements with the ruler of Quilon and the king of Travancore reinstating the treaty of 1569. By the March 1662 treaty with the king of Travancore,

536-474: Is both feared and respected by everyone, some out of respect to her sex and other out of regard to the senior princess, which this Junior Queen knows so well how to turn to her advantage, that she not only rules Attingal but Trippappur itself within whose bounds no princess may set her feet according to their law, nor pass the river Karamana on pain of forfeiting their rights, but this young Amazon (Junior Queen Umayamma) has lately violated those customs and made even

603-634: Is registered regarding the aim of the Pillamar to extirpate the royal family. Even if they succeeded in killing the Royal family at Thiruvananthapuram , there were the other collateral branches at Nedumangad and Kottarakara , places where the Pillamar had no following. It may be noted that all these branches participated in the meetings and management of the Temple and hence were active in Thiruvananthapuram also. In

670-689: The Barons of the Eight Houses . Her nine-year-old son - not her nephew - Ravi Varma was crowned as the ruler of Venad, and Umayamma became Queen regent of Venad (1677). The regent and her son later shifted to Koyikkal Palace, Nedumangad. However, according to the records of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum and other sources, some historians have challenged the version given by Menon and claim that Umayamma did not have any children at all. Similarly

737-561: The Darpakulangara Palace and was cremated at Thiruvattar . The King had died a natural death. Another significant fact that has come to light is that Umayamma Rani had no children at all and hence the story of the murder of her five children is disproved. The Royal family consisted only of Umayamma Rani , a Senior Rani and Ravi Varma, the son of the Senior Rani. In fact, Umayamma had two adopted sons from 1677 who were however not in

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804-524: The Mukkuvar fishermen of the coast. The two palaces at Thiruvananthapuram , known as Ramanamadhom and Thevarathu Koikal were constructed from the wood and material of the palaces of the Pillamar. The Travancore State Manual written by scholar V. Nagam Aiya concludes by saying, Thus ended the long tale of crime and bloodshed committed by the lawless band of Ettuveetil Pillai and the Madampimar who molested

871-576: The (Trippappoor) king fly before her... As per P. S. Menon, Aditya Varma was assassinated by the Barons of the Eight Houses and the Association of Eight and Half (the Ettara Yogakkar). Umayamma (the only female member in the royal family as per Menon) was residing in a mud fort complex called Puthenkotta, on the western side of the river Killiar, at the time. She had six sons of whom five were also killed by

938-463: The Aromboli Pass and became the ruler of the country between Thovala and Edava on the coast line of Travancore. He reached suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram and camped at Manacaud. The Barons of the Eight Houses and the Association of Eight and Half (the Ettara Yogakkar) fled to safety. Umayamma herself fled Thiruvananthapuram and sought refuge at Nedumangad. The Muslim forces were eventually beaten back by

1005-575: The Dutch Governor in Ceylon, met with Umayamma in 1677 AD: The Senior Queen of Attingal, who is not alone the mother of the prince of Trippappur but the eldest of the entire royal family has a territory of her own, independent of Travancore, which was in alliance with the Company. Along with the Senior Queen of Attingal lives a younger one (Junior Queen Umayamma), but of such noble and manly conduct that she

1072-453: The Dutch and destroyed Fort Tengapattanam. The Dutch representative Nieuhoff describes Queen Umayamma as: ... I was introduced into her majesty's presence. She had a guard of above seven hundred Nair soldiers about her, all clad after the Malabar (Kerala) fashion; the queen's attire being no more than a piece of callicoe (calico) wrapt around her middle, the upper part of her body appearing for

1139-465: The Dutch obtained the monopoly of pepper and cinnamon trade. The treaty also provided for the expulsion of the Portuguese from Travancore. After the capture of Quilon, Johann Nieuhof was appointed as the governor of Dutch Quilon. He was later delegated by James Hustaert with the task of negotiating alliances with the Queen of Quilon. Beginning in the 1670s, the English Company began to pursue plans for

1206-448: The English settlement at Vilinjam should be withdrawn and that the English would contract to purchase all the pepper Attingal produced and pay 2.5% on all goods imported and exported with a present of 75 Venetian sequins. The treaty also included a clause that allowed Attingal to "appropriate 50% of any booty recovered from shipwrecks nearby". Because the English I called hither have always been obedient to me, I do hereby grant unto them

1273-620: The Junior Queen of Attingal under Senior Queen Makayiram Thirunal and subsequently as the Senior Queen of Attingal. While Ravi Varma ruled as the king of Trippapoor (1684-1718), Umayamma continued retention of the sovereign power over his swaroopam. She was able to negotiate independently with the English and Dutch factors in Kerala. The English East India Company secured factory sites at Vilinjam (Brinhjohn) , and Ruttera (either Valiyathura or Vettoor) from Umayamma in 1688. Permission to construct

1340-468: The Kolathunad ruling family (northern Kerala). A royal residence was constructed at Attingal (Chittatinkara), for the residence of the two princiesses, and they were installed as Senior and Junior Queens of Attingal ("Attingal Mootha Thampuran" and "Attingal Elaya Thampuran"). The land around Attingal was assigned to them, and the revenue derived therefrom was placed at their disposal. The eldest princess of

1407-523: The Kottayam royal family of northern Kerala, was adopted into the royal family during this time. He was given the title of "Prince of Hiranyanallur" and was then appointed as the queen's principle counsellor, and commander of all the militia then on the side of the queen. In 1680 Nanjanad (southern Travancore) was overrun by the troops (known locally as Mughilin pada- mughal army) led by a Muslim general (whose name has been lost). He marched into Travancore via

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1474-456: The Madurai rulers intended to invade Travancore in order to forcibly collect arrears in tribute. Travancore was a nominal tributary of the Madurai at the time. In an attempt to deal with the Barons of the Eight Houses, Umayyamma invoked the assistance of the Madurai pradhani. In late 1685, the Madurai pradhani Tiruvenkatanatha Ayya invaded Travancore with a large body of troops. In fact, this incursion

1541-523: The Palace on fire. After Aditya Varma's assassination his niece Umayamma Rani became the regent. The Pillamar approached her with condolences and vowed to support her. But within a year, five of her six sons were drowned under suspicious circumstances, probably at the instigation of the Pillamar, in the Kalippankulam pond.The surviving eldest son, now the only heir to the throne, could not assume power as per

1608-627: The Pillamar supported the Kunju Thampis . They furnished them with enough money and men to seek aid from the Pandyas of Madurai . However Marthanda Varma managed to avert war by bribing away the Pandyan army. Soon after this Padmanabhan and Raman Thampi were captured and killed at Nagercoil Palace. (It may be stated that according to a popular folklore, Marthanda Varma's enmity towards the Kunju Thampimar

1675-436: The Pillamar. But having received proof of the intention of the Pillamar to murder him they were all rounded up and tried soon after this. The Eight were either killed or exiled after sufficient evidence of conspiracy and murder was procured. Their houses were dug up ( Kulamthondal - a common punishment of the time) and all their assets and armies seized by the victorious Marthanda Varma . Their women and children were sold to

1742-455: The Pillamars pressurised the queen to prevent fortification of the settlements by the English. However, their efforts failed leading to resentment among many local feudal lords and local people who were also seething against monopolisation of pepper trade by the English, who often paid low prices for the priced produce. Since the establishment of the factory at Anjengo, the British used to send to

1809-473: The Queen and Government about fortifying". The English company selected two factory sites at Vilinjam (Brinhjohn/Brinjohn or Brinjone/Brinjaon), and Ruttera/Retturah/Retorah (either Valiathura or Vettoor) in 1688. Daniel Acworth was appointed as chief factor at Ruttera. Captain John Brabourne was sent to found the factory at Vilinjam. The "two small factories" functioned for some time (1688 - c.1696) until

1876-710: The Queen costly gifts from the Fort of Anjengo annually. Meanwhile, Kudamon Pillai, one of the Ettuveettil Pillais (Pillamar in Malayalam), the chieftains of the King, demanded that the gifts be presented to the Queen through them only. The chief factor at the Anjengo factor, Gyfford however refused to hand over the customary gifts meant for the Rani of Attingal to the agents of the local feudal lords (Pillamar) and tried to hand them directly to

1943-609: The Queen of Kollam. It is known that the Queen of Kollam, in alliance with the Queen of Attingal, also carried out military campaigns against the Portuguese. In a military campaign against the Trippappoor, the Queen of Attingal is believed to have joined forces with her cousin (Queen of Kollam) in Kollam. Umayamma, the Junior/Second Queen of Attingal, was the niece (a daughter of brother or sister) of Venad king Aditya Varma. Excluding

2010-426: The Rani. In April 1721, around 140 British troops started their journey from Anjengo to the palace of Attingal for this purpose. This show of force had the opposite effect and the local people rebelled, attacked, and destroyed the entire force on their boats in the river, at Kollampuzha, which is very close to the Attingal palace. It is believed that the attack took place while the group was on their way to Anchuthengu by

2077-552: The Senior Queen. In 1677 Aditya Varma died, and his successor Ravi Varma was still a minor. Umayamma (Second Queen of Attingal) took charge as regent with the approval of the Senior Queen. Umayamma re-established regular performance of pujas in Sri Padmnabhaswami Temple at Thiruvananthapuram, after a gap of five years, in 1678. She also known to have renovated the Agasteeswaran Temple. Henrik van Rheede,

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2144-481: The Trippappoor ruling family was known as "the (Senior) Queen of Attingal". Only the Senior Queen of Attingal was allowed to hold the throne at Attingal whether any adult male existed or not. Trippappoor Swaroopam was usually ruled by her male heir (son, brother or cousin). The spouse of the king of Trippappoor was not allowed to hold the title "Queen", and thus the Queen of Attingal was the senior queen of Trippappoor. As per historian P. S. Menon, in all Kerala, there

2211-619: The Vaamanapuram river after visiting the palace. There is uncertainty as to how many Britishmen were killed in the attack. Various numbers like 140, 141, 151 are mentioned. A letter sent by the Queen of Attingal to the company on 10 January 1731 states that William Gifford and 10 Britishmen had been killed. In June of the same year the Queen of Attingal sent a letter to the Governor of St. Fort mentioning 150 soldiers. This probable means that along with 11 Britishmen, native soldiers were also killed and

2278-508: The battle for her treachery. The Pillamar were initially deterred by the fate of the Thampis, for they did not expect Marthanda Varma to kill his own cousins. However, soon after this, they plotted once again to murder the king but intelligence of this reached the king. On the day of the Arrat festival when the murder was to take place, Marthanda Varma appeared with an escort strong enough to cow down

2345-460: The claims of the "collateral branches" of the Venad family to the throne. In 1674 an adoption had to be made and king Aditya Varma favoured his sister's son Vallarapalli Rama Varma. Nedumangad Vira Kerala Varma put forward the claims of his younger brother against the proposed adoption. In order to prevent an adoption from Nedumangad, Umayamma supported Aditya Varma. Rama Varma was accordingly adopted by

2412-484: The collateral branches, the other important members of the royal family at the time were Makayiram Thirunal, the Senior Queen of Attingal, and her young son, Ravi Varma. The polity of Venad was in a state of turmoil in the late-17th century. The predecessor of Umayamma, Aditya Varma (d. 1677), had been adopted from the Vallarapalli "branch" of the ruling family of Cochin to Trippappoor Swaroopam in 1630, thereby offending

2479-444: The contract and give it away to the Danes by a deal (1695) concluded with them at Edava, near Attingal. When the English Company strengthened the defences of Fort Anjengo without Attingal's sanction, she attempted to unite a military alliance against them. In November 1697, she sent a sizable force to evict the factors from Anjengo, but the attack was easily repelled by the English. Earlier in 1695 Umayamma had already gone to war against

2546-479: The document of 1730 regarding the execution of the Pillamar the name used for the conspirators is Ettuveetil Madampimar and not Pillamar. Besides, of the eight Pillais, only Kazhakoothathu Pillai and Kulathur Pillai are mentioned, the remainder being totally different individuals. The remaining six families are not mentioned at all, and it is improbable that the King who personally made investigations would let any of them go free. Further important revelations made by

2613-410: The documents of the Temple are with regard to Aditya Varma and Umayamma Rani . The Temple records which refer to minor events such as appointment of sweepers in the temple have not stated anything on the palace of Aditya Varma being burnt down. Also the story that Aditya Varma was poisoned to death is positively disproved, for the temple records clearly state that Aditya Varma died at Padmanabhapuram in

2680-459: The end of the former's life. As per historian K. V. K. Ayyar, Umayamma and Kerala Varma must have been responsible for the removal of "Pulappedi" and "Mannappedi" in 1696. When in 1693 one branch of the family became extinct, Umayamma did not allow the king of Trippappoor annex that swaroopam but subjugated it herself. In 1696 she even carried another offensive military campaign into Trippappoor Swaroopam. As early as 1680s, rumours circulated that

2747-418: The following privileges; I give unto them the hill of the louges that is at Anjengo, to fortify with stone and to abide there for ever; And I will send thither my officers to set forth and appoint with land marks the limits of the land that belong unto me. The construction of the fort was completed in the mid-1690s. In 1695 Umayamma agreed to supply all her pepper to the English Company, only to withdraw from

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2814-559: The forces led by Kottayam Kerala Varma. Pursuing the Mughilin Pada, Kerala Varma and his army caught up with them and engaged in battle with them at Thiruvattar. The Mughilin Pada was defeated and their Sardar killed in the battle. Umayamma and Ravi Varma safely returned to Trivandrum. Soon Umayamma publicly declared that the Nedumangad had no claim to the Trippappoor throne. Kerala Varma took

2881-487: The internal affairs of the Trippappoor Swaroopam. The king of Trippappoor was seen as a vassal of Queen Umayamma in the late 17th century. The Queens of Attingal had independent warriors under their control, and personally led them into battles. In the 16th century, the Queen of Kollam also had considerable political and economical independence. Some of the treaties between Venad and the Portuguese were signed by

2948-534: The king also. They gradually grew from landlords to powerful chiefs and allied themselves with the Ettara Yogam . The Ettara Yogam ('King's Council of Eight and a half'), presided by the Pushpanjali Swamiyar was an association consisting of Potti families, Nair family and the King administered the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple of present-day Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala. The lands and properties of

3015-493: The king of Trippappoor granted the Company of the privilege of minting currency (which she had withheld for decades). Commercial relation had already existed between the Trippappoor Swaroopam and the Dutch or the English. As early as 1644, the English Company obtained permission from the king of Trippappoor to build a factory at Vilinjam . In December 1658 the Dutch captured the Portuguese fort of Quilon and in January 1659 concluded

3082-506: The king's men but in none of these are the Pillamar mentioned. Another contradiction lies in the statement that since the 16th century the kings were mere puppets of the Yogam and Pillamar. During this period the Venad kings won victories over the mighty Vijayanagar Empire and the Thirumala Nayaks, which, it is asserted, could not have been possible under a puppet king. A major disagreement

3149-465: The land for a period of two centuries and more Later historians, with many more records available, have disputed the traditional stories, which were based on legend and folklore. While there is no doubt about the existence of anti-royal nobles before Marthanda Varma , as well as frequent conflicts between the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple managers and the king, many of the events of the past were found to be entirely false. The temple lands were managed by

3216-436: The last king of Venad and the first king of Travancore , defeated them in the 1730s. The Ettuveetil Pillamar were known according to the villages in which they resided and all held the title of Pillai . The Eight Lords were Kazhakoottathu Pillai, Ramanamadhom Pillai, Chempazhanty Pillai, Kudamon Pillai, Venganoor Pillai, Marthandalayam Pillai, Pallichal Pillai and Kolathur Pillai. Kazhakkoottam and Chempazhanthi lie to

3283-500: The last king of Venad and the first king of Travancore . was born in 1706 to the younger of the two adopted princesses of 1689. Right from his childhood he had to live constantly in hiding, due to the Pillamar. Several assassination bids were made on his life. In 1728 an assassination attempt was made on the life of his sister and her son, the later Dharma Raja . However it was in 1729, when the Rajah Rama Varma , died that actual war

3350-404: The limited domains of the Trippappoor branch, by 17th century, factions were rife due to the refractory Nair nobles (madampis), most powerful of whom were the Barons of the Eight Houses . The Association of Eight and Half (the Ettara Yogakkar) also wielded considerable power in the state machinery. During the 14th century, the Trippappoor ruling family was forced to adopt two female members from

3417-574: The management of her affairs Ettuveetil Pillamar The Ettuveetil Pillamar (Lords of the Eight Noble Houses) were Nair nobles from eight ruling Houses in erstwhile Travancore Kingdom in the present-day Kerala , India . They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Venad (kingdom) and the Ettara Yogam . Their power and wealth grew until Marthanda Varma (1706–1758),

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3484-687: The matriarchal traditions of Kerala . (Due to the absence of females the family could not be perpetuated.) Umayamma then adopted a cousin, namely Kerala Varma, into the house but soon he was assassinated as well. She then adopted one boy and two girls from the Kolathunadu Royal House, the cousin family of the Venad House, from the family called Pally Kovilakam in 1684 just before her regency closed and her surviving son Ravi Varma became king. He adopted in 1689 two princesses and princes from Kolathunadu including Rajah Rama Varma . Marthanda Varma ,

3551-423: The most part naked, with a piece of calico hanging carelessly round her shoulders. Her ears, which were very long, her neck and arms were adorned with precious stones, gold rings and bracelets and her head covered with a piece of white calico . She was past her middle age, of a brown complexion, with black hair tied in a knot behind, but of majestic mien, she being a princess who shew'd a great deal of good conduct in

3618-460: The north of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city, while Venganoor lies to the south, between Balaramapuram and Kovalam. Ettuveetil Pillamar were the leaders of the land and ‘tharakootams’ known as ‘Arunootavar’ (the military setup of Nairs ) established for maintaining law and justice in Venad (kingdom) . They were the Governors of provinces of the country. They had the power to exercise control over

3685-440: The preparation of the accounts of every village in Trippappoor. By insisting upon proper accounts and the strict collection of all arrears and current dues, she converted the deficit into a surplus, and provided regular income for the Trippappoor. All those who had misappropriated the public money were compelled to refund it, and punished according to the gravity of their offence. It seems that the Senior Queen never did anything which

3752-498: The queen cancelled the lease. Umayamma wrote; ...they [the English] were troublesome to my people and therefore I ordered that they should go from there and make no more contracts in my land In 1693, Acworth and Brabourn reopened negotiations with the Queen. Permission to construct a settlement and fort at Anjengo (Anchuthengu) was secured from Umayamma by Brabourne on 29 July 1694. She granted permission to fortify Anjengo provided

3819-441: The records show the Yogam applying to the king for permission in trivial matters such as appointment of Temple sweepers. Another contradiction found is in the fact that the Pillamar influenced the tenants of the temple lands. However the temple lands all lay to the south of Thiruvananthapuram where there were other influential nobles, whereas the bulk of the Pillamar lived to the north. Records show clashes between Temple managers and

3886-602: The reins of Trippappoor into his hands. The Barons and the Ettara Yogam were cowed under the new system. Two palaces were constructed in Thiruvananthapuram called Tevarathu Koikkal and Valia Koikkal for the residence of Umayamma and Kerala Varma. It is said that the Barons and the temple trustees (Ettara Yogam) assassinated Kerala Varma in front of Valiya Koikkal. He was returning from the palace of Umayamma at night after an interview. It also seems that some misunderstandings also arose between Kerala Varma and Queen Umayamma towards

3953-446: The revolt. Following the turn of events, the Company and the Rani of Attingal entered into an agreement under which: Umayamma Rani "Aswathi Thirunal" Umayamma , known as Queen Umayamma or Queen Ashure (Aswathi) , (died 1698), was the regent queen of Venad (Venatu) in southern India from 1677 to 1684 on behalf of her young nephew (son of her older sister Senior Queen Makayiram Thirunal) Ravi Varma. She also served as

4020-433: The story of the poisoning of Aditya Varma, the predecessor to Umayamma, has also been challenged and it is now assumed that he died a natural death in 1677 at Darpakulangara Palace . "Queen Umayamma came to prominence by the management of Trippappoor Swaroopam. Her first task was to improve the finances of the state. There were no proper accounts. Arrears accumulated, collections disappeared, and debts increased. She ordered

4087-505: The temple were divided into eight parts and each was placed by the Yogam under one of the Pillai as governor. They soon started opposing the king openly and bringing more and more Madampis or nobles under their influence. The Ettuveetil Pillaimar, aided by the Ettara Yogam , became the supreme power in Travancore to such an extent that the sovereign needed their permission even to construct

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4154-628: Was able to capture Kalkulam in July, 1677. In 1678 the Senior Queen of Attingal died and Umayamma succeeded as Senior Queen of Attingal. She adopted a prince (Aditya Varma) and two princesses from the Kolathunad. Vira Kerala Varma was soon defeated by Umayamma at Nemam and Edakkode, and took up her quarters at Kalkkulam. Immediately Vira Kerala surrounded the fort. She however made preparations for attacking Nedumangad and sent orders to her warriors at Attingal to invade it. Vira Kerala left Kalkulam to defend his swaroopam. Kerala Varma, invited by Umayamma from

4221-588: Was because of their refusal to allow him to marry their sister. It is said that Ummini Thankachi killed herself after the execution of her brothers to escape Marthanda Varma.) In this entire episode Subhadra, the niece of the Thirumukom (Pillai) of Kudamon, plays an important part in betraying the Eight. She was a brave lady but treacherous and it was she who divulged secrets of the Eight to Marthanda Varmas people which made them victorious. However her uncle killed her after

4288-455: Was declared. The late Rajah left two sons, Padmanabhan and Raman Thampi and a daughter Ummini Thankachi. These children of the late king known as the Kunju Thampis now staked claim to the throne, in spite of the prevailing Marumakkathayam law (which said that a king would be succeeded by his sister's eldest son). Recognizing a dangerous foe in the intelligent and decisive Marthanda Varma,

4355-432: Was no "Queen-Mother" who possesses so much influence in public affairs as in Attingal. The queen controlled a large territory of her own independent of Trippappoor. The Queen of Attingal was also allowed to reign as full sovereigns in the Trippapoor (Travancore) and Desinganad (Kollam) branches of Venad in the absence of male heirs. By the time of Umayamma, the seat of the Attingal queen was sufficiently strong to intervene in

4422-715: Was not approved by Umayamma'. K. V. Krishna Ayyar. "A Short History of Kerala" (1966) In 1672, Umayamma adopted two boys, namely Rama Unni Pandarathil of Vallarapalli and Rama Koyil. Most of the nobles, and barons who lost or had lose by the new administration joined with Nedumangad Vira Kerala Varma. Vira Kerala Varma allying with the Kottarakara branch (Elayadathu Muttavar), and the warriors of Kalakkad Chidambaranatha Pillai, advanced against Umayamma at Thiruvananthapuram via Kalkulam and Neyyattinkara. Queen's warriors opposed them at Karamana and under cover of this engagement she withdrew to Varkala and then to Attingal. Vira Kerala

4489-535: Was to be the precursor of an almost annual invasion of southern Travancore by Madurai forces after 1689 (via Kottar or the Aramboli Pass). Meanwhile, 16-year-old Ravi Varma (son of Makayiram Thirunal) was given sovereignty as the king of Trippappoor in 1684. In 1688 Ravi Varma adopted two princes - Unni Kerala Varma and Rama Varma - and two princesses from Kolathunad. Ravi Varma ruled from 1684 to 1718. Umayamma died in 1698 in Valiyathura. Soon after her death,

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