Marthanda Varma

Marthanda Varma was born in 1706 to queen Karthika Thirunal Umadevi, the Queen of Attingal, and Raghava Varma of Kilimanoor Palace. Queen Karthika Thirunal Uma Devi - an adoptee from the northern Kolathunadu ruling family - was the senior queen of Attingal at the time. His father Raghava Varma Koil Thampuran died of severe fever when Marthanda Varma was one year old. Marthanda Varma was the nephew of the last Venadu king, Rama Varma. At the time of Varma's birth, Trippappur Swaroopam (later Thiruvithamkoor or Travancore) was a small chiefdom extending from Edava in the north to Aralvaimozhi under the Venadu Kingdom. Venadu Kingdom was split into small feudal regions ruled and controlled by the Nair Aristocracy. King Rama Varma died in 1729. According to the matrilineal system of inheritance of Kerala, the next king would be Marthanda Varma. However, a problem cropped up when two of his cousins, Valiya Thampi and Kunju Thampi, who were sons of King Rama Varma, claimed the throne under the earlier patriarchal succession of Kshatriyas. Some historians note that these thampis are sons of Rama Varma and a Rajput woman named Abhirami, while some believe he is of Bengali or Tamil noble Devadasi who followed patriarchal. The Thampis requested the help of Ettuveettil Pillai, the Nair Aristocracy who controlled the regions near Padmanabhaswamy Temple, along with their associates Yogakkar (comprising Malayali Brahmins and Nairs representative from Venadu). Pillaimar were extremely influential in Venadu, and had more power than the kings themselves. Even the kings needed their permission to make decisions in Venadu. This conflict between Varma and the Thampis later resulted in severe consequences. In the aftermath, Marthanda Varma and his family lived in fear, many of his relatives were killed, they hide and moved from place to place, seeking refuge in various places with the help of several Nair Tharavads. Marthanda Varma's brother in law and his sister travelled through Budhanoor, which was under the protection of Vattaparambil Valiathan, when they were attacked by the Ettuveettil. Marthanda Varma's brother-in-law and other fighters lost their lives, but the sister, the Rani of Attingal, and her son managed to escape and ran through the fields ("Budhanoor padam"). They were helped by Aaruveettil Madambimar and the king of Vanjipuzha. In 1729, Marthanda Varma planned his first attack with the help of powerful mercenaries from outside Kerala, but it ultimately failed. Later, he expanded his army, ascended to the throne and killed his cousins, the Thampis. Utilizing spies, Marthanda Varma analyzed the movements and secrets of the Ettuveettil Pillaimar, eventually defeating them and executing most of their family members. He later destroyed the power of more than 70 nobles across Venadu. Yogakkar and Brahmins who earlier supported Ettuveettil Nairs were expelled from Venadu. Marthanda Varma later expanded his territory by attacking Quilon (north Venadu), Tekkumkoor, and Vadakkumkur, and eventually formed the Travancore Kingdom. Impact • Decentralized state (complex feudal and political relations). Influence of the local land lords (the Ettuveetil Pillamar) and the barons (landlords known as Madampimar). The authority of the throne was also curbed by the Council of Eight and a Half (the Yogakkar), 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 (increased the dependence of the royals on their warriors and collectors of dues). Trade rivalries between the Dutch and English companies had a role in intensifying the conflict among the branches. An English East India Company factory was established at Vizhinjam in 1644. The Ajengo Fort was established in 1695. The ruler Rama Varma (1721/22 - 1729) entered into treaties with the English East India Company (1723) and the Madurai Nayaks with the aim of strengthening his position (in the fight against the nobles and other hostile elements in Tranvancore). The role played by Marthanda Varma in these moves are highlighted by P. Shungoonny Menon, the 19th-century Travancore court historian. The Dutch Company positioned themselves against the emerging Travancore by helping Quilon and Kayamkulam. The English Company became an ally of Travancore against the Dutch. == 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 due to lack of funds. The Thampi brothers, sons of Rama Varma, immediately revolted against Marthanda Varma (who was the legitimate successor on the basis of the Nair matrilineal system) with the assistance of a Tamil army. 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 (thereby delivering a serious blow to the commerce of the Dutch). • In 1731, the port of Kollam (Quilon) - 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 Thiruvananthapuram 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. • Following this, Ambalapuzha, Kottayam and Changanassery were also annexed to Travancore by 1753. The principality of Meenachil was also annexed. The ascent of Travancore seems to have been particularly rapid after about 1749. Marthanda Varma had declared a state monopoly on pepper in Travancore in 1743, thereby delivering a serious blow to the commerce of the Dutch. A treaty (the Treaty of Mavelikkara) was concluded between Marthanda Varma and the Dutch East India Company. It was signed at Mavelikkara on 15August 1753. Thereafter, the Dutch Company officials report that "considerable spice producing lands came under direct royal control, while those merchants participating in illegal trade in spices stood in danger of being executed". ==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 (the Kuttakam): a number of traded goods such as black pepper were defined as royal monopoly items. These items required a state licence 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 (especially the Ettuveettil Pillamar, and their associates, the Yogakkar of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple) 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 Dalava was appointed to head the military, fiscal and commercial administration. Below the Dalava 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. • Dalavas 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 50,000, was created. The soldiers were mainly ordinary Nairs who received tax concessions (the Irayili) for the period under service and a pension (the Irayili Aduthoon) on retirement. Marava Cavalry and Pathan Cavalry was also used by Marthanda Varma. Assistance from some defected Dutch officers were also received (after the victory at Colachel). With the beginning of the conflict against Quilon and Kayamkulam (who were being supplied arms by the Dutch), 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 (the Naduvukkur and Vettalivu) were granted. The tenure was found along with the Otti tenure, similar to the Kanam tenure (found elsewhere in Kerala). 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 (and hence the Kulikkanam dues were collected as 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==

Marthanda Varma was born into a Samanthan Nair family, belonging to the Mushika lineage of northern Kerala through his maternal line, and his family was earlier adopted into the Venadu Samantha Kshatriya royal family, both families followed the matrilineal succession (Marumakkathayam) system. Wanting the status of a (Samantha Kshatriya), he performed a set of elaborate and expensive Mahadana rituals as which included the Hiranyagarbha. Marthanda Varma started normalising the relationship between the royal family (the ruler) and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple (the administrative body of the temple) as soon as he came to the throne. He undertook the Prayaschittam retribution that was long overdue from the earlier Venadu kings. 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 Thiruvananthapuram, 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. ==Thrippadidanam==

In 1749–50, Marthanda Varma decided to "donate" his realm to Sri Padmanabha (Vishnu) and thereafter rule as the deity's "vice-regent" (Sri Padmanabha Dasa). Purpose of Thrippadidanam • Separation of the newly formed "unitary kingship" (and political power) 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==

Ramayyan Dalawa, prime minister and a close friend of Marthanda Varma, died in 1756. Ramayyan's death caused terrible grief to Marthada Varma, and he died two years later in 1758. He was succeeded by his nephew Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja"). Marthanda Varma's policies were continued in large measure by Dharma Raja (1758–98). He also went on to successfully defend Travancore against the aggression of the Kingdom of Mysore. Marthanda Varma's legacy involved a major restructuring of the medieval political and economic relations of southern Kerala. ==References==