Kingdoms From around 600 BCE to 300 CE, Tamiḻakam was ruled by the three Tamil dynasties: the
Chola dynasty, the
Pandyan dynasty and the
Chera dynasty. There were also a few independent chieftains, the
Velirs (
Satyaputra). The earliest datable references to the Tamil kingdoms are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE during the time of the Maurya Empire. The Chola dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century BCE) until the 13th century in central Tamil Nadu. The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the
Kaveri. The Pandyan dynasty ruled parts of South India until the late 17th century. The heartland of the Pandyas was the fertile valley of the
Vaigai River. They initially ruled their country from
Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved to
Madurai. The Chera dynasty ruled from before the Sangam period (~3rd century) until the 12th century over an area corresponding to modern-day western
Tamil Nadu and
Kerala. The Vealirs (
Vēḷir) were minor dynastic kings and aristocratic chieftains in Tamiḻakam in the early historic period of
South India.
Nations of Tamilakam Tamiḻakam was divided into political regions called
Perunadu or "Great country" ("nadu" means country). There were three important political regions which were
Chera Nadu,
Chola Nadu and
Pandya Nadu. •
Kuda Nadu •
Kuttanadu •
Malai Nadu •
Puzhi Nadu •
Erumai Nadu •
Venadu Nations outside Tamilakam Some other
Nadus are also mentioned in Tamil literature which were not part of Tamilakam, but the countries traded with them in ancient times. Tamil speaking lands: •
Eela Nadu (Eelam) •
Naga Nadu or
Yazh Kuthanadu (Jaffna Peninsula) •
Vanni Nadu (Vanni region) • Chavaka Nadu (Java) •
Kadara Nadu (Kedah)
European references to the Tamil kingdoms The Tamil kingdoms of southern India—including the
Chola,
Pandya, and
Chera dynasties—were referred to by various names in European historical sources from classical antiquity through the early modern period. These references appear primarily in Greek and Roman geographical works, medieval travel accounts, and early modern colonial records. The names used were typically transliterations of local Tamil terms or adaptations into Greek and Latin phonetic systems.
Classical antiquity (Greek and Roman sources) Greek and Roman authors from approximately the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE described the Tamil kingdoms as part of the broader region known as India, but also referred to specific kingdoms and regions by distinct names.
Regional names The Tamil-speaking region, known locally as
Tamilakam, was referred to by several names in Greco-Roman geography, including:
Damirica (Damirice or Dimirice) – widely believed to be a transliteration of "Tamilakam".
Limyrike (Limyrica) – used primarily to describe the southwestern coast of India, associated with the Chera kingdom. Megasthenes described the kingdom of Pandaea as occupying the southernmost part of India and ruled by a hereditary dynasty. Pliny the Elder also referred to the Pandya kingdom and its trade relations with Rome.
Chola kingdom The Chola kingdom was identified in classical sources under names such as:
Cholae Colchi Sorae These names appear in Ptolemy’s geographical accounts.
Medieval European references During the medieval period, European knowledge of southern India was transmitted largely through Arab intermediaries and travel accounts.
Maabar The Tamil region, particularly the Pandya kingdom, was referred to as
Maabar (or Mabbar). Marco Polo described Maabar as a wealthy kingdom known for pearls and maritime trade.
Coromandel Coast The eastern coast of Tamil Nadu came to be known as the '
Coromandel Coast, derived from the Tamil word
Cholamandalam (realm of the Cholas). This term became widely used by Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders from the 16th century onward.
Early modern European usage With the arrival of European colonial powers, references to Tamil regions became more standardized. Common names included:
Coromandel Coast,
Malabar Coast,
Kingdom of Tanjore,
Carnatic. These names appear frequently in European administrative and trade records from the 16th to 18th centuries. == Geocultural unity==