Mysorean invasion of Malabar

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Mysorean invasion of Malabar
Part of Expansions of Kingdom of Mysore Anglo-Mysore Wars
Aerial view of Palakkad Fort, Malabar
Date 1766–1792 Location South India Result Mysore rule in Malabar Territorial changes Transfer of territories from local kings to Mysore and then to the British East India Company
Belligerents
Mysore Arakkal Kingdom France	British East India Company Travancore Zamorin of Calicut Kingdom of Kottayam

The Mysorean invasion of Malabar (1766 –1792) was the military invasion of Malabar region of current Kerala state, including the territories of the Zamorin of Calicut, by the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore Hyder Ali. After completing the occupation, Kingdom of Cochin, situated south of Malabar, was made a tributary state of Mysore. The major reason for the occupation of Malabar was the desire to have access to Indian Ocean ports. The Mysore invasion provided the East India Company more chances to tighten their grip on the ancient feudal principalities of Malabar and converting Travancore, over whom Mysore Sultans attacked after Cochin, to a mere protected ally^[1]

By the 18th century, all the petty kingdoms of present-day Kerala had been absorbed or subordinated by three big states of Travancore, Calicut (ruled by Zamorins) and Cochin. Kingdom of Mysore, nominally ruled by the Wodeyar family, rose to prominence in India after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire and again after Mughal empire. In 1761, Hyder Ali seized control of all of the reins of power in Mysore by overthrowing a powerful minister and became the "de facto" head of Mysore Kingdom. He turned his attention towards expansion which included the capture of the Kingdoms of Bednur (Ikkeri or Keladi^[2]), Sunda, Sera, and Canara. In 1766, he descended into Malabar and occupied the Kingdoms of Chirakkal (former Kolathunad), Kottayam, Kadathanad, Calicut, Valluvanad and Palghat and King of Cochin accepted his suzerainty and paid him tribute annually for from 1766 till 1790.^[3] Faruqabad, near Calicut, was the local capital of the Mysore-ruled area of present-day Kerala.

Hyder Ali's attempt to defeat Travancore south of Cochin, failed in 1767 and second effort by his son Tipu Sultan in 1789–1790 was incomplete. Moreover, Tipu Sultan provoked a British invasion in the form of Third Anglo-Mysore War by attacking the Kingdom of Travancore.^[4] Thus Travancore was the only part of present-day Kerala that stood outside the Muslim Mysore authority.^[5]

By the treaty of Seringapatam (1792), Tipu ceded half of his territories including Malabar to the East India Company and their allies and paid 3.3 crores (33 million) rupees as indemnity. By 1801, the Madras Presidency was created by Lord Wellesley, by attaching Malabar along with Carnatic territories seized from Mysore. Travancore was asked by the Company to meet the entire expenditure of the Third Anglo-Mysore war on the plea that the war was undertaken in defence of Travancore. The new treaty of 1795 reduced Travancore from a friend and ally of the East India Company to that of a protected ally. The King was forced to entertain a subsidiary force far beyond his capacity to subsidise. The Company also claimed a monopoly in the black pepper trade of the country.^[1]

Outside forces in Malabar

Keladi Nayakas invaded Kolathunadu Kingdom of northern Malabar in 1732 to recover their lost territories. Under the command of Gopalaji, 30000 Canara soldiers, easily overran prince Kunhi Ambu's (Cunhi Homo) forts in northern Kolathunad. In 1732, Mysorean forces invaded the dominions of Zamorin at the invitation of ruler of Palakkad^[6] Zamorin moved his army towards the border of his dominion and repulsed the invasion.^[6]The Nayaks of Keladi planned another attack on Kolathunad in 1737. Prince Kunhi Ambu agreed to sign a peace treaty with the Nayakas which fixed the northern border of Kolathunad on the Madayi. The British factors of Tellicherry also signed their own treaty with the Keladi Nayakas which guaranteed the integrity of British trading concessions in Malabar in the event of future conflicts between the Canara and Kolathunad.^[7]In 1737, more border conflicts happened between the Zamorin and the Mysore. In 1745, three battles were fought between the two sides. However the fighting seems to have been inconclusive.^[6]

Hyder Ali first marched to present-day Kerala in 1757 as per request of King of Palghat who was a long-time military foe of the Zamorin of nearby Kingdom of Calicut. At that stage, the Zamorin was fighting with the Raja of Cochin. Hyder Ali, who at that time was the Faujdar of Dindigul under Kingdom of Mysore, with a force of 2,500 horses and 7,500 men supported by Palghat troops, marched into southern Malabar. The army defeated the Calicut army and reached as far as Arabian Sea. The main intention of this movement to Malabar was to capture the vast treasuries of the rulers of Malabar. Malabar Coast was famous for its foreign spice trade from ancient times. Zamorin came to a treaty with Haider Ali, in which he was demanded to pay twelve lack rupees as the war reparations. However, the Zamorin technically deceived Hyder Ali after the return of the Mysore Army from Malabar.^[8] But, for his role in these activities Hyder Ali was rewarded by Devaraja with the jaghir (regional governorship) of Bangalore.

The Calicut army failed because Hyder's troops were organised, armed and trained in the most modern fashion whereas Calicut army, like rest of armies of kings of Malabar, relied on feudal levies. Zamorin eventually agreed to pay ₹1,200,000 as indemnity to Hyder Ali and so Hyder Ali withdrew. King of Calicut, despite the invasion, did not modernise his army – a neglect for which he paid nine years later.^{[citation needed]}

Map showing Malabar and Cochin under Mysore

Occupation of Malabar

When news of Hyder Ali's conquest of the Kingdom of Bednur reached Ali Rajah of Cannanore in 1763, he promptly requested Hyder to invade present-day Kerala and help him deal with Zamorin of Calicut. This Muslim chieftain in Cannanore, an old rival of the neighbouring powerful Kolathiri, was an active ally of Mysore during the years of occupation.^[9][10] Hyder Ali agreed and in 1766 he marched into Malabar through Mangalore with a force of 12,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalries and a park of field guns. During this time he was desperate for a port that opens to the Arabian sea, as his French allies were supposed to transfer weapons, ammunition and horses for use against the British. Mahe, a French-controlled port, lay in the middle of Malabar. With his modern army, Hyder Ali easily defeated all the petty kingdoms on the Malabar, beginning with Kolathunad.

Ali Raja of Cannanore, a long rival of Kolathiri, seized and set fire to the palace of Kolathiri Raja. The latter escaped with his followers to the then-British settlement at Tellicherry. After the victory, Hyder Ali entered the Kingdom of Kottayam in present-day North Malabar and occupied it, with assistance from native Muslims, after some resistance by the Kottayam army.^[11] The first serious resistance encountered by Hyder Ali's army was in Kadathanad, followed by a series of atrocities against the natives.

Thalassery fort, Thalassery

After taking Calicut in a bloody battle, Hyder Ali, with a large amount of money, marched south-east and moved towards Coimbatore through Palghat. Mysore appointed Ali Raja as military governor and Madanna (a former revenue officer) as civil governor of the newly acquired province of Malabar.^[12]

Mysore rule (1766–1773)

Shortly after Raza Ali, who was Hyder Ali's lieutenant in command, returned to Coimbatore, Hindu fighters hidden in the forests^[12] rebelled against the Mysore authorities. They, re-occupied forts and large portions of land in the monsoon season. However, by June 1766, Hyder Ali himself returned to Malabar and imposed his troops on the rebels, killing many nair soldiers and deporting over 15,000 Nairs to Kanara. The Gazetteers state that only 200 of 15,000 Nairs being deported to Kanara survived. One of the most critical battles occurred at Putiyangadi in the Kingdom of Tanur (Vettathunad) where the Hindus suffered a complete defeat. The Mysore army stormed the village and re-captured it. Chaotically hundreds of Hindu local soldiers escaped to the forest hideouts again.

Sultan Bathery derives its present name from Tipu Sultan of Mysore who used the Jain temple here and used it as his battery hence the name Sultan's Battery

Mysore's response to was harsh, and after putting down the rebellion, many Hindu fighters were executed, and thousands of others were forcibly relocated to the Mysore highlands. To prevent another armed uprising, Hyder Ali suggested anti-Nair laws to the district and levied additional taxes as punishment against rebellious Nair chiefs.

Eralppad, second-line successor to the throne at Calicut, continued his attacks against the Mysore forces from southern Malabar. Eventually, forced by continuous instability and rebellions, Hyder Ali agreed to cede many parts of Malabar to local Hindu rulers (as age-old customs existed in Malabar) as tributary states under the Kingdom of Mysore.^[13] Kolathunad and Palakkad, the strategic entries to Malabar, remained under the central rule from Mysore. Years later, Kolathunad was given to Kolathiri through some negotiations.

Palakkad Fort

At the start of 1767, the Mysore army unsuccessfully stormed the Kingdom of Travancore from the north.

In 1767, the whole of Malabar again revolted Mysore's army of 4,000 men, who were defeated by 2,000 Kottayam Nairs in Northern Malabar. All baggage, arms and ammunition of army was looted by the Nair rebels. Mysorean garrisons were trapped by Nair rebels who seized the countryside and ambushed Mysore convoys and communications with great success.^[14]

The following year, the East India Company, under Captain Thomas Henry, besieged the Sultan Bathery Fort (Avara fort) to interrupt the supply of arms to Arakkal Kingdom, with a promised help from local kingdoms. But the British were eventually forced to life their siege and retreat.^{[citation needed]}

Mysore army retreated from Malabar temporarily in 1768, successfully crushing the uprisings and building the strategic Palakkad Fort.^[12] The authority over Kolathunad was now given to the Arakkal Kingdom. Skirmishes between Arakkal and the Company continued, and in 1770, the Company reclaimed Randattara.

In 1773, Mysore forces under Said Saheb marched to Malabar through the Thamarassery Pass, since the Hindu rulers had broken the earlier treaties on paying tributes.^[12] So, again in the Malabar came under the direct Mysore authority.

Cochin accepts Mysore's suzerainty

Mysore conducted a second military movement in 1774, concentrating on the extremely ancient and unsurpassed treasures of the Main Temple in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, in Travancore. Also, Travancore has given refuge to the political enemies of Mysore from Malabar. Slowly Hyder Ali moved southwards with a huge army and negotiated with the Dutch. He wanted free passage to Travancore through Dutch territories, which was refused (the Dutch owed Travancore after their defeat in the Battle of Colachel). As Travancore refused to stop the construction of Nedumkotta fortification, which formed the northern defences of Travancore, rumours of a proposed invasion of Travancore started developing.

The relics of the entrance of Travancore lines

Hyder Ali asked the rulers of Cochin and of Travancore to pay tribute as vassal states. Cochin was asked to pay a total of Rs. 40 0,000 and ten elephants, while Travancore was asked to pay Rs. 1,500,000 and thirty elephants. The Cochin royals agreed to pay the amount and accepted the Mysore's superiority. Finally, Malabar and Cochin came under the Mysore rule, opening Malabar Coast to the kings of Mysore. However the King of Travancore, who was under the protection of the East India Company, refused to pay the tribute.

Eventually, the Mysore army began to move to Travancore from the north. The Dutch military garrison at Cranganore Fort tried to stall the movement. Hyder Ali asked his commander Sardar Khan to take an army of 10,000 along the Cochin Kingdom. In August 1776, Cochin was invaded from the north and the fort at Trichur was captured.

After the surrender of the ruler of Cochin, Hyder advanced to the Travancore Defence Lines (the Nedumkotta fortifications). By this time Airoor and Chetuva Fort were ceded to Mysore. Meanwhile, the Dutch, with the help of the Travancore Nair Army, put down an attempt by the Mysore forces to capture the Cranganore Fort. The ruler of Cranganore, however surrendered to Hyder Ali, though the Dutch stormed his palace and captured it in January 1778.

Relics of Cranganore Fort

After this incident, Hyder's forces engaged in small-scale attacks and ambushes throughout Malabar, with the Travancore, British and Dutch forces as well as with rooting Nair mutineers in northern Malabar. By 1778, the Mysore allied themselves with the French, who was at war with the British Empire. In the same year, the British captured Mahé and Pondicherry. The newly appointed king of Kolathunad was with the Mysore, providing crucial supplies to the war and by March, Kolathiri had occupied Randattara. Soon, Hyder Ali removed the kings of Kadathanad and Kottayam who were providing the British in their campaigns. However, after facing losses in Calicut, Palghat and Tirunelvely, Hyder retreated to Mysore before planning another attack on Travancore.^[15][16]

Malabar in Second Anglo-Mysore War

The East India Company captured the French controlled port at Mahé in Malabar in 1779. Mahé was of great strategic importance to Hyder Ali, who received French supplied arms and munition through the port, and Hyder had not only explicitly told the British it was under his protection, he had also provided troops for its defence. On 2 July 1780, Hyder Ali declared war against the East India Company, signalling the start of what was later called the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1779–1784).^[17] By February 1782, Dharpattom, Nitore, Calicut, and Palakkad Fort surrendered to the British forces under Major Abington. Sardar Ali Khan, the Mysore commander, died later.^[17]

During the summer of 1782, East India Company officials in Bombay sent additional troops to Tellicherry, from whence they continued operations against Mysorean holdings in the Malabar. Hyder Ali sent his elder Tipu Sultan and a strong force to counter this threat, and the latter had successfully pinned this force at Ponnani.^[17]

Tired of continuous setbacks, Hyder Ali then sent an army unit under Makhdoom Ali to Malabar to restrain the anti-Mysore activities through the south. Meanwhile, Major Abington and Colonel Humberstone, who were in Calicut, were ordered to prevent the advance of Makhdoom Ali's army from the south. In the following battle in Tiroorangadi, more than 400 Mysore soldiers, including Makhdoom Ali, were killed. Colonel Humberstone chased the Mysore army to Ponnani, with the principal aim of capturing the Palakkad Fort. Due to a thundering torrential storm in Ponnani River, however, Colonel Humberstone retreated to Calicut. Colonel Humberstone then moved his unit up to Trithala and the neighbourhoods of Mankeri Fort, but again retreated to Ponnani to the fear of a surprise attack from the Mysore-Ali Raja coalition forces intended to siege forces in the extreme weather conditions. Major Macleod subsequently reached Ponnani before taking over the command of British forces on the Malabar Coast.^[17] Shortly, Tipu's forces stormed the British camp at Ponnani, but 200 of his men were killed so he temporarily retreated. Simultaneously, a naval force under Edward Hughes reached Ponnani, but the Mysore army threatened the struggling British with a dreadful attack at any time. So, Tipu Sultan was successful pinning the British East India Company force at Ponnani.

It was here Tipu learned of Hyder Ali's sudden death due to cancer. Tipu Sultan's precipitate departure from the scene provided some relief to the British force, but Bombay officials had sent further reinforcements under General Matthews to Ponnani.^[17]

The British captured Mangalore in March 1783, but Tipu, now the ruler of Mysore, recaptured Bednorem before besieging and eventually capturing Mangalore. At the same time, in the Tanjore region, Stuart's army joined with those of Colonel Fullarton before the latter marched along the Dindigul-Dharapuram-Palakkad route and sieged the Palakkad Fort. Captain Midland and Sir Thomas under Colonel Fullarton successfully captured Palakkad Fort on 14 November 1783. During this time, the Company officials, having received orders from London to bring an end to the war, entered negotiations with Tipu Sultan. Pursuant to a preliminary ceasefire, Colonel Fullarton was ordered to abandon all of his recent conquests. However, due to allegations that Tipu violated terms of the ceasefire at Mangalore, Fullarton remained at Palakkad Fort. During this time, a prince from the Zamorin dynasty emerged and the British retreated conferring the Fort to the prince. But, soon Tipu's forces marched to Palakkad fort and occupied it with the entire southern Malabar.^[17]

In December 1783, General Macleod, with fresh support of the French, captured Cannanore from the Arakkal, who was an ally of Mysore in Malabar. This was followed by Beebi's failed negotiation attempt with the British.^[17]

The war was ended on 11 March 1784 with the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore, in which both sides agreed to restore the others' lands to the status quo ante bellum. By this treaty, the British (and the Nair kings) controlled the entire northern Malabar, and Mysore ruled southern Malabar. And General Macleod was forced to move back forces from Cannanore.^[17]

Mysore rule between the wars (1784–1789)

After the Second Anglo-Mysore War, the Mysore ruled Malabar which experienced numerous anti-Mysore uprisings by the local Hindu population against the new land taxes. Tipu Sultan, to put an end to the land problems appointed the officer Arshad Beg Khan as the Civil Governor of Malabar. Khan soon retired from service and advised to Tipu to visit the region by his own. In 1788, Tipu paid an official visit to Malabar and talked with the Resident Gribble about the construction of new city near Beypore.^[17]

In 1787, the Mysore captured Iruvazhinadu by murdering Kurungothu Nair, the ruler of Iruvazhinadu and an old ally of the French.^[17] The French then became the closest ally of Mysore, continuing to supply arms to the kingdom. In the meantime, Arakkal Beebi allied with the British and Kolathiri replaced them as the ally of Mysore. Kolathiri captured Randattara and Darmadom from the British . Later in 1789, however, the company recaptured Darmadom.

Almost all female members and many male members of different Royal families such as Chirakkal (Kolathiri) and Calicut (Zamorin), and chieftains' families like Punnathoor, Nilamboor, Kavalapara and Azhvanchery Thamprakkal, fled to Travancore with all the Temple-wealth in their dominions, and found political asylum there from Mysore under Tipu, and temporarily settled down in different parts of Travancore. Even after the fall of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatanam, many of these families preferred to remain in Travancore. The Chirackal (Kolathiri) were in fact a branch of Travancore Royal Family itself, originated in Thiruvananthapuram and based in Kannur, with a centuries-old tradition of mutual adoption of heirs with the latter.

Tipu Sultan's attacks on Travancore (1789–1790)

Tipu Sultan decided to tighten his grip on the possessions in Malabar and to occupy Travancore as he saw the control of ports and access of routes to them highly strategic. The control over Travancore was always been a dream of the Mysore sultans, and Hyder Ali's attempt to defeat Travancore was failed in 1767. The kingdom of Travancore had been a target of Tipu Sultan since the end of the Second Anglo-Mysore War. Indirect attempts to take over the kingdom had failed in 1788, and Archibald Campbell, the Madras president at the time, had warned Tipu that an attack on Travancore would be treated as a declaration of war on the Company.^[18] Tipu Sultan received invitation to intervene from the ruler of Cannanore, and soon the Mysore forces were in Malabar.^[12] Initially Tipu Sultan tried to induce Travancore tactically with the help of the Kingdom of Cochin, but the King of Cochin refused and allied with Travancore.^[12]

Monitoring closely the conquest of Mysore on Malabar and the making of Cochin to a tributary state, Travancore had bought Cranganore and Pallippuram forts from the Dutch. Travancore deteriorated relations by extending the Nedumkotta fortifications along the border with Mysore into territory claimed by Mysore in Cochin. Travancore, via the Nawab of Carnatic, found relations with the East India Company and expected a retaliation by them on an attack on the Nedunkotta fortifications.

In 1789, Tipu sent forces to the Malabar to put down a rebellion; many found political asylum in Travancore and Cochin in the wake of his advance.^[19]

In late 1789, Tipu began to build up troops at Coimbatore in preparation for an assault on the Nedumkotta, the fortified line of defence built by Dharma Raja of Travancore To follow the 1789 rebels.^[17]

On 28,29 December 1789, Tipu Sultan attacked the Nedunkotta from the north, signalling the start of the Battle of the Nedumkotta (Travancore-Mysore War). Out of his army numbering several tens of thousands, about 14,000 along with committed local Muslim militia marched towards the fortifications.

By 29 December, a large portion of the right flank of Nedumkotta was under the control of Mysore army. Only a 16 feet (4.9 m)wide and 20 feet (6.1 m) deep ditch separated the Kingdom of Travancore from Mysore forces. Tipu Sultan commanded his soldiers to level up the ditch, so that his army can advance, while retreating Travancore soldiers and militiamen regrouped on the other side of the ditch. Unable to fill the ditch under heavy fire from the enemy, Tipu ordered his soldiers to march forward through a very narrow passage. This move backfired on the Mysore, as a group of two dozen Nair ambushed their enemies half-way. A few dozen Mysore soldiers died of direct gun-fire, and the commanding officer was killed. Many more panicked and in the ensuing chaos fell into the ditch and died. The reinforcements sent by the Mysore were prevented from merging with the main contingent by a batch of the Travancore regular army. The Mysore army suffered severe casualties. Several high-ranking Mysorean officers were taken prisoner, including five Europeans.

The onset of monsoons prevented Tipu from moving further (combat being much more difficult during the monsoon season) and in the meantime, Tipu got information that the East India Company is planning to attack his capital. Mysore troops retreated to defend the capital.^[12]

British take the Malabar

In late 1790, British forces took control of the Malabar Coast. A force under Colonel Hartley gained a decisive victory (in the Battle of Calicut) in December, while a second under Robert Abercromby routed the Mysore at Cannanore a few days later.^[20]

Battle of Calicut (1790)

Map of south India, showing Malabar under East India Company

The Battle of Calicut (also called the "Battle of Thiroorangadi") took place between 7 and 12 December 1790, at Thiroorangadi. Three regiments from the British East India Company, consisting of 1,500 men, led by Lieutenant Colonel James Hartley with the aid of sepoys and horses provided by Travancore , decisively defeated a 9,000-man Mysore army, killing or wounding about 1,000, and taking a large number of prisoners, including the commander, Hussein Ali.

Capture of Cannanore

Forces of the British East India Company, led by General Robert Abercromby, began besieging Cannanore, held by troops of Mysore and of the Ali Raja on 14 December. After gaining control of the high ground commanding the city's main fort, the defenders surrendered. The British victory, along with the taking of Calicut by a separate force a few days earlier, secured their control over the Malabar Coast.

End of Mysore rule

By the Treaty of Seringapatam signed in 1792, Malabar was ceded to the East India Company. The treaty resulted in a sharp curtailment of Mysore's borders to the advantage of the Mahrattas, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Madras Presidency. The districts of Malabar, Salem, Bellary and Anantapur were ceded to the Madras presidency.^[21]

Changes in Malabar

Sultans of Mysore changed the ancient landlord system in Malabar just like the changes which took place in Kingdom of Cochin and Travancore. To control the region, Tipu Sultan adopted strong measures against Nair nobles of Malabar and established a centralised administrative system. This led to the marginalization of Nair and the affluent rise of a subsequent Muslim elite.^{[citation needed]} The changes in Malabar due to the Mysore invasions were as follows:

• Due to the fleeing of the local Nair chieftains and landlords to Travancore lead to a redistribution of landed wealth. However, for revenues, Tipu introduced the "Jamabandi" system to collect taxes directly from peasants.^{[citation needed]}
• Land was surveyed extensively and classified. Taxes were fixed considering the difference of land and crops and for some crops taxes were reduced.^{[citation needed]}
• Tipu introduced monopoly in products like pepper, coconut, tobacco, sandalwood, teak etc.^{[citation needed]}
• The roads developed by Tipu for military purposes were helpful for the development of trade.^{[citation needed]}

Ethnic cleansing

According to M. Gangadharan, there is evidence that many Hindus were forcefully converted into Islam. In one of the most widely documented cases, the army invaded Kadathanadu and forcibly converted the Nair soldiers, who were holding out for many weeks against the well equipped Mysore army without adequate weapons or food.^{[22][unreliable source?]}There was also destruction of Syriac Christian churches and Seminaries.^[23]

According to missionary Paulinus of St. Bartholomew,

naked Christians and Hindus were dragged to pieces, tied to the feet of elephants. All churches and temples were destroyed. Christians and Pagan women were forced to marry Muhammedans.

^[24] He also cited mass conversions, circumcisions, and massacre.^[25]

Tipu sometimes forced Christian and Hindu women to marry Muslim men but was not systematic.^[26]

he also said to have carried away from the province of

Malabar 700000 Christians and to have made Muhammedans of 100,000 Hindus

— Memoirs of Tippoo Sultan

^[27] Roderick Mackenzie commented on the actions of the army:

Here neither respect, for the grandeur and antiquity of their

temples, nor veneration for the sacred rites of a religion whose origin no time records, proved any protection for the persons or property, even of the first Brahmins. Their pagodas, breached with sacrilegious cannon, were forcibly entered, their altars defiled, their valuables seized, their dwellings reduced to ashes, and the devastation was rendered still more horrible by the scattered remains of men, women and children, mangled beneath

a murderous sword.

^[28]

The Nambuthiris (Brahmins) were also severely affected. According to various rough sources, about half the Hindu population of Malabar fled the country to the forests or Tellicherry and Travancore. They included most of the Hindu Rajas and chieftains who could not resist the invading Mysore army. The Chirackal, Parappanad, Ballussery, Kurumbranad, Kadathanad, Palghat and Calicut royal families migrated to Travancore. The chieftain families which did the same were those of Punnathur, Kavalappara and Azhvancherry Thamprakkal. Even the Cochin royal family moved to Vaikkom Palace near the famous Shiva Temple when Tipu Sultan's army reached Alwaye.^{[citation needed]}

Gunddart said in his Kerala Pazhama that it is just not possible to describe the cruel atrocities perpetrated by Tipu Sultan in Kozhikode during the Fall in 1789. William Logan gives in his Malabar Manual a long list of temples destroyed by Tipu Sultan and his army.^[14] Elankulam Kunjan Pillai has recorded the situation in Malabar as follows:^[29][30]

Atrocities committed in Malabar during the days of Tipu Sultan's military regime have been described in great detail in the works of many reputed authors. Notable among them, Travancore State Manual of T.K. Velu Pillai and Kerala Sahitya Charitam of Ulloor Parameshwara Iyer.^[31]

Captivity of Nairs

In 1788, Tipu Sultan gave strict orders to his army under M. Lally and Mir Asrali Khan to "surround and extricate the whole race of Nairs from Kottayam to Palghat".^{[32][unreliable source?]} This incident is known as The Order of Extermination of the Nayars by Tipu Sultan. After entrusting Calicut to a powerful army contingent, he instructed it "to surround the woods and seize the heads of all Nair factions".

A small army of 2,000 Nairs of Kadathanadu resisted the invasion of the huge army of Tipu Sultan from a fortress in Kuttipuram for a few weeks soon the rebels were reduced to starvation and death. Tipu Sultan entered the fort and offered to spare their lives, provided they accepted conversion to Islam.^[33] While escaping from Tipu's army, one of the princes of the Chirackal Royal family in North Malabar was captured and killed in an encounter after a chase of few days. As per the accounts of Tipu's own diary and as confirmed by the East India Company records, the body of the unfortunate prince was treated with great indignities by Tipu Sultan. "He had the dead body of the prince dragged by elephants through his camp and it was subsequently hung up on a tree along with seventeen of his followers who had been captured alive". Another chieftain, Korangoth Nair, who had resisted Tipu, was finally captured with the help of the French and hanged.^{[34][unreliable source?]}

Hyder Ali had exempted Hindu temples from the payment of land tax. The famous Hemambika Temple at Kalpathi of the Palghat Raja who had surrendered to Hyder Ali, the Kachamkurissi Temple of the Kollamkottu Raja who had deserted the Zamorin and sided with Hyder Ali, and also the Jain Temple at Palghat suffered serious damages during the rule of Tipu Sultan.^{[citation needed]}

Concealment of the Hindu idol at Guruvayur

In 1766, Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Calicut and then Guruvayur. To refrain from the demolition of the Hindu temple at Guruvayur, Mysore demanded 10,000 fanams from the authorities, which was paid. At the request of the Governor of Malabar, Shrinivasa Rao, Hyder Ali granted a devadaya (free gift) and the temple at Guruvayur was saved from destruction.

Tippu Sultan again invaded the Zamorin of Calicut's province in 1789. Aware of the risk to the idol, it was hidden underground and the Utsava vigraha was taken to Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple by Mallisseri Namboodiri and Kakkad Othikkan. Tippu destroyed the smaller shrines and set fire to the temple, but it was saved due to timely rain. Tippu lost to the Zamorin, Travancore and the British in 1792. Although the hidden idol and the Utsava vigraha were re-installed on 17 September 1792, the daily poojas and routines were seriously disrupted.^[35][36]

See also

• Anglo-Mysore Wars
• Pazhassi Raja
• Siege of Tellicherry
• Mysore's campaigns against the states of Malabar (1757)

References