The 18th-century battles that reshaped the kingdoms of Kottayam

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1740s, a powerful military alliance of Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur, and Cochin stood against the rising tide of Travancore. These were not mere skirmishes, but high-stakes wars of annexation that dismantled ancient dynasties and redrew the map of Kerala forever.

The mid-18th century was a period of profound political upheaval in the region now known as Kottayam. For centuries, the area was divided between the Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur dynasties, both of which had emerged as autonomous powers following the collapse of the Chera Perumals in 1102 CE. These kingdoms, along with the Kingdom of Cochin and Odanad, formed a united military front to resist the expansionist ambitions of the Kingdom of Travancore. The rulers of these states, known as Bimbaleeshas and Manikandas, governed territories that once included the provinces of Munjunadu and Vempolinadu. These regions were originally part of the Chera Perumals of Mahodayapuram before the dynasty disintegrated.

The architect of this expansion, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, launched a series of decisive campaigns. In 1746, he successfully annexed Kayamkulam. Shortly thereafter, in the 1740s, he turned his attention to the northern kingdoms. The Battle of Changanassery proved particularly consequential; the defeat of the Thekkumkur forces led to the kingdom's formal annexation into Travancore in 1749. The Thekkumkur king was forced to flee, seeking refuge with the Zamorin of Calicut. The expansionist campaign was led by the ruler known as the architect of modern Travancore. This period of conquest followed the earlier annexation of Kayamkulam in 1746.

The fall of Vadakkumkur followed a similar pattern of conquest, with the kingdom being annexed in 1750. This era of warfare fundamentally altered the social and administrative landscape. By 1750, the entirety of the modern Kottayam district had become part of the British princely state of Travancore. This transition ended the era of independent feudal states and paved the way for the administrative reorganizations that would eventually lead to the creation of the modern Kottayam district on 1 July 1949. The administrative structure of the state was later organized into four distinct revenue divisions. The northernmost division was specifically headquartered in the city of Kottayam.

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