Travancore

Princely States

The ruling line of Travancore claims Chera descent through various titles used in religious and secular ceremonies including one of the formal title of the Travancore kings – Vanchipala. The information available is circumstantial and not substantial – it can simply mean the ruling line of Travancore claimed to be the political successor of the Cheras. Not just that, every kingdom of Kerala uses the title Kulashekhara Perumal as a way to link them to the Cheras. The other argument put forward is, Venad, the predecessor state for Travancore was a distinct political entity which later came under the rule of the Cheras based on three inscriptions whose authenticity is, again, under question.

Tradition states that the first king of Venad, Vira Kerala Varma was coronated in Kali 3412 or 311 AD. He held the titles of Kiritapathi and Kulashekhara Perumal and ruled from Vira Keralapuram. He was succeeded by his nephew of the same name. There is no information available for the next four hundred years when we hear about a Vira Martanda Varma who ascended the throne in the eighth century. At his time, the kingdom had five units – Venad, Thiruvithamkode, Thirippappur, Chiravai and Desinganad Swarupam. They were combinedly called Venad and Chiravaimuppu. There are some references to Venad supporting it's neighbours like the Kolathiris against the Ballalas, Kadambas and Chalukyas. In the South, they sided the Ay, who were probably their suzerains. By the eighth century, the Ay were declining and became a prey to the advancing Pandyas who plundered the area repeatedly for two hundred years to the extent that it's vassals, the Venad became the new masters and Ay had to take shelter with Venad when their main fortresses Kottar and Vilinjam fell to the Pandyas. The area was effectively partitioned into Pandya and Chera territories because of that both of which would eventually combine to form Venad. Travancore versions note that the Kollam Era was instituted by the Venad king Udaya Martanda Varma in 825 AD and that new rules are instituted in Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple post this. Udaya Martanda Varma died five years later and his successors are not known.

The first known king of Venad inscriptionally is Ayyan Atikal Thiruvatikal whose Kollam Inscription notes his successor as Ramar Thiruvatikal. The names dry up for the next century again when we hear of Sri Vallabhan Kothai dated to 974 AD. The timeframe is just a mass of names with not much details.

Kothai Aditya Varma
Vira Kerala Varma
Govardhana Martanda(974)