The rise of theTravancore King Marthanda Varma
The Travancore King Raja Rama Varma had instituted a system of administration and revenue in his kingdom. For this special agents with the power to collect revenue were appointed in the country which was divided into districts. These officers were directly under the authority of the King which destroyed the power of the Madempimar and petty chiefs. Sadly, due to the death of Raja Ravi Varma, the new system of revenue collection could not be implemented successfully and anarchy prevailed mainly in the southern part of the kingdom. It was into such a state of affairs that his nephew Prince Marthanda Varma stepped in.
Being the rightful heir to the throne Prince Marthanda Varma succeeded his uncle Raja Rama Varma to the throne in 1729 A.D at the age of 23. The young prince had come to power when the state was in a pitiful condition of depressed finances, anarchy, rebellious posturing by the feudal chiefs almost leading to a civil war like state. Yet the young Maharaja faced the situation with a firm mental fortitude and courage befitting a King.
In order to steady the state of affairs in his kingdom, the young King first set about forming a ministry to provide good governance. For that he sought help from the late Maharajas pool of trusted and loyal servants. The old acting Dalawah or Prime Minister Arumugam Pillay was confirmed in his office. Kumaraswamy Pillay was appointed as the commander-in-chief and the Dalwah’s brother Thanu Pillay was appointed as Kumaraswamy’s assistant. Rama Iyen was appointed as the under-secretary of state. This set the stage for the beginning of the young Maharajas reign.
The late Raja Rama Varma had entered into an agreement with the Pandyan government by which he agreed to an annual tribute of Rs3000 and obtained from the governor a force of 1000 horse and 2000 foot to keep the nobles and chiefs in check. When Raja Marthanda Varma ascended to the throne the arrears and tribute was unpaid for a few months. The Dalawah, Arumugam Pillay was sent to negotiate with the force which held him captive in Thirkanamkudy. However in spite of meeting most of the force’s demands, the Dalwah was still held captive by them.
Kumaraswamy Pillay, the commander-in-chief, was instructed by the Maharaja Marthanda Varma to march with an army to Thirkanamkudy with the purpose of releasing the Dalwah. The command was successfully carried out and the Dalwah was released. Feeling safe enough in his position, Maharaja Marthanda Varma ordered the Pandyan force to march back and requested the Pandyan governor to nullify the agreement that was entered into by his predecessor.
Sensing an opportunity to declare their independence, the chiefs and nobles supported Raja Ravi Varma’s 2 sons Kunju Thamby and Raman Thamby. In 1730, Kunju Thamby met the Pandyan governor and presented him a list of false grievances. The governor ordered his agent Alagappa Mudliyar to investigate Kunju Thamby’s claims in Travancore. Upon learning of the Mudliyar’s arrival in Udyagheery and the subsequent enquiry into the claims of the Thamby, the Maharaja sent his secretary Rama Iyen and his assistant Narayana Iyen to the Mudliyar and they presented documents to invalidate the Thamby’s claim. Rama Iyen fully proved the Maharaja’s claim to his uncle’s throne. The Mudliyar rejected Kunju Thamby’s claim. With the renewed outbreak of rebellion, the Maharaja managed to convince the Mudliyar to keep one half of his force at His Highnesses’ disposal which was agreed to by the Mudliyar.
The Maharaja, although enraged by the actions of Kunju Thamby, feigned indifference and chose to focus his attention on the affairs of the kingdom.
On gaining sufficient strength and numbers, the governor’s troops were sent back to Trichinopoly. On the return of these troops and the dispersion of the Maharajas troops to various stations, the Thamby’s, nobles and chiefs started scheming and plotting against the Maharaja. The Maharaja had received private intelligence through his spy network about the possibility of an attempt on his life.
Two men of the lords of the eight houses had made plans to assassinate the Maharaja during the Aurratt procession. The meeting was held in a house in Venganoor. An old man who was a spy living in the building overheard the discussion. The information was passed on to the Maharaja who did not take action immediately. Arrangements were made to track the movement of the nobles and chiefs. The plan was to attack the Maharaja on the day of the procession when he would be unarmed. But on the day of the procession the Maharaja turned up well armed at the front of the procession due to which none of the chiefs or nobles dared attack him.
In 1733 for safety reasons, the Maharaja moved himself to Nagercoil from Trivandrum. Instructions were conveyed through the state secretary Rama Iyen to seize all the nobles and chiefs. One morning when the Maharaja was seated on his cot in his palace in Nagercoil, an attempt was made by the Thamby brothers on the life of the Maharaja. In the subsequent events that followed the 2 Thamby brothers lost their lives and the nobles and chiefs were seized and presented before the Maharaja in Kulculam.
In the subsequent trial, 42 nobles and chiefs and their associated were found guilty and executed. The women and children of the nobles and chiefs were made outcasts by banishing them to become fishermen. All their possessions and properties were confiscated by the Sircar.
Thus the legacy of the nobles and chiefs who had rebelled against the royal house for hundreds of years was put to an end and perfect peace and order prevailed thereafter.
