Kings of Travancore

Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja (1729-1758)

The architect of modern Travancore. The reign of Marthanda Varma marks the end of feudal hegemony in Kerala history and the birth of the modern era of Travancore. He was born in 1706 to Ilayarani Karthika Thirunal Thampuratti of Attingal and Koyithampuran of Kilimanoor. When Veera Ramavarma passed away in 1729, the 23-year-old Marthanda Varma became king. Marthanda Varma waged constant wars to expand the kingdom by annexing neighboring states to Venad. He established a centralized monarchy based on military power through political unification of the southern and central parts of Kerala. The most important is the battle of Colachel. The Dutch were defeated in the battle of Colachel. During his reign, there was progress in the fields of religion, literature and art. He renovated the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. It was also during his time that rituals like Bhadradeepam and Murajapam were started in the temple. This was a time when temple arts like Koothu, Koodiyattam, Pathakam, Kathakali and Thullal got a good revival. On 1 January 1750, Marthanda Varma dedicated his kingdom to Sree Padmanabhan. This is known as Thrippadidanam. After this, he received the title of Sree Padmanabhadasa. On 7 July 1758, Marthanda Varma died.

Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758-1798)

The successor of Marthandavarma, the Maharaja of Travancore. He is famous as Dharmaraja. His achievements include not only retaining all the territories acquired by his predecessor but also successfully governing them. His famous ministers were Ayyappan Marthandapilla and Raja Kesavadas. During Dharmaraja's reign, the Mysore Sultans Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan invaded Malabar. During the invasion, Dharmaraja gave shelter to refugees from North Kerala in Travancore. To prevent the encroachment of Mysore, Dharmaraja built the famous Nedumkotta in Central Kerala. Delanoy supervised the construction of Nedumkotta. 

In 1789, he purchased the Kodungalur Fort and Pallipuram Fort from the Dutch. Dharmaraja's reign is an important chapter in the cultural history of Kerala. A scholar and poet, he is the author of several Attakathas and Balarama Bharatham, which was written based on the Natyashastra of Bharatamuni. Kunchan Nambiar and Unnai Warrier decorated his palace. The capital of Travancore was shifted from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram during the last period of Dharmaraja's reign. After a long reign of forty years, he passed away in 1798 at the age of 74. Dharmaraja deserves a high place among the great kings of Travancore.

Avittam Thirunal Balarama Varma (1798-1810)

Balarama Varma was the youngest ruler to come to power in Travancore. It was during his reign that the British were granted Resident status in the Cochin and Travancore princely states. Colonel Macaulay was the first person to be granted Resident status in Travancore. A Resident is a British official assigned to oversee the affairs of the princely states that accepted the rule. Balarama Varma, the successor of Dharmaraja, was a weak ruler. At that time, the reins of government were controlled by Jayanthan Shankaran Namboothiri, Shankaranarayanan Chetty and Mathutharakan. Veluthampi became the Dalawa of Travancore by leading a popular uprising against their corruption. It was during Balarama Varma's reign that Veluthampi Dalava established the Hajur Kacheri in Kollam and a traveling court in Travancore. Veluthampi issued the Kundara Proclamation on 11 January 1809 against foreign rule. In the Battle of Kollam that followed the Kundara Proclamation, the Company army defeated Veluthampi's army. The king made peace with the English. Balarama Varma turned against Thampi because he had angered the British. Veluthampi was removed from the post of Dalawa and declared a traitor. Ummini Thampi took over as the new Dalawa. He issued orders to imprison Veluthampi. Veluthampi committed suicide in a temple in Mannadi, Pathanamthitta in April 1809. Travancore came under complete British control during the reign of Balarama Varma. Balarama Varma died in 1810.

Ayilyam Thirunal Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai (1810-1815)

Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai, who came to power in 1810, appointed Colonel Munro as Diwan. Munro introduced reforms in the administration of Travancore, following the model of British India, in accordance with the treaties signed between Travancore and the Company in 1795 and 1805. It was Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai who issued a proclamation on 5 December 1812 to stop the slave trade in Travancore. Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai was the ruler of Travancore from 1810 to 1813. After the birth of her son Swathi Thirunal in 1813, she continued to rule as regent until her death in 1815.

Uthrattathi Thirunal Rani Gauri Parvati Bhai (1815-1829)

He ruled Travancore as regent from 1815 to 1829 until Swathi Thirunal came of age. Gowri Parvathi Bai's regency was a time of progress in Travancore. Many reforms were implemented during this period with the aim of social freedom and civil equality. Agriculture, commerce and transport were greatly encouraged. In 1816, the London Mission Society (LMS) began its work in Nagercoil during the reign of Gowri Parvathi Bai. Through a royal proclamation in 1817, the government took over the schools and made primary education compulsory in Travancore. Girls' colleges were established in Alappuzha and Kottayam. The CMS Press was also established in Kottayam in 1821 during the reign of Gowri Parvathi Bai. 

Swathi Thirunal Ramavarma (1829-1846)

Swathi Thirunal was born to Changanassery Rajaraja Varma Koyithampuran and Rani Gauri Lakshmi Bai. Due to the untimely death of Rani Gauri Lakshmi Bai, he did not have the fortune to experience maternal affection. At an early age, the Maharaja became well-versed in Malayalam, English, Persian, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu languages, as well as grammar, mathematics, music, painting, philosophy and history. He was known as the artist Maharaja. Swathi Thirunal, who ascended the throne in 1829, implemented many administrative and educational reforms. All the major musicians of South India were regular visitors to Swathi Thirunal's court. Apart from being a musician, his more than four hundred works composed in various languages ​​make him a poet and writer. This includes kirtanas and the poems Sreepadmanabha Shatakam, Bhaktimanjari, and Syanandura pura varnana Prabandham.

Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1846-1860)

It was during Uthram Thirunal's reign that the children of slaves under the government were emancipated, a school for girls was established in Thiruvananthapuram, and the first post office was opened in Alappuzha. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo and Gardens were established in 1859. This zoo, which is more than a century and a half old, is one of the oldest zoos in the world. The animal cages were built by experts from London. The first coir factory in Kerala (Dara Smale) was established in Alappuzha in 1859 by Irishmen James Dara and Henry Smale during Utram Thirunal's reign.

Ayilyam Thirunal Ramavarma (1860-1880)

Ayilyam Thirunal Ramavarma was the successor of Utram Thirunal. He introduced vaccination for immunity. The Punalur suspension bridge and the Varkala tunnel were built during his reign. Malayalam drama was started with the translation of Ayilyam Thirunal's Shakunthalam. He made great contributions to modern Malayalam literature. He established the Puthen Kachcheri in Thiruvananthapuram city, the lighthouse in Alappuzha, etc. Ayilyam Thirunal completed the construction of temple towers in Suchindram and Thiruvananthapuram. He established the Public Works Department. He established the Thiruvananthapuram Government Arts College, Science College, Vernacular School, Law College, Survey School, Training School, Girls' School, Book Selection Committee, hospitals, and a psychiatric hospital. The construction of the M.C. Road, the longest road in Kerala, was completed during Ayilyam Thirunal's reign. A.R. Rajaraja Varma, Raja Ravi Varma, and Kerala Varma Valiyakoyithampuran were prominent figures in the court of Ayilyam Thirunal. Ayilyam Thirunal died on 30 May 1880.

Visakham Thirunal Ramavarma (1880-1885)

Visakham Thirunal is known as the learned King of Travancore. He reorganized the police force in Travancore. He promoted agriculture, industry and education. He developed the irrigation scheme in Nanchinad. He encouraged and propagated tapioca cultivation. He built the city of Kottayam in 1881. In 1884, the first cotton mill in Travancore was started in Kollam.

Sri Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma (1885-1924)

He came to power after the Maharaja of Visakham Thirunal. Sree Moolam Thirunal promoted agriculture by creating a special department and improving irrigation facilities. There was steady progress in the field of education in Travancore during that time. Children from backward communities were allowed to enter government schools. There was also tremendous progress in the field of medicine during that period. In 1888, Sree Moolam Thirunal established the Travancore Legislative Council. This was a progressive step. It was the first of the Indian princely states after Mysore. In 1891, a huge petition signed by more than ten thousand people, known as the Malayali Memorial or Travancore Memorial, was submitted to Sree Moolam Thirunal. The filling of high offices with foreign Brahmins had caused dissatisfaction among the people. In 1896, two memorials were submitted under the leadership of Dr. Palpu. This is known as the Ezhava Memorial. In 1904, the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha was established. Two people were elected from each taluk as members of the Sree Moolam Prabha Sabha. Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai was exiled to Kannur in 1911 for criticizing the then Diwan Rajagopalachari and it was during this period that the Swadeshabhimani newspaper was banned. As a result of the memorandum given by the Civil Rights League led by T.K. Madhavan, A.J. John and others, the Devaswom was separated from the Revenue Department in 1922. Sree Moolam Thirunal died in 1924.

Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bhai (1924-1931)

When Sreemulam Thirunal died, Sreechithira Thirunal was a minor, so Sethu Lakshmi Bai ruled Travancore as regent from 1924 to 1931. During that time, many socio-economic reforms were implemented in Travancore. The Nair Regulation, which came into effect in 1925, replacing the Marumakkam system with a Makkathayam system, was an important reform. The city of Thiruvananthapuram was electrified in 1929 during the reign of Rani Sethu Lakshmi Bai.

Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma (1931-1949)

Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was born in Thiruvananthapuram in 1912 to Kilimanoor Ravi Varma Kochu Koyithampuran and Maharani Sethu Parvathibhai. He became the Maharaja of Travancore on 6 November 1931. He reformed the Travancore Legislative Assembly and formed the Sree Moolam Assembly (Lower House) and the Sree Chithira State Council (Uparisabha). Sree Chithira Thirunal is known as the father of industrialization in Travancore. Several industries were started in Thiruvananthapuram during his time. Some examples are Titanium, Travancore Ceramics, Travancore Cochin Chemicals, Aluminium Factories, Travancore Rayons, Public Travancore Rubber Works, Punalur Plywood Factory, and Elur Fertilizers and Chemicals. He founded the University of Travancore (now the University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram Airport, the first flight service to Mumbai, Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, Travancore Titanium Products, Thiruvananthapuram Radio Station, Public Service Commission, Swathi Thirunal Music College, Sree Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram Ayurveda College, and Thiruvananthapuram Homeopathy College.

The first hydroelectric project at Pallivasal was commissioned in 1940 during the reign of Balarama Varma. He was also the one who issued the Temple Entry Proclamation, which is an important chapter in the history of Kerala. Through this proclamation issued on November 12, 1936, people belonging to the untouchable caste were able to visit the temple. It was Balarama Varma who established the University of Travancore, Chitralayam Art Gallery, and Swathi Thirunal Music College in 1937 and appointed the Public Service Commissioner in 1935. In 1943, the Radio Nilayam was established in Thiruvananthapuram during the reign of Chithira Thirunal. In 1949, when the Thiru-Cochin state was formed, Chithira Thirunal became the Rajapramukh. He continued in that position until the birth of independent Kerala on November 1, 1956. In 1991, Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja passed away at Kowdiar Palace. Balarama Varma was a king who lived as an ordinary citizen, without any luxuries. Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was featured on a postage stamp of India on 7 November 1991.