History of Kannur and North Malabar- Kolatiri, Arakkal and Mysore Sultans

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Dr. Leena More had previously authored a book on the history of Attingal and the Travancore kingdoms with special reference to the English East India Company. It was published in the year 2004. It was a path-breaking study. It highlighted the historical roles played by the Attingal and Travancore kingdoms in the history of south Kerala. The most significant feature of the study was the vivid portrayal of the Attingal revolt of 1721, during which scores of Englishmen were massacred by the Malabaris.

In the present work, More focuses on the origins and early history of northern Malabar and Cananore until its annexation by the English in the year 1792, after which it became part of the Madras Presidency of British India as Malabar district. This work is also a path-breaking study, as hardly any scholar had undertaken such a specific study till now, except for a few exceptions like the French scholar, Geneviève Bouchon, and Prof. K.K.N. Kurup, who had worked on the Mamales of Cananore and Ali Raja of Cananore.

Of special significance is the fact that More had based her study on ancient Tamil and Sanskrit literatures, the Latin, Arabic, Chinese and Persian accounts since the ancient times up to the sixteenth century, as well as many records and works in European languages like French and English. She had especially put to good use the records in English and French found in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris and the India Office Library and Records, British Library, London.

On the basis of ancient Tamil literature like Purnanuru and Akananuru, she had established that north Malabar was part of Tamilakam or Tamil land. She had identified in no un- certain terms the Kingdom of Nannan and his descendants, who ruled north Malabar since ancient times.

Few studies have been carried out on the early and medieval history of Kerala and its interaction with the Europeans. But an exhaustive study of the origin and early history of north Malabar and Cananore was not attempted in a systematic manner by any writer. It is important to draw attention to the fact that north Malabar, including Cananore seems to have had a distinct history and socio-political evolution of its own since ancient times. As I hail from this region, I decided to take up this complex study pertaining to the history of Cananore and north Malabar since ancient times until its annexation by the British in 1792.

My journey of tracing the history of Cananore and North Malabar from precolonial times was particularly difficult due to the paucity of relevant materials. The history of Kolatiri ruler who ruled over this region and his prime officer, a Muslim trader, based in Cananore, is a prime concern of this book. The latter who played a significant role in the sea faring activity in the Arabian seas, and later evolved into Ali Raja, or sea king who gradually broke away from Kolatiri, and became an independent chief of Cananore, is adequately dealt within this work. I have tried to represent as accurately as possible the vicissitudes of the Kolatiri kingdom and Arakkal House in their relationship not only with the European powers, but also with the Canarese kings and Mysore Sultans.

In order to attain my objectives, I have mainly relied on the original records, documents, manuscripts and rare books, available at the various archives and libraries located across India, France and England. I am grateful to the prompt assistance rendered by the Tamil Nadu Archives, Chennai; Maharashtra State Archives, Mumbai; National Archives, Delhi; India Office Library and Records, London; Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris; and the History Department Library, University of Calicut.