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'''Thoma of Villarvattom''' was a "king" (landlord) of Villarvattom, a vassal fiefdom of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] ruled by the heirs of Villarvattom dynasty, an aristocratic [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christian]] family of [[Udayamperoor]].<ref name="ns">{{cite web|url=http://nasrani.net/2007/04/15/raja-thoma-villarvattam-king-of-the-nasranis/|title=Raja Thoma Villarvattam – King of the Nasranis|date=15 April 2007|publisher=NSC Network|access-date=2009-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=V. Nagam |last=Aiya |title=The Travancore State Manual|publisher=Kerala Gazetteers Dept|volume=II|isbn=9788185499321}}</ref><ref>http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/localContentView.do?tabId=16&programId=1079897624&contentId=14805595&district=Cochin&BV_ID=@@@</ref> | |||
'''Thoma | |||
According to | The origin of this royal family is traced to the 9th century. Christianity spread in the kingdom of Villarvattom ([[Udayamperoor]]) under the saintly [[Chaldean Syrian Church|Chaldean]] bishop [[Mar Sabor and Mar Proth|Mar Sapor]] who occupied the Episcopal seat of [[Quilon]]. According to tradition, Mar Sapor succeeded in converting the Villarvattom dynasty. Thus originated the Christian royal family of Malabar known as ''Villarvattom''.<ref name=":1">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 358.</ref> | ||
In 1439, [[Pope Eugene IV]] sent an apostolic letter through his legates to Thomas, the Villarvattom king in the following manner, ''"To our dearest son in Jesus the great king Thomas of India happiness and apostolic benediction. We have been often told that you and your subjects are true and faithful Christians”''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/a_j_john.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301220721/http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/a_j_john.html|url-status=dead|title=A. J. John, Anaparambil|archive-date=1 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smcim.org/church/chendamangalam/article/93|title=Database Error|website=www.smcim.org}}</ref> [[Udayamperoor]] (known as [[Diamper]] in Portuguese), the capital of this kingdom, was the venue of the famous [[Synod of Diamper]] of 1599 CE. It was held in the All Saints Church in Diamper. The venue was apparently chosen on account of the place having been the capital of a Syrian Christian principality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.synodofdiamper.com/mal/index.php|title=Indian Churches - History in Malayalam|website=www.synodofdiamper.com}}</ref> | |||
According to accounts, this Christian dynasty lasted till about the close of the 15th century. The last ruler of the line Jacob Swaroopam died without a male heir. His surviving daughter was married by a prince of the [[Cochin Royal Family|Cochin royal family]] who was converted to Christianity. So the territories of the Villarvattom came to be absorbed in the Kingdom of Cochin. Consequently, it was considered that the rulers of Cochin had a special responsibility for looking after the welfare of the Saint Thomas Christians of [[Malabar Coast]]. The Malabar Syrian Christians however preserved the royal emblems of the Villarvattom and presented this to [[Vasco da Gama]], when he arrived in [[Cochin]]. This was done to show their homage to the Christian King of Portugal.<ref>{{cite book|first=K L |last=Bernard|title=Flashes of Kerala History|year=1980}}</ref> His place of royalty were handed over to the succeeding descendants-Varghese family. The Tomb of Villarvattom Thoma Raja can be found in the [[Udayamperoor|Udayamperoor church]]. | |||
==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||