Travancore: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Historic state in India}}

{{Other uses}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2013}}

|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Travancore

|era                    = [[Age of Imperialism]]

|status_text            = [[Princely State]] of [[British Raj|British India]]

|empire                = United Kingdom

|government_type        = Monarchy

|year_start            = 1729

|year_end              = 1949

|event1                = vassal under British Raj

|date_event1            = 1795

|event2                = vassal under independent India

|date_event2            = 1947

|p1                    = Venad

|s1                    = Travancore-Cochin

|flag_s1                = Flag of India.svg

|image_flag            = Flag of Kingdom of Travancore.svg

|flag_alt              = Travancore

|image_coat            = Travancore Emblem.jpg

|coat_alt              = Conch in wreath, guarded by two elephants on either side

|capital                = '''[[Padmanabhapuram]]''' (1729–1795)<br>'''[[Trivandrum]]''' (1795–1949)

|national_anthem        = ''[[Vanchi Bhumi|Vanchishamangalam]]'' (''Hail the Lord of Vanchi!'')

|common_languages      = [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]]

|religion              = '''Majority''':[[Hinduism]] <small>(official)</small> <br> '''Minority''': <br>[[Saint Thomas Christians]]<br>[[Mappilas]]  

|currency              = Travancore rupee

|leader1                = [[Marthanda Varma]]

|leader2                = [[Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma|Swathi Thirunal]]

|leader3                = [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma|Chithira Thirunal]]

|year_leader1          = 1729–1758 (first)

|year_leader2          = 1829–1846 (peak)

|year_leader3          = 1931–1949 (last)

|title_leader          = [[Maharaja of Travancore|Maharaja]]

|representative1        = George Powney

|representative2        = [[Colin Macaulay]]

|representative3        = [[William Cullen (Resident)|William Cullen]]

|representative4        = Cosmo Grant Niven Edwards

|year_representative1  = 1788–1800 (first)

|year_representative2  = 1800–1810

|year_representative3  = 1840–1860 (peak)

|year_representative4  = 1947 (last)

|title_representative  = Resident

|stat_year1            = 1941

|stat_area1            = 19844

|stat_pop1              = 6,070,018

|today     = [[India]]

|demonym=|area_km2=|area_rank=|GDP_PPP=|GDP_PPP_year=|HDI=|HDI_year=}}

The '''Kingdom of Travancore''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|æ|v|ə|n|k|ɔər}} Malayalam: തിരുവിതാംകൂർ/ Tamil: திருவிதாங்கூர்), also known as the '''Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor''', was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the [[Travancore Royal Family]] from [[Padmanabhapuram]], and later [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of modern-day southern [[Kerala]] ([[Idukki district|Idukki]], [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]], [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]], [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]], [[Kollam district|Kollam]], and [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvananthapuram]] districts, and some portions of [[Ernakulam district]]), and the southernmost part of modern-day [[Tamil Nadu]] ([[Kanyakumari district]] and some parts of [[Tenkasi district]]) with the [[Thachudaya Kaimal]]'s enclave of [[Irinjalakuda]] [[Koodalmanikyam temple]] in the neighbouring [[Kingdom of Cochin]].<ref>British Archives http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/d3e53001-d49e-4d4d-bcb2-9f8daaffe2e0</ref>

The official flag of the state was red with a dextrally-coiled silver [[Shankha|conch shell]] (''[[Turbinella pyrum]]'') at its center. The coat of arms had two elephants standing on the left and right with the conch shell (''[[Turbinella pyrum|Turibinella pyrum]]'') in the center. The ribbon (white) with black [[Devanagari]] script.

King [[Marthanda Varma]] inherited the small feudal state of [[Venad]] in 1723 and built it into Travancore, one of the most powerful kingdoms in [[South India|southern India]]. [[Marthanda Varma]] led the Travancore forces during the [[Travancore-Dutch War]] of 1739–46, which culminated in the [[Battle of Colachel]]. The defeat of the Dutch by Travancore is considered the earliest example of an organised power from [[Asia]] overcoming European military technology and tactics.<ref name="Sanyal2016">{{cite book|author=Sanjeev Sanyal|title=The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNekDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT183|date=10 August 2016|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-93-86057-61-7|pages=183–}}</ref> [[Marthanda Varma]] went on to conquer most of the petty principalities of the native rulers .

In the early 19th century, the kingdom became a [[princely state]] of the [[British Empire]]. The Travancore Government took many progressive steps on the socio-economic front and during the reign of Maharajah Sri [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]], Travancore became a prosperous modern [[princely state]] in [[British Raj|British India]], with reputed achievements in education, political administration, public work, and social reforms.<ref name="Travancore 2011">"Travancore." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. 11 November 2011.</ref><ref>Chandra Mallampalli, Christians and Public Life in Colonial South India, 1863–1937: Contending with Marginality, RoutledgeCurzon, 2004, p. 30</ref> In 1903–1904 the total revenue of the state was Rs.1,02,01,900.<ref>https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_023.gif</ref>

In course of time, the [[Ay kingdom]], part of the Chera empire, which ruled the Thiruvazhumkode area, became independent, and the land was called ''Aayi Desam'' or ''Aayi Rajyam'', meaning 'Aayi territory'. The Aayis controlled the land from present-day [[Kollam district]] in the north, through [[Thiruvananthapuram district]], all in Kerala, to the [[Kanyakumari district]]. There were two capitals, the major one at [[Kollam]] (''[[Venad|Venad Swaroopam]]'' or ''[[Desinganadu]]'') and a subsidiary one at Thrippapur (''Thrippapur Swaroopam'' or ''[[Nanjinad]]''). The kingdom was thus also called [[Venad]]. Kings of [[Venad]] had, at various times, travelled from [[Kollam]] and built residential palaces in [[Thiruvithamcode]] and [[Kalkulam]]. Thiruvithamcode became the capital of the Thrippapur Swaroopam, and the country was referred to as ''Thiruvithamcode'' by Europeans even after the capital had been moved in 1601 to [[Padmanabhapuram]], near Kalkulam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mal.sarva.gov.in/index.php?title=%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D|archive-date=4 April 2014|access-date=2014-04-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.is/20140404133809/http://mal.sarva.gov.in/index.php?title=തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍|date=2008-07-04|publisher=[[The State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications]]|title=തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍|language=ml|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Chera empire had dissolved by around 1100 and thereafter the territory comprised numerous small kingdoms until the time of [[Marthanda Varma]] who, as king of Venad from 1729, employed brutal methods to unify them.<ref>{{cite book |first=Barbara N. |last=Ramusack |title=The Indian Princes and their States |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-13944-908-3 |page=33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kz1-mtazYqEC&pg=PA33}}</ref> During his reign, Thiruvithamcode or Travancore became the official name.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">

Travancore 1871.JPG|Map of Travancore in 1871.

A Canal Scene, Travancore.jpg|A Canal scene in Travancore.

[[File:British Residency in Kollam.jpg|thumb|[[British Residency]] in Quilon. Till 1829, [[Quilon]] was the capital of the Travancore State with British Residency as the headquarters of the kingdom.]]

When the Ay power diminished, Venad became the southernmost principality of the [[Second Chera Kingdom]].<ref name="Menon139"/> An invasion of the Cholas into Venad caused the destruction of Kollam in 1096. However, the Chera capital, [[Mahodayapuram]], also fell in the subsequent Chola attack, which compelled the Chera king, Rama Varma Kulasekara, to shift his capital to Kollam.<ref name="Menon140">{{cite book|author=A Sreedhara Menon|title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&pg=PA140|access-date=18 September 2012|date=1 January 2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1578-6|page=140}}</ref> Thus, Rama Varma Kulasekara, the last emperor of the Chera dynasty, is probably the founder of the Venad royal house, and the title of the Chera kings, ''Kulasekara'', was thenceforth kept by the rulers of Venad. Thus the end of the Second Chera dynasty in the 12th century marks the independence of Venad.<ref name="Menon141">{{cite book|author=A Sreedhara Menon|title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&pg=PA140|access-date=18 September 2012|date=1 January 2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1578-6|page=141}}</ref>

In the second half of the 12th century, two branches of the Ay Dynasty, ''Thrippappur'' and ''Chirava'', merged in the Venad family, which set up the tradition of designating the ruler of Venad as ''Chirava Moopan'' and the heir-apparent as ''Thrippappur Moopan''. While the Chrirava Moopan had his residence at Kollam, the Thrippappur Moopan resided at his palace in ''Thrippappur'', 9 miles north of Thiruvananthapuram, and was vested with the authority over the temples of Venad kingdom, especially the [[Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple]].<ref name="Menon139">{{cite book|author=A Sreedhara Menon|title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C&pg=PA139|access-date=18 September 2012|date=1 January 2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-81-264-1578-6|page=139}}</ref>

In 1741, Travancore won the [[Battle of Colachel]] against the [[Dutch East India Company]], resulting in the complete eclipse of [[Dutch Empire|Dutch power]] in the region. In this battle, the Dutch Captain, [[Eustachius De Lannoy]], was captured. He later defected to Travancore.<ref name="AHoT 136">{{cite book|last1=Shungoony Menon|first1=P.|title=A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times|date=1878|publisher=Higgin Botham & Co.|location=Madras|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog/page/n184 136]–140|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog|access-date=5 May 2016|language=en|format=pdf}}</ref>

De Lannoy was appointed as Captain of His Highness' Body-guard<ref name="AHoT 136"/> and later Senior Admiral ("Valiya kappittan")<ref name="AHoT 162"/> and he modernised the [[Nair pattalam|Travancore army]] by introducing firearms and artillery.<ref name="AHoT 136"/> From 1741 to 1758, De Lannoy remained in command of the Travancore Forces and was involved in annexation of small principalities.<ref name="9th Madras Regiment">

  |publisher   = The journal of India's Armed Forces

  |work       = Sainik Samachar

  |url         = http://mod.nic.in/samachar/april15-04/body.html#l1

  |title       = 9 Madras : A Tale of 'Terrors'

  |url-status     = dead

Travancore became the most dominant state in the Kerala region by defeating the powerful [[Zamorin]] of [[History of Kozhikode|Kozhikode]] in the battle of [[Purakkad]] in 1755.<ref name="AHoT 162">{{cite book|last1=Shungoony Menon|first1=P.|title=A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times|date=1878|publisher=Higgin Botham & Co.|location=Madras|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog/page/n212 162]–164|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog|access-date=5 May 2016|language=en|format=pdf}}</ref> [[Ramayyan Dalawa]], the Prime Minister (1737–1756) of Marthanda Varma, also played an important role in this consolidation and expansion.

On 3 January 1750, (5 [[Makaram]], 925 [[Malayalam calendar|Kollavarsham]]), Marthanda Varma virtually "dedicated" Travancore to his tutelary deity [[Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Padmanabha]], one of the aspects of the Hindu God [[Vishnu]] with a lotus issuing from his navel on which [[Brahma]] sits. From then on the rulers of Travancore ruled as the "servants of Padmanabha" (the Padmnabha-dasar).<ref name="AHoT 171">{{cite book|last1=Shungoony Menon|first1=P.|title=A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times|date=1878|publisher=Higgin Botham & Co.|location=Madras|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog/page/n235 171]|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog|access-date=5 May 2016|language=en|format=pdf}}</ref>

===The Mysore invasion===

Marthanda Varma's successor Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758–1798), who was popularly known as [[Dharma Raja]], shifted the capital in 1795 from [[Padmanabhapuram Palace|Padmanabhapuram]] to [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. [[Dharma Raja]]'s period is considered as a Golden Age in the history of Travancore. He not only retained the territorial gains of his predecessor Marthanda Varma, but also improved and encouraged social development. He was greatly assisted by a very efficient administrator, [[Raja Kesavadas]], who was the Diwan of Travancore. {{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

Travancore often allied with the [[English East India Company]] in military conflicts.<ref name="Travancore 2011"/> During [[Dharma Raja]]'s reign, [[Tipu Sultan]], the de facto ruler of [[Mysore]] and the son of [[Hyder Ali]], attacked Travancore in 1789 as a part of the [[Mysore invasion of Kerala]]. Dharma Raja had earlier refused to hand over the [[Hindu]] political refugees from the [[Mysore invasion of Kerala|Mysore occupation of Malabar]], who had been given asylum in Travancore. The Mysore army entered the [[Cochin kingdom]] from [[Coimbatore]] in November 1789 and reached [[Trichur]] in December. On 28 December 1789 Tipu Sultan attacked the Nedunkotta (Northern Lines) from the north, causing the [[Battle of the Nedumkotta (1789)]], resulting in the defeat of Mysore army.

[[File:General Colin Macaulay, 1792.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Colin Macaulay, British Resident of Travancore, by John Smart (1792), by permission of the Provost & Fellows of Kings College, Cambridge]]

The Prime Ministers ([[Dewan|Dalawas]] or [[Dewan]]s) started taking control of the kingdom beginning with [[Velu Thampi Dalawa]] (Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi) (1799–1809) who was appointed as the ''divan'' following the dismissal of [[Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri]] (1798–1799). Initially, Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi and the [[English East India Company]] got along very well. When a section of the Travancore army mutinied in 1805 against Velu Thampi Dalawa, he sought refuge with the British Resident Colonel (later General) [[Colin Macaulay]] and later used [[English East India Company]] troops to crush the mutiny. Velu Thampi also played a key role in renegotiating a new treaty between Travancore and the English East India Company. However, the demands by the East India Company for the payment of compensation for their involvement in the Travancore-Mysore War (1791) on behalf of Travancore, led to tension between the Diwan and Colonel [[Colin Macaulay]]. Velu Thampi and the [[Diwan (title)|diwan]] of [[Cochin kingdom]], [[Paliath Achan]] Govindan Menon, who was unhappy with Macaulay for granting asylum to his enemy Kunhi Krishna Menon, declared "war" on the East India Company. {{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

The East India Company army defeated Paliath Achan's army in Cochin on 27 February 1809. Paliath Achan surrendered to the East India Company and was exiled to [[Madras]] and later to [[Benaras]]. The Company defeated forces under Velu Thampi Dalawa at battles near Nagercoil and [[Kollam]] and inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels, following which many of his supporters deserted and went back to their homes. The Maharajah of Travancore, who hitherto had not taken any part in the rebellion openly, now allied with the British and appointed one of Thampi's enemies as his Prime Minister. The allied East India Company army and the Travancore soldiers camped in Pappanamcode, just outside [[Trivandrum]]. Velu Thampi Dalawa now organised a guerrilla struggle against the Company, but committed suicide to avoid capture by the Travancore army. After the mutiny of 1805 against Velu Thampi Dalawa, most of the Nair army battalions of Travancore had been disbanded, and after Velu Thampi Dalawa's uprising, almost all of the remaining Travancore forces were also disbanded, with the East India Company undertaking to serve the Rajah in cases of external and internal aggression. {{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

All Travancore kings including [[Sree Moolam Thirunal]] conducted the ''Hiranyagarbham'' and ''Tulapurushadaanam'' ceremonies. Maharajah [[Chithira Thirunal]] was the only King of Travancore not to have conducted these rituals as he considered them extremely costly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/paramparyam/story.php?id=230343 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224230755/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/paramparyam/story.php?id=230343 |archive-date=24 February 2014 |df=dmy-all }} MATHRUBHUMI Paramparyam ഹിരണ്യഗര്‍ഭച്ചടങ്ങിന് ഡച്ചുകാരോട് ചോദിച്ചത് 10,000 കഴിഞ്ച് സ്വര്‍ണം - "ശ്രീമൂലംതിരുനാള്‍ വരെയുള്ള രാജാക്കന്മാര്‍ ഹിരണ്യഗര്‍ഭം നടത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നാണ് അറിയുന്നത്. ഭാരിച്ച ചെലവ് കണക്കിലെടുത്ത് ശ്രീചിത്തിരതിരുനാള്‍ ബാലരാമവര്‍മ്മ മഹാരാജാവ് ഈ ചടങ്ങ് നടത്തിയില്ല."</ref>

[[File:1887 Travancore revenue stamps.jpg|thumb|A block of 1887 Travancore revenues depicting [[Queen Victoria]].]]

In Travancore, the caste system was more rigorously enforced than in many other parts of India up to the mid-1800s. The rule of discriminative hierarchical caste order was deeply entrenched in the social system and was supported by the government, which had transformed this caste-based social system into a religious institution.<ref>Cf. Ward & Conner, Geographical and Statistical Memoir, page 133; V. Nagam Aiya, The Travancore State Manual, Volume-2, Madras:AES, 1989 (1906), page 72.</ref> In such a context, the belief in [[Ayyavazhi]], apart from being a religious system, served also as a reform movement in uplifting the downtrodden section of the society, both socially and as well religiously. The [[Ayyavazhi rituals|rituals of Ayyavazhi]] constituted a social discourse. Its beliefs, mode of worship, and religious organisation seem to have enabled the Ayyavazhi group to negotiate and cope with, and resist the imposition of authority.<ref>G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, University of Madras, 2003, The Subaltern Agency in Ayyavali, Page 174.</ref> The hard tone of Vaikundar towards this was perceived as a revolution against the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mission.akshaya.net/dpi/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829094406/http://mission.akshaya.net/dpi/ |archive-date=29 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}''Towards Modern Kerala, 10th Standard Text Book'', Chapter 9, Page 101. See this Pdf</ref> So the King [[Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma]] initially imprisoned [[Vaikundar]] in the Singarathoppu jail, where the jailor Appaguru ended up as a disciple of Vaikundar. Vaikundar was later set at liberty by the King.<ref>C.f. Rev.Samuel Zechariah, ''The London Missionary Society in South Travancore'', Page 201.</ref>

File:Anchal Box Perumbavoor Rest House.JPG|Travancore's postal service adopted a standard cast iron pillar box, made by Massey & Co in [[Chennai|Madras]], and similar to the British [[Pillar box#Penfolds|Penfold]] model that was introduced in 1866. This [[Anchal post]] box is in [[Perumbavoor]].

After the death of Sree Moolam Thirunal in 1924, [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]] became the regent (1924–1931), as the Heir Apparent Sree [[Chithira Thirunal]] was then a minor (12 years old).<ref>{{cite book|last=A. Sreedhara|first=Menon|title=A Survey Of Kerala History|pages=271–273}}</ref>

In 1935, Travancore joined the Indian State Forces Scheme and a Travancore unit was named 1st Travancore Nair Infantry, [[Travancore State Forces]]. The unit was reorganised as an Indian State Infantry Battalion by Lieutenant Colonel H S Steward who was appointed Commandant of the Travancore State Forces.<ref name="TravancoreStateForces">{{Cite web|title=Travancore State Forces|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=0Shq7wwoytm5UmTfNYDhxQ==&ParentID=X8ZXdizSqjhXDuSfL0C75Q==links/Committee/1Adminrpt1958.asp?intID=1|date=2020-04-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413124927/https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=0Shq7wwoytm5UmTfNYDhxQ%3D%3D&ParentID=X8ZXdizSqjhXDuSfL0C75Q%3D%3Dlinks%2FCommittee%2F1Adminrpt1958.asp%3FintID%3D1|archive-date=13 April 2020|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref>

The last ruling king of Travancore was [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]], who reigned from 1931 to 1949. "His reign marked revolutionary progress in the fields of education, defence, economy and society as a whole."<ref>"During his rule, the revenues of the State were nearly quadrupled from a little over Rs 21/2 crore to over Rs 91/2 crore." - 'THE STORY OF THE INTEGRATION OF THE INDIAN STATES' by V. P. MENON</ref> He made the famous Temple Entry Proclamation on 12 November 1936, which opened all the [[Kshetram]]s (Hindu temples in Kerala) in Travancore to all [[Hindus]], a privilege reserved to only upper-caste Hindus till then. This act won him praise from across India, most notably from [[Mohandas Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]]. The first public transport system (Thiruvananthapuram–Mavelikkara) and telecommunication system (Thiruvananthapuram Palace–Mavelikkara Palace) were launched during the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal. He also started the industrialisation of the state, enhancing the role of the public sector. He introduced heavy industry in the State and established giant public sector undertakings. As many as twenty industries were established, mostly for utilizing the local raw materials such as rubber, ceramics, and minerals. A majority of the premier industries running in Kerala even today, were established by Sree Chithira Thirunal. He patronized musicians, artists, dancers, and Vedic scholars. Sree Chithira Thirunal appointed, for the first time, an ''Art Advisor'' to the Government, Dr. G. H. Cousins. He also established a new form of University Training Corps, viz. ''Labour Corps'', preceding the N.C.C, in the educational institutions. The expenses of the University were to be met fully by the Government. Sree Chithira Thirunal also built a beautiful palace named ''Kowdiar Palace'', finished in 1934, which was previously an old ''Naluektu'', given by Sree Moolam Thirunal to his mother Sethu Parvathi Bayi in 1915.<ref>{{cite web|last=Supreme Court|first=Of India|title=GOOD GOVERNANCE: JUDICIARY AND THE RULE OF LAW|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/speeches/speeches_2007/ctm.pdf|publisher=Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Lecture, 29 December 2007|access-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017164448/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/speeches/speeches_2007/ctm.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Aswathy Thirunal Gauri Lakshmi Bai">{{cite book|last=Gauri Lakshmi Bai|first=Aswathy Thirunal|title=Sree Padmanabhaswamy Kshetram|year=1998|publisher=The State Institute Of Languages, Kerala|location=Thiruvananthapuram|isbn=978-81-7638-028-7|pages=242–243}}</ref><ref name="A. Sreedhara Menon">{{cite book|last=Menon|first=A. Sreedhara|title=A Survey Of Kerala History|year=1967|publisher=D C Books|location=Kottayam|isbn=81-264-1578-9|page=273}}</ref>

However, his Prime Minister, Sir [[C. P. Ramaswami Iyer]], was unpopular among the communists of Travancore. The tension between the Communists and Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer led to minor riots in various places of the country. In one such [[Punnapra-Vayalar uprising|riot in Punnapra-Vayalar]] in 1946, the Communist rioters established their own government in the area. This was put down by the Travancore Army and Navy. The Prime Minister issued a statement in June 1947 that Travancore would remain as an independent country instead of joining the Indian Union; subsequently, an attempt was made on the life of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, following which he resigned and left for Madras, to be succeeded by Sri [[P.G.N. Unnithan]]. According to witnesses such as K.[[Aiyappan Pillai]], constitutional adviser to the Maharaja and historians like [[A. Sreedhara Menon]], the rioters and mob-attacks had no bearing on the decision of the Maharaja.<ref>Sreedhara Menon in ''Triumph & Tragedy in Travancore'' Annals of Sir C. P.'s Sixteen Years, DC Books publication</ref><ref>Aiyappan Pillai Interview to Asianet news Accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIMS_6Z_WRE</ref> After several rounds of discussions and negotiations between Sree Chithira Thirunal and [[V.P. Menon]], the King agreed that the Kingdom should accede to the Indian Union in 1949. On 1 July 1949 the Kingdom of Travancore was merged with the Kingdom of Cochin and the short-lived state of [[Travancore-Cochin|Travancore-Kochi]] was formed.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

[[File:Madras Prov 1859.gif|thumb|Travancore in the [[Madras Presidency]] in 1859]]

On 11 July 1991, Sree Chithira Thirunal suffered a stroke and was admitted to Sree Chithira Thirunal hospital, where he died on 20 July. He had ruled Travancore for 67 years and at his death was one of the few surviving rulers of a first-class [[princely state]] in the old [[British Raj]]. He was also the last surviving Knight Grand Commander of both the [[Order of the Star of India]] and of the [[Order of the Indian Empire]]. He was succeeded as ''head'' of the Royal House as well as the ''Titular Maharajah'' of Travancore by his brother, [[Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma]]. The Government of India issued a stamp on Nov 6, 1991, commemorating the reforms that marked the reign of Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal in Travancore.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gauri Lakshmi Bai|first=Aswathy Thirunal|title=Sree Padmanabha Swamy Kshetram|date=July 1998|publisher=The State Institute Of Languages|location=Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala|isbn=978-81-7638-028-7|pages=278–282, 242–243, 250–251}}</ref>

The State of Kerala came into existence on 1 November 1956, with a Governor appointed by the President of India as the head of the State instead of the King. {{citation needed|date=February 2014}} The King was stripped of all his political powers and the right to receive privy purses, according to the twenty-sixth amendment of the Indian constitution act of 31 July 1971. He died on 20 July 1991.<ref>[http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend26.htm THE CONSTITUTION (TWENTY-SIXTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1971] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206041333/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend26.htm |date=6 December 2011 }}</ref>

Under the direct control of the king, Travancore's administration was headed by a [[Dewan]] assisted by the ''Neetezhutthu Pillay'' or secretary, ''Rayasom Pillay'' (assistant or under-secretary) and a number of ''Rayasoms'' or clerks along with ''Kanakku Pillamars'' (accountants). Individual districts were run by ''[[Sarvadhikari]]s'' under supervision of the Diwan, while dealings with neighbouring states and Europeans was under the purview of the ''Valia Sarvahi'', who signed treaties and agreements.{{sfn|Aiya|1906|p=329-30}}

# [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]] II 1924–1949

* Reddy Rao 1817–1821

* Reddy Rao (again) 1843–1845

In 1856, the princely state was sub-divided into three divisions, each of which was administered by a Divan Peishkar, with a rank equivalent to a District Collector in British India.<ref name="AHoT 486">{{cite book|last1=Shungoony Menon|first1=P.|title=A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times|date=1878|publisher=Higgin Botham & Co.|location=Madras|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog/page/n602 486]|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog|access-date=5 May 2016|language=en|format=pdf}}</ref> These were the:

* [[Northern Division (Travancore)|Northern (Kottayam)]] comprising the [[Tehsils of India|talukas]] of [[Cherthala|Sharetalay]], [[Vaikom|Vycome]], [[Ettumanoor|Yetmanoor]], [[Kottayam|Cottayam]], [[Changanassery|Chunginacherry]], [[Meenachil]], [[Thodupuzha|Thodupolay]], [[Muvattupuzha|Moovatupolay]], Kunnathnaud, Alangaud and [[North Paravur|Paravoor]];

* [[Quilon Division|Quilon (Central)]], comprising the talukas of Ambalapuzha, Chengannur, Pandalam, Kunnattur, Karungapalli, Karthikapally [[Harippad]], Mavelikkara, Quilon; and

{{historical populations|11=1816|12=906,587 |13=1836|14=1,280,668 |15=1854|16=1,262,647 |17=1875|18=2,311,379 |19=1881|20=2,401,158 |21=1891|22=2,557,736 |23=1901|24=2,952,157|25=1911|26=3,428,975 |27=1921|28=4,006,062|29=1931|30=5,095,973|31=1941|32=6,070,018 |percentages=pagr|footnote=Source:<ref>{{Cite book|title=Travancore, Part I, Vol-XXV (1941)|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=1942|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=13|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5598/1/20374_1941_REP.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Report on the Census of Travancore (1891)|publisher=Government of India|year=1894|location=Chennai|pages=631|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5571/1/42181.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Report on the Census of Travancore (1881)|publisher=Government of India|year=1884|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=87|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5570/1/41740.pdf}}</ref>}}

Travancore had a population of 6,070,018 at the time of the [[1941 Census of India]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114131939/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/old_report/TABLE_1941_1.HTM|archive-date=2013-11-14|access-date=2014-03-29|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/old_report/TABLE_1941_1.HTM|title=Table 1 - Area, houses and population|work=[[1941 Census of India]]|publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>

| colspan="2" bgcolor="Orange" |[[Hinduism|<span style="color:white;">'''Hindus'''</span>]]

| colspan="2" bgcolor="DodgerBlue" |[[Christianity|<span style="color:white;">'''Christians'''</span>]]

| colspan="2" bgcolor="Green" |[[Islam|<span style="color:white;">'''Muslims'''</span>]]

! 1816 - 1820

| colspan="2" bgcolor="Red" |[[Malayalam|<span style="color:white;">'''Malayalam'''</span>]]

| colspan="2" bgcolor="Green" |[[Tamil language|<span style="color:white;">'''Tamil'''</span>]]

| colspan="2" bgcolor="Grey" |[[Languages of India|<span style="color:white;">'''Others'''</span>]]

| 3,428,975<ref name="r1911">{{Cite book|title=Census of India - 1911, Volume-XXIII, Travancore (Part-I)|last=Iyer|first=N. Subramhanya|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=1912|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=176|url=http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/ideologie/data/CensusIndia/CensusIndia1911/1911%20-%20Travancore%20-%20Vol%20I.pdf}}</ref>

| 4,006,062<ref name="r1921">{{Cite book|title=Census of India, 1921, Volume-XXV, Travancore|last=Iyer|first=S. Krishnamoorthi|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=1922|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=91|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56017}}</ref>

Just like many British Indian states, violence rooted in religion or caste was common in Travancore. [[Tamil Brahmins]] and [[Nairs]] alone dominated the bureaucracy until 20th century. Many political ideologies (such as [[communism]]) and social reforms were not welcomed in Travancore, and in [[Punnapra]], communist protesters were fired at. Travancore royal family were devout [[Hindu]]s. Some kings practiced untouchablity with British officers, European aristocrats and diplomats (for instance, [[Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos]], has reported that [[Maharaja]] [[Visakham Thirunal]] had to take bath after touching Richard's Mrs., to remove ritual pollution, when they visited in 1880).

Unlike most of India, just like in [[Dakshina Kannada]], in Travancore (and the rest of Kerala), the social status and freedom of women were relatively high. In some communities, the daughters inherited the property (though property was exclusively administered by men, their brothers) (until 1925), were educated, and had the right to divorce and remarry, but due to laws passed starting from 1925, by regent queen [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]] proper patriarchy was established and now women have relatively little rights.<ref>{{cite news|last=Santhanam|first=Kausalya|title=Royal vignettes: Travancore - Simplicity graces this House |url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2003/03/30/stories/2003033000700700.htm|access-date=14 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] (magazine section)|date=March 30, 2003}}</ref>

* [[Madras Presidency]]

* [[Malabar District]]

* [[Thachudaya Kaimal]] Family

* [[Travancore–Dutch War]]

* [[Nedumkotta]]

* ''[[Marthandavarma (novel)|Marthandavarma]]'' (novel)

* [[The Years of Rice and Salt]], an acclaimed novel that features an alternate history Travancore

{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:1729 establishments in Asia]]

[[Category:Travancore-Cochin]]