Travancore Kings

Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1729-1758)----

Born in 1705.
Founder of modern Travancore.
Called 'Iron man of modern Travancore'/'Asoka of Travancore'.
Prince of Neyyantinkara.
Janmi rule came to an end in his reign.
Kulachal war (1741) b/w him & Dutch EIC (Commander D'lennoy). Became 1st Asian king to defeat an European force.
D'lennoy tomb at Udayagiri fort,T Nadu.
Ramapurathu warrier & Kunjan Nambiar were his court poets.
Thrippadidanam- In 1753 January 3, he dedicated his kingdom to Lord Sri Padmanabha & ruled as 'Padmanabhadasan'.
The novel Marthanda Varma written by CV Raman Pillai.

Karthika Thirunal Ramavarma (1758-1798)----

Popularly known as 'Dharma Raja'.
Nicknamed 'Kizhavan Raja'.' Thrippapur Moopan/ Chiravayur Moopan'.
He was the longest serving king of Travancore.
Shifted capital of Travancore from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram in 1790.
Faced invasion from Hyder Ali & Tippu Sultan.
Made 2nd Thrippadidanam(1766).
Ayyapan Marthanda pillai & Raja Keshava Das were his CMs.

Avittam Thirunal Balarama Varma (1798-1810)----

Youngest Travancore ruler at 16.
Signed subsidiary alliance agreement (1805) resulted in British paramountcy over Travancore.
Appointed Veluthampi Dalawa as 'Mulakumadiseela Karyakkaar' (Commercial minister) in 1799.

Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bai(1810-1815)----

1st woman ruler of modern Travancore.
Least served Travancore ruler.
Abolished slavery in Travancore (1812)
Started vaccination department at Travancore (1813).
Audit, Account system & Secretariat started in the state.
Introduced Allopathy treatment.

Rani Gowri Parvathy Bai(1815-1829)----

1st regent of Travancore.
Oozhiyam vela(Hard work without remuneration) terminated.
London Mission Society(LMS) started at Nagercoil(1816) under her patronage.
CMS press at Kottayam established(1821).

Swathy Thirunal Ramavarma(1829-1846)----

Golden age of modern Travancore.
1st Kerala king to appear in stamps.
Known as 'Dakshinabhoja', 'Garbasreeman', 'The Monarch Musician'.
He was an expert in music & Veena.
Popularized 'Mohiniyattam' & introduced varnam, padam, thillana to the form.
Irayimman Thampy was his court poet.
Shadkala Govinda Marar, Meru Swami, Vativelu, Chinnayya, Sivadhan, Ponnayya belonged to his court.
Department of Engineering, irrigation, public work in Travancore started.
Started English school(1834) later became Raja's free school(1836).
1st charity hospital at Trivandrum started
Thiruvithamkur became 1st 'naturajyam' to do census in India(1836) in his reign.
Ayya Vaikunder called him 'Ananthapuri neechan' due to the caste discrimination then prevailed at Travancore against Dalits.
Travancore Temple entry proclamation on 12th November 1936.
Hajur Kacheri(Secretariat) of Travancore shifted to Trivandrum from Kollam.

Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1846-1860)----

Golden age of 'Kathakali'.
Girls school opened in Travancore(1859).
1st modern Coir factory opened at Alappuzha by James Dara (1859).
Channar lahala (1859).

Ayilyam Thirunal Ramavarma(1860-1880)----

1st king to receive 'Maharaja' title from British Government.
Made Janmi-Kudiyan proclamation(1857).
Made the Pandara patta proclamation (1865) known as 'the magna Carta of Travancore Peasants'.
Kerala Secretariat building constructed (1869) architect was Mr.William Barten.
1st orderly census at Thiruvithamkur done(1875) at the time of Ayilyam Thirunal.
Banned Santhistavadi newspaper.
A R Raja raja Varma, Raja Ravi Varma(passed away in 1906), Kerala Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran(was imprisoned) were his court members.
Postal service opened to public(1861).
Built Alappuzha Lighthouse(1862).
Punalur suspension bridge constructed, Albert Henry the architect.
T Madhava Rao was the Travancore Diwan(1858-1872).

Vishakham Thirunal Rama Varma (1880-1885)----

'Scholar of Travancore'.
Constructed Nanchinad & Kothayar dams.
Ramayyankar was his famous Diwan.
In 1886, a lease indenture of 999 years of Mullaperiyar dam was made b/w Vishakham Thirunal & British Secretary of state of India for Periyar irrigation works.

Srimoolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1885-1924)----

His era called 'Memorial Era'.
Established Travancore legislative Council( March 30, 1888).
It was the 1st legislative Council for a native state in India.
Ayyankaali- 1st Dalit member.
Passed Janmi-Kudiyan regulation(1896).
Srimoolam Praja Sabha/Popular Assembly(1904).
Mary punnen Lukose-1st woman nominated to Praja Sabha.
Started Finger print bureau at Travancore.
Life insurance system introduced.
Malayalee memorial(1891), Ezhava memorial(1896) submitted to him.
1st British Viceroy Lord Curzon visited Travancore.
Built Victoria Memorial Hall.
Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishnapillai expelled from Travancore.
Established Archeological department.
Mullaperiyar dam commissioned on 1895 & Inaugurated by Lord Wenlock.
Mullaperiyar lease agreement b/w Diwan Rama Iyengar & John child Hannington on 29 October 1886.

Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1924-1931)----

She abolished polygamy, Animal Sacrifice, Devadasi system.
Introduced Makkathayam.
Passed Nayar Regulation Act (1925).
M E Watts was her Diwan, 1st full-time non-hindu personal.
Vaikom Satyagraha- 30th March 1924.
Gandhiji visited her in 1925.
Midday meal system introduced.
Constructed Neendakara Bridge.
Sucheendram Satyagraha(1926) & Trippapoor Satyagraha.

Srichithira Thirunal Balarama Varma (1931-1949)----

Last ruler of Travancore Princely states.
In 1932, he introduced bicameral legislature, Srimoolam Assembly & Srichithira State Council.
Nivarthana Agitation/Abstention movement(1932). It prompted Govt of Travancore to appoint a public service commissioner.
Thiruvithankur temple entry proclamation issued by him in 1936 November 12.
1936- Travancore PSC established
1937- Trivandrum engineering college,
Sri Chithira Art gallery, University of Travancore (became University of Kerala in 1957) started(16th university of India).
Srichithira Thirunal became 1st chancellor of University of Travancore.
1st Vice Chancellor- CP Ramaswami Iyyer
1938- Travancore public transport formed.
Established Travancore rubber works, Kundara clay factory & FACT.
Started Pallivasal hydroelectric project (1940).
His famous Diwan- CP Ramaswami Iyyer.
Punnapra-Vayalar strike was against CP's American model executive in Travancore.
Brought Widow Remarriage Act.
Established Thekkady WLS.
Muhammad Habibulla- Only Muslim Diwan of Travancore.
Last Diwan of Travancore- PGN Unnithan. Thiruvithankur, Kochi village regimes United to form Thiru-Kochi in 1949 July 1.
Srichithira Thirunal served 1at & only Rajapramukh of Thiru-Kochi union from July 1st, 1949 to October 31st 1956.
The 2nd & the last PM of Thiruvithankur- Paravur TK Narayanan Pillai.