vettom

Vettathunad (Malayalam: വെട്ടത്തുനാട്; Vettom, Tanur Swaroopam) was one of the numerous feudal principalities on Malabar Coast during the Middle Ages. It was ruled by aHindu dynasty, claiming Kshatriya status, known as Tanur dynasty. The kingdom comprised parts of Tirur and Ponnani Taluks and included places such as Tanur, Tirur (Trikkandiyur) and Chaliyam.

The king of Vettattnad was a long time feudatory of the Zamorin of Calicut.[1] With the arrival of the Portuguese in Malabar, the rulers of Vettathunad began to play the Portuguese and Calicut against each other. They were one of the first vassals of Calicut to stand up against the Zamorin with the Portuguese assistance. Subsequently, a Vettom king fell in offers of the Portuguese and converted to Christianity. This king allowed the construction of the strategic fortress at Chaliyam.

Since, part of the Chovvaram (Sukapuram) village in the old 64 villages of Nambudiris, the queen of Cochin adopted some Vettom princes in 17th century, which lead to tensions in the Malabar Coast.

The royal family became extinct on the death of the last king, on 24 May 1793.[2] Subsequently, the kingdom passed to English East India Company and the temple of the royal family was transferred to the Zamorin of Calicut in 1842.[3]