7. Destruction of Kollam , Migration from Kollam to Kallada and establishment of ThulasseryManapurathuTharavad
 

In the Chera Chola war between 1000A.D and 1100 AD whole of kerala especially the towns of  mahodayapuram,Kollam,Vizhinjam and Kanthallur were destroyed.

 Kulothunga Cholan who ruled from A.D.1070 and 1120 A.D. in his Cholapuram shasana(edict) states that in his 30th year or rule the suicide squad of kerala attained heaven and the boundaries of the Chola, Chera pandya  kingdoms were decided.34

Translation from Malayalam “The intelligent KulothungaCholan with a mighty army attacked Chera’s and pandya’sInspred by his successes Kulothunga led his army north and attacked kollam.” “In  999A.D RajarajaCholan defeated the Chera army. ……Again in 1005 AD rajarajachola attacked and captured Kollam, Kodungallur….In1028 A.D again a large Chola army under rajathirajachola captured and killed a large portion of Kerala and its people.The Chola edict states that the venad king was also killed in this war. To escape from the cruel Chola army the people of of kerala ( Chera ) sought refuge in the mountains and nearby areas.35

 

By the beginning of 12th century ,the Cholas overran Venad  and destroyed Kollam town. With the fall of the town and the church the Persian Christians who held prominent position in the Venad  army and dominated   trade and commerce fled to Kallada . Valiyaveettil family in Kollam, the root of ThulasseryManapurathu family, has the tradition of having one of its sons as a general of Venad  army.   The members of ThulasseryManapurathu family who were the beneficiaries of the Tarissapalli Chepped  were honourably received by the chiefs of Kallada-the Kartha’s -and given prime land belonging to Koickal palace to establish the ThulasseryManapurathu Tharavad.  The 24 room  building with ‘ettukettu’, ’padipura’, and ‘pandakasala’ in traditional ‘vaastu’ features was indeed a lordly mansion .The Thulassery Manapurathu family had a records of its Persian Christian heritage written  on documents written in Persian script.

 Socio-Political impact

   While the Chepped entitled them to oversee law and order , revenue ,weights and measures, they were also  expected to chip in with men and materials in times of war .They maintained a unit of cavalry and infantry for this purpose .The ‘Kuthirakkulam’- the pond for horses-is still seen within the ThulasseryManapurathu family property beside the church. 36

Back to Contents - Homepage

Next chapter: Kallada ValiyaPalli

originally known as Thulassery Manapurathu Marthamariyam Church but now known as  St.Mary's Orthodox Church , Kallada