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