Thekkumkur

The Kingdom of Thekkumkur (തെക്കുംകൂർ രാജ്യം) (also transliterated as Thekkumkoor or Thekkumcore) was an independent kingdom in the southern part of Kerala in India from 1103 CE until 1750 CE. It was ruled by the Thekkumkur Royal Family (Edathil Family). Thekkumkur lies between the Meenachil River and the Pamba River, from the Western Ghats to the Vembanad Kayal. Thekkumkur emerges as a result of administrative changes in the princely states at the end of the Chera Kulasekhara dynasty of Mahodayapuram. The literal meaning of the title is the southern regent and the attribute southern distinguished them from another kingdom known as Vadakkumkur (northern regent) which bordered it in the northern side. The royal household, Thekkumkur Kovilakam, were at Vennimala and Manikandapuram near Puthuppally, later it shifted to Neerazhi Palace at Puzhavathu of Changanassery and Thalilkotta at Thaliyanthanapuram (Kottayam). Thekkumkur emerges as a result of administrative changes in the princely states at the end of the Kulasekhara Empire at the end of the 11th century. The feudal forms emerged as a result of the Brahmin's authority to acquire the physical rights of the land through the expansion of tiles and the influence of the slums which were the agricultural land. Smaller feudal lords subordinated themselves to the dynasties like Vempolinad. Due to the increase in the geographical area, Vempolinad was partitioned into two princely states called Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur. The northern parts of Vembalanad were transformed into Vadakkumkur, and the southern parts of Vembalanad were merged with Munjunad and Nantuzhainad and formed Thekkumkur. There is no disagreement among historians as to what might have happened in the first decade of the twelfth century. However, there are some indications that the ritual had begun before that and the century before. Only that it was not transformed into an absolute monarchy of Thekkumkur kingdom. Ilaya Raja (Prince) of Vempolinad who lived in Vemballi palace (വെമ്പള്ളി കൊട്ടാരം) founded Thekkumkur kingdom at the beginning of the 12th century.