Editing Alappuzha district (section)

==History==
[[File:Raja Kesava Das Statue in Alleppey - Changanassery Road @ Changananassery Junction.jpg|thumb|[[Raja Kesavadas]] Statue at [[Changanassery]]]]

The present-day town of [[Alappuzha]] owes its existence to [[Raja Kesavadas]] during the second half of the 18th century CE. However the district of Alappuzha had an important position  in the classical [[Malayalam literature]]. [[Kuttanad]], the [[breadbasket|rice bowl]] of Kerala, was well known from the early [[Sangam period]] itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} District Alappuzha, Government of Kerala {{!}} India |url=https://alappuzha.nic.in/en/history/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Classical antiquity===
[[File:Light House Alleppey,Kerala.jpg|left|thumbnail|The [[Lighthouse]] at [[Purakkad]]]]
History records that the region which now constitutes the modern-day [[List of districts of Kerala|district]] of [[Alappuzha]] had trade relations with the ancient [[Ancient Greece|Greece]], the ancient [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], the ancient [[Levant]], the ancient [[Arabian peninsula]], and the [[Ancient Egypt]] during the [[Sangam period]] in the early centuries of the [[Common Era]].<ref name=AlappuzhaHistoryOld>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://alappuzha.gov.in/pages/aboutalpy-history.htm |website=Official Web Site of Alappuzha District, Kerala State, India |publisher=Collectorate, Alappuzha District, Kerala State, India |access-date=3 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820193526/http://alappuzha.gov.in/pages/aboutalpy-history.htm |archive-date=2016-08-20 }}</ref>

The ancient port town of ''Barace'' which is recorded as an important centre of the [[Indian Ocean trade]] in the ancient [[Greco-Roman world|Greco-Roman travelogues]] such as the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' (written around 50 CE) is often identified with the modern-day coastal town of [[Purakkad]] on the mouth of the [[Pamba River]] in the Alappuzha district.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> This river is also the third-longest river in [[Kerala]] only after to the [[Periyar river]] and the [[Bharathappuzha]] river.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite book|title=Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus – 2019|publisher=P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode|year=2018|location=Kozhikode|last=Chandran |first=VP |language=ml|edition=Malayalam }}</ref>

Early members of the [[Chera dynasty]] had their home in Kuttanad and were sometimes known as the  ''Kuttuvans''.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> However the regions south of the [[Pamba River]] was ruled by the [[Ay kingdom]] during the ancient period. Pamba is mentioned as ''Baris'' in the ancient Greco-Roman travelogues.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> There are archaeological evidences of the early period of this district, including ancient fossils, stone inscriptions and monuments, in the archeological sites like the excavation sites, the caves, the temples, etc. The literary works of the [[Sangam period]] also help to take a look into the ancient period of the district.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

Alappuzha district was once a prominent centre of [[Buddhism]] in [[South India]] prior to the arrival of [[Nambudiri]] [[Brahmin]]s into the region.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> [[Sri Mulavasam]] was then a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage centre in the [[Indian peninsula]]. Numerous remnants of once flourished [[Buddhism]] have been found from the [[List of taluks of Kerala|taluks]] of [[Ambalappuzha]] and [[Mavelikara]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

===Medieval history===
The regions included in the district had a prominent position in the medieval [[Malayalam]] literary works such as ''[[Unnuneeli Sandesam]]''.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> One among the famous literary works of this period was the ''Ascharya Choodamani'', a [[Sanskrit]] drama written by [[Sakthibhadran|Sakthibhadra]] who was a scholar from [[Chengannur]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nayar|first=V. R. Prabodhachandran|date=2011-02-11|title=Gem of a play|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/Gem-of-a-play/article15379095.ece|access-date=2020-09-08|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The feudal monarch of Chempakasseri was at its zenith during the reign of Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan, a great scholar and a poet who was also the author of the literary work ''Vedantha Ratnamala''. It is said that [[Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple]], at [[Ambalappuzha]], was constructed and the idol of [[Lord Krishna]] installed during that time. Chempakassery was ruled by [[Brahmin]] monarchs during the medieval period.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

It is believed that [[Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri]], Kumaran Namboothiri, and Neelakanta Deekshithar were eminent scholars who patronized his court.<ref name=AlappuzhaHistoryOld />

===Feudal principalities during the medieval period===
The southern regions of the modern-day Alappuzha district once formed part of the erstwhile "kingdom of [[Odanad]]" (also known as the "kingdom of [[Kayamkulam]]" or known by the name "Onattukara"), which was later invaded by the [[Travancore|Travancorean forces]] in the year 1746.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala">{{cite book|last1=Sreedhara Menon|first1=A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82|title=''Kerala Charitram''|date=January 2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126415885|edition=2007|location=Kottayam|access-date=10 June 2022|language=ml}}</ref> It was a branch of the ancient [[Ay kingdom]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> It was also known as the ''Chirava Swaroopam'', where the word ''Chirava'' derives from the combination of two [[Malayalam]] words, ''Cheru'' and ''Aayi'', which means "a smaller branch of the [[Ay kingdom]]".<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> It included some parts of the modern-day [[List of taluks of Kerala|Taluks]] of [[Chengannur]], [[Mavelikara]], [[Karthikappally]], and [[Karunagappally]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

The northernmost region of the district, which curresponds to the present-day Taluk of [[Cherthala]], was ruled by the "Kingdom of Karappuram" prior to the 1762 treaty that was signed between the kingdom of [[Travancore]] and the [[Kingdom of Cochin]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> Karappuram was a tributary of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] until 1762 when it was handed over to the kingdom of [[Travancore]]. The headquarters of the "Madathingal branch" of the [[Cochin Royal family]] was situated at Madathinkara in Karappuram.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

South of Karappuram lied the "Chempakassery kingdom" which was also known by the name the "Kingdom of [[Purakkad]]" prior to the [[Travancore|Travancorean conquest]] of 1746.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> The kingdom of Chempakassery included the modern-day Taluks of [[Ambalappuzha]] and [[Kuttanad]]. The monarch of Chempakassery was known by the title "Chempakassery Deva Narayanan".<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> [[Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri]] and [[Kunchan Nambiar]], who originally hailed from the [[South Malabar]] region, were court poets of the Chempakassery kingdom at times.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

[[Karthikappally]] was a small [[Feudalism|feudal kingdom]] that lied between the feudal kingdoms of [[Odanad]] and Chempakassery until the Travancorean invasion of the mid-18th century CE, which curresponds to the modern-day Taluk of Karthikappally.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/> The southernmost portion of the district had been once part of the erstwhile feudal kingdom of [[Karunagappalli|Karunagappally]], which had been subordinate to the ''Chirava Swaroopam'' ([[Kayamkulam]]) at times.<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>

===Progress and Social Reformation during the Travancore era (1746–1947)===
{{See also|Travancore}}
[[File:Travancore 1871.JPG|thumb|A map of the [[British Raj|British]] [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]] published in 1871]]
In the 17th century the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese power]] declined on the [[Malabar Coast]] and the [[Dutch Malabar]] gained a predominant position in the principalities of this district.<ref name="AlappuzhaHistory" />  The church located at [[Kokkamangalam]] or Kokkothamangalam is believed to be  one of the seven churches founded by St. [[Thomas the Apostle]], one of the twelve disciples of [[Jesus Christ]] according to the oral traditions. The picturesque [[Church of South India|CSI]] Christ Church in Alappuzha town was built in 1816 by the first CMS ([[Church Missionary Society]]) missionary to India, Rev. Thomas Norton. It was the first [[Anglican]] [[Church (building)|Church]] to be established in the erstwhile state of [[Travancore]].{{cn|date=May 2024}}

It was during the mid-18th century CE that the Maharaja [[Marthanda Varma]], popularly known as the ‘Architect of the Modern Travancore’, interfered in the political affairs of the smaller feudal principalities who ruled parts of the district. [[Marthanda Varma|Marthandavarma Maharaja]] had a remarkable role in the internal progress of the district. The [[Krishnapuram Palace]], which is now a protected monument of the State Archaeology Department, was constructed during his administrative period. He was known as the "Architect of the Modern Alleppey" and played a key role in making [[Alappuzha]] a premier port town of [[Travancore]].<ref name="AlappuzhaHistory" />

During the reign of Balaramavarma Maharaja, [[Velu Thampi Dalawa|Velu Thampi Dalava]] took keen interest in the development of the town and the port. He brought whole area of the [[Pathiramanal|Pathiramanal island]] into coconut cultivation and it's larger tracts into paddy cultivation. The role of Velu Thampi Dalava in the development of Alappuzha is worth mentioning. In the 19th century the district attained progress in all spheres.<ref name="AlappuzhaHistory" />

[[Kayamkulam Kochunni]] was a heroic outlaw from [[Kayamkulam]] who lived during the 19th century CE.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ml.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B4%90%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B9%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B2/%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8A%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A3%E0%B4%BF |title=Wikibooks Malayalam- Aithihyamala- Kayamkulam Kochunni |publisher=Wikibooks-Malayalam |date=7 June 2011 |accessdate=10 June 2011}}</ref> The 19th century [[Kerala reformation movement|social reformer]] [[Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker]] hails from the modern-day district of Alappuzha.<ref name="osella">{{cite book |title=Social Mobility In Kerala: Modernity and Identity in Conflict |first1=Filippo |last1=Osella |first2=Caroline |last2=Osella |publisher=Pluto Press |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rMRw0gTZSJwC |pages=156–157|isbn=9780745316932 }}</ref>

The first modern factory for the manufacture of [[Coir]] mats and mattings was also established in 1859 at Alappuzha. The Alappuzha Town Improvement Committee was set up in 1894.<ref name="AlappuzhaHistory" /> During the [[Travancore|Travancorean administration]], [[Cherthala]] taluk was included in the [[Northern Division (Travancore)|Northern division]] ([[Kottayam]] division) while rest of the Taluks which together constitute the modern-day district of Alappuzha was placed under the [[Central Division (Travancore)|Central division]] ([[Kollam]] division) of the [[British Raj|British]] [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]].<ref name="1931_census">{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1931, VOLUME XXVIII, Travancore, Part-I Report|publisher=Government of Travancore|year=1932|location=Trivandrum|url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10973/18998 }}</ref>
[[File:Allepeymartyrscolumn.JPG|thumbnail|The [[Communist]] memorial column in memory of the [[Punnapra-Vayalar uprising]] which occurred in 1946 against the [[Divan]] of the [[British Raj|British]] [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]].<ref name="feudal states in early 18th century Kerala"/>]]
This district played a prominent role in the freedom struggle of [[Travancore]]. The campaign for the eradication of [[Untouchability]] was organized much earlier in this district by [[T.K. Madhavan]], a journalist and in 1925 the approach roads to the temples, especially to the [[Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple]], were thrown open to the [[Hindus]] of all castes. The district also witnessed the 'Nivarthana' movement which was started as a protest against the constitutional repression in 1932. The first [[Political activism in Kerala|political strike in Kerala]] was held at Alappuzha in 1938.<ref name="AlappuzhaHistory"/> The district was home to the [[Communist Party of India|Communist]]-led [[Punnapra-Vayalar uprising]] against the [[Divan]] of the [[British Raj|British]] [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]] in the 1940s.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>