Nedum Cheralathan

Nedum Cheralathan was a Chera king of the Sangam period in ancient South India, contemporary to the Chola ruler Perunarkilli. He is considered as the second known Chera King as per the literary works during Sangam period, and particularly in the Second Ten of Pathirruppaththu. Nedum Cheralatan succeeded his father, Uthiyan Cheralathan and ruled the kingdom for 58 years as a Crown Prince first and as an absolute king later.

Nedum Cheralathan was a powerful ruler with several victories over neighboring kings during his tenure to his credit. Nedum Cheralathan consolidated the Chera kingdom, extended its frontiers, and literature and art developed highly during his period. He inflicted a crushing defeat on his enemies, the Kadambas of Banavasi. Nedum Cheralatan died in a battle with the ruler of the Chola kingdom.

Kannanar was Nedum Cheralathan's court poet. Among those victories, he's believed to have won over seven crowned kings and thus obtained the status of "Adhiraja". He was also known to be very generous and was famous for his hospitality.