Origin of Nair States
Historians and foreign travelers refers Nairs of Malabar as a dignified martial nobility in the Middle Ages. Earliest reference to Nairs comes from the Greek ambassador Megasthenes. In his accounts of ancient India, he refers to the "Nayars of Malabar".
In the age of later Cheras or Kulasekharas (9th century to 12th century AD), the kingdom faced severe attacks from their powerful neighbors, the Cholas. By 12th century present day Kerala was liberated from Chola control with help of Nair suicide squads known as "chavers" or "ayirathil", "pathinayirathil" etc. The wars between the Chera and the Chola kingdoms wars paved lot of changes in society, such as the rise of the Hindu Caste System.
As the Chera rule ended in early 12th century, several of its Nair vassals proclaimed independence. The Nairs were confined to small areas but they frequently fought each other for domination. Four major city states were Kolathunad, Kozhikode, Perumpadappu and Venad. Apart from the four kingdoms stated above, there were many principalities known as Swaroopams. Some of them were also known as Madampies, almost equivalent to the Baronets of England. Elayidathu Swaroopam, Odanad, Purakad, Karapuram Kaimal, Kuthiravattam, Kavalappara Swaroopam, Venganadu, Thekkumkur (Kottayam), Vadakkumkur, Alengad, Parur, Kodungalloor, Thalappilly Valluvanad, Kadathanad, Kurumbranad - Kurumbiathiri swaroopam, Poonjar, Kumbala, Neeleswaram etc. were some of the Nair states.
Read more about this topic: Samantha Kshatriya, History
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