When Vasco Da Gama arrived at Cochin in …

Comment posted Raja Thoma Villarvattam – King of the Nasranis by Georgekutty.

When Vasco Da Gama arrived at Cochin in 1502, the St. Thomas Christians sent to him representatives. They informed Gama that they had a king of their own in former times and showed him the sceptre of the last king. It was a red rod, tipped with silver, having three small bells at the top. They presented the sceptre to Gama and sought protection against the Muhammadans. Gama solemnly accepted the sceptre and promised protection in the name of the King of Portugual. (Travancore State Manual, vol. II, p.147; 150-1; Chapman, p.159).

The Christian dynasty seems to have lasted from the fourth to the fourteenth century. Giraud (Bibliotheca Sacra. T. II, p. 176) and Le Quien (T. II, p. 1276) seem to favour the view that the Christian dynasty was ruling in Diamper in the ninth century during the time of the two Bishops, Sabor and Proth.

There are two papal letters addressed to the Christian kings of Malabar. In 1328, Pope John XXII, in a letter to the chief of the Christians in Malabar, addresses him as the noble lord of the Christians and recommends to him and to all his Christian subjects in Quilon, Bishop Jordan whom he had recently appointed as the Bishop of Quilon for the Latin converts there (Jordan’s Mirabilia; Rae, Syrian Church, p. 194). In 1439, Pope Eugene IV sent envoys to the Christian king of Malabar with a letter which commences as follows:

“To my most beloved son in Christ, Thomas, the illustrious Emperor of the Indians, Health and Apostolic Benediction. There often has reached us a constant rumour that your Serenity and also all who are the subjects of your kingdom are true Christians” (Travancore State Manual,
vol. II, p. 147).

Towards the close of the 15th century the royal family became extinct and the kingdom was annexed by the King of Cochin to his dominions.

Related NSC Network Articles

• A Syrian Christian Family Portrait – Circa 1620 A.D.
• Names, Middle Names and Last Names among the Syrian Christians
• The Tiger and the Syrian Christians: Tipu Sultan’s ‘Padayottam’
• ‘Jornada of Dom Alexis de Menezes: A Portuguese account of the Sixteenth century Malabar’ edited by Dr. Pius Malekandathil
• Focus I- Ramapuram twin churches, Role, History & Rituals
• The Edicts, Copper Plates and Privileges- Quilon (Tarisapalli) plates, Thazhekad edict, Iravi Kortan plate and Cana Thomman plate
• ‘The Nazranies’ by Prof. George Menanchery

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...