The arrival of English

In 1615 Captain Keeling arrived in Calicut. They agreed to assist the zamorins in expelling the Portuguese. They faced stiff opposition from French and Dutch. In 1664, English Company opened factory in Calicut. The English East India Company faced serious competition from the French in North Malabar as elsewhere in India. In 1725, French captured Mayyazhi and the place was renamed as Mahe after the French Captain Bertrand Francois Mahe De Labourdonnais. The English who were at Tellichery wanted to capture Mahe but as per instructions from top bosses, they agreed for peaceful coexistence with the French. Apparently this was done to keep the price of pepper down in 1728.

In the middle of 18th Century, Zamorin attacked Cochin. This brought the Rajas of Cochin and Travancore together and forced Zamorin to conclude a treaty with Travancore. Zamorin himself went to Padmanabhapuram the Capital of Travancore, to sign the Treaty.

The Mysorean Conquest

In 1756-57, Zamorin captured Naduvattu, a part of Palghat taluk. Raja of Palghat sought the protection of Mysore King changing the political situation of Malabar. Acting under the instructions of the King of Mysore, Heyder Ali, the then faujder of Dindigal, sent forces to stop zamorin. The Calicut forces had to treat and agreed to pay a war indemnity of 12 lacks but could not pay as zamorin's treasury was emptied by then. Hyder Ali invaded Calicut and he was assisted by the Raja of Cannanore and the local moplah population.

Zamorin's troops could not restrict Haider. Unable to face the humiliation, the then zamorin committed suicide by blowing up his palace. Leaving Calicut under Madanna, a civil Governor, Haider left for Coimbatore. IN 1776, rebellions broke out in Malabar and the Nair chieftains fought bravely forcing Haider to restore Calicut to the Zamorins in return for an annual tribute. Haider was not happy with the tribute and sent his troops under Srinivasa Rao and captured Calicut again. Zamorin left calicut and took refuge in Travancore. During 1778-1782 the Nair chieftain fought the Mysore forces led by Tipu, son of Haider Ali. With the death of Haider in December 1782, Tipu returned to Mysore to consolidate his position.

IN 1788, Tipu conquers Calicut again and built a fort at Faroke. The Rajas of North Malabar continued struggle against Tipu with the support of English troops. The end of 1790 Tipu forced to retreat from Malabar. The treaty of Srirangapatnam was signed in 1792 and as a result of which, the Malabar district was ceded to the English East India company bringing the Mysore era in Malabar to an end.

The Sultans of Mysore had been guilty of many atrocities, which had antagonized the native population. The Nairs kept up a resistance against Mysore rulers for a period of 25 years which is unparalleled in Indian History.

The English Rule

After 1792, the British Governer General decided to bring Malabar Under the direct rule of company and accordingly two commissioners were sent to Calicut for negotiations with Zamoris. The English entered into a agreement with Zamorin to rule Calicut in exchange for an annual allowance. Thus Malabar came under the direct rule of British. In May 1800, Malabar district was transferred from Bombay province to the Madras province and the first Principle Collector, Major Macleod, took charge of the district. Revenue and judicial administration departments were set up.