The Zamorin Era : The Zamorin,(Samoothiri) ruler of Calicut, was the central figure in the medieval history of Kerlala. The Zamorins were highly cultured and accomplished rulers. The rise and fall of the Zamorins synchronise with the beginning and the end of the Middle Ages respecitvely. The original seat at Nediyiruppu. The possibility of gaining easy access to the sea prompted him to invade Polanad, the fertile hinterland around Calicut. There he founded a town which came to be called Kolikottu, Perhaps, Calicut derived its name from its fortified palace - Koyil Kotta.

The Zamorin then started on a career of conquests to bring the neighbouring principalities under his suzerainty. By the end of the fifteenth century, the Zamorin had become, directly or indirectly, the ruler of nearly half of Kerala. His authority extended along the coast from Puthuppatanam in the North to Kayamkulam in the South. His power and prestige increased to such an extend that he adopted the high sounding title of Kunnalakonathiri, the ruler of the hills and waves and exercised a sort of overlordship over the greater part of Kerala.

The kingdom of Calicut was divided into several districts.A hereditary Governor called Naduvazhi was in charge of the administration of each Nadu. There was a well organized civil service to carry on the day to day admininstration. the Zamorin of Calicut made remarkable contributions. Early Zamorins were great scholars and gave generous patronage to poets and scholars. The legend relating to the conversion of the last Chera Emperor, Cheraman Perumal, to Islam after partitioning the country comes as a dramatic climax to the fanciful story of the foreign Perumals. the Perumal who left Kerala is said to have landed at a port on the Arabian coast and met Muhammad, the Prophet, at the place called Jeddaj.

The story says that being duly canonised by the prophet, he married the sister of the King of Arabia, lived there in comfort for five years and then undertook journey to Kerala to spread Islam in this country, but before he could accomplish his mission he died and was buried at a place on the Arabian coast. This story is described with slight differences in the various of the Keralopathi. Onedynasty, besides Chera, chola and Pandya, which stands out prominently in the ancient history of the South, is that of the Pallavas. It is proved by inscriptions that the dynasty was in existence in the second or third century. It is quite possible that the dynasty is still represented in Malabar by the Vallodi or Valluvanadi caste of Nayars. It is suggested that Cheraman, the real aborigines of the ancient Chera Kingdom, were displaced to some extent at least by a more independent race of Shepherds, who in turn gave way to the Valluvar.

The fact that the Kurumbars preferred a roving life in the jungles to a sedentary one in the plains, proves that they were the superior race and indeed to the present day they retain their characteristic. As to when the Tugar or Islanders and the Nayars came into Malabar is at present is an impossible guess. These castes constituted by far the largest portion of the Hindu population of the present day. They were certainly settled in the country at the time when the Jew's and Christian deeds of privileges were grante, but there is very little evidence as to, how long they had been settled in the land.

Kunjali Marakkar : The origin of the Kunjali marakkars is not clear. According to tradition, they were originally manine merchants of Cochin who left for Ponnani in the Zamorin's dominion when the Portuguese came to Cochin. The Zamorin took them into his service and eventually they became the admirals of the Calicut fleet. The struggle between the Zamorins and the Kunjalis continued even after Kutti Ali, their leader was taken prisoner. In view of the activities of the Marakkars, Portuguese trade in Indian waters almost came to a standstill.

The new Viceroy established the portuguese supremacy in Indian waters once again by erecting a fort at Chaliyam. By this time it was almost a habit with Kunjali II to capture Portuguese vessels and massacre the entire crew. The two fleets confronted each other on the high seas on many occasions. In the meantime the Zamorin tried to seek the help of the Turks but this wasn't fruitful. As a result of the continous fighting Zamorin became bankrupt and entered into a formal treaty with the Portuguese in 1540 A.D. As result of this treaty Portuguese got the monopoly of trade at Calicut. The treaty of 1540 A.D between the Zamorin and the Portuguese proved to be worthless. In 1550 A.d., war again broke out. a fierce battle followed and it continued for atleast twenty years intermittently.

In 1571 the Zamorin's army besieged to the Portuguese fort at Chaliyam and forced the Portuguese to abandon it. The fall of Chaliyam marked the begining of the end of Portuguese power in Kerala. But even then the Zamorin gave permission to open a factory at Ponnani. The growing friendship between the Zamorin and the Portuguese was brought about by the gradual estrangement between the Zamorin and Kunjali Marakkars. the Kunjalis had become extremely powerful after the expulsion of the Portuguese from Chaliyam. In two improtant naval engagements in 1586 and 1589 the Kunjalis inflicted crushing defeats on the Portuguese. But by 1600 the Zamorin managed to crush the Kunjalis.

The fall of the Kunjalis did not help to retrieve the situation for the Potuguese. In the meantime the Dutch had appeared on the scene as a serious rival. The failure of the Portuguese to establish an enduring dominion in India with Kerala as the base was inevitable. Their early successes on the Kerala coast were facilitated by the naval supremacy they enjoyed in the Indian waters. The portuguese could retain their hold on the local powers only so long as other European powers like the Dutch and the English were absent from the scene. Their naval supremacy proved to be an illusion in the wars with the Dutch and before long they had to give way. The Portuguese failed to establish an efficient system of government in the territories which came under their sway. The religious policy of the Portuguese was not based on liberal or enlightened principles. The Portuguese at no time enjoyed the confidence and support of the native population.

Apart from the unscrupulous acts which made the Portuguese administration suspicious in the eyes of the people, the Portuguese government in India presented the picture of a house divided within itself. There was also acute rivalry between the religious orders and the Portuguese administarators. Above all, with the absorption of Portugal by Spain under Philip II, the personal interest which the King of Portugal had taken in the progress of the Portuguese possessions in India vanished. The Portuguese contact led to some results in the political, economic and social fields. The most important political result was that the political disunity of Kerala was confirmed by a century and a half of Portuguese contact.

The Portuguese put an end to the age - old trade connection between Kerala on the one hand and Arabia and Egypt on the other. The Portuguese introduced into India a number of new agricultural products such as cashewnut, tobacco, custard apple, pineapple and pappaya. The credit for having introduced salutory changes in coconut cultivation also goes to the Portuguese. The Portuguese contact led to some results in the educational and cultural fields as well. The Portuguese founded theological seminaries and colleges at Cochin, Cranganore, Ankamali, and Vaipicotta for the purpose of training Christian counterpat of the Hindu Kathakali originated and grew into a popular form of entertainment under the patronage of the Portuguese missionaries. Apart from some fo the influences the relations between Portugal and India did not have any formidable political results.