The Princely State of Cochin
Origin and Existence Over the Years The dynasty of Cochin originated from the Perumpadappu Swaroopam which came into existence in 1102 AD after the splitting of the Kulasekhara empire, tracing its origin from the Chera dynasty also referred as the Keralaputras. Cochin was first mentioned in the travel account written by the Chinese Traveler Ma Huan in 1399 AD. There are less written records on Cochin till the arrival of the Portuguese in 15th century. References on Cochin was also found in ancient Tamil works, memoirs of foreign travelers, inscriptions and copper plate grants which are still preserved and serve as valuable sources that provide glimpses into the past of Cochin. However, these records are not sufficient enough to gain a clear idea of the political and social evolution of the region. Earlier, the Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram or Makotai in the present day Kodungallur was established in the 9th century, and Kulasekhara which was a later Chera dynasty continued the Chera r...