After the last Cheraman Perumal’s rule one of the independent rulers who assumed more power and territory was the Valluvakonathiri who was the ruler of Valluvanad. The Valluvanad Rajas enjoyed a high position among their counterparts till the closing of the 13^th century A.D. The territory of Valluvanad was comprised of the region lying to the north of the river Bharatapuzha, west of Nilgiri, Kalladikode and other hills, south of Chaliyar river and east of Ponnani port.

To the south of Ponnani, Pazhayanchery Nair was an important lord having control over the land lying north of the Kingdom of Cochin (between the forts of Kodungallur and Chettuva). The Dutch records mention him as a Nair chieftain of Valluvanad Raja. Pazhayanchery Nair-s consist of 4 houses, which were again subdivided into many branches and there were always quarrels and disputes amongst them which resulted in the gradual weakening of their power to support Valluvanad Raja. At Kozhikode, the Zamorin’s power was enhancing steadily. There was a large and powerful settlement of Moors, the Arab community, on the coast of Kozhikode which was the centre of Moorish trade. The natural wealth of Zamorin’s empire and his political sovereignty were exposing Kozhikode as a great trade emporium to the world. On account of the extensive western trade through the port of Kozhikode, the Zamorin became the wealthiest and the most powerful ruler of the West Coast by 14^th Century A.D. He accepted the style and dignity of a great king and assumed himself a title – the Lord of the Hills and the Sea (കുന്നലക്കോനാതിരി). He was inspired to turn towards Ponnani which was developing as another active sea-trade centre and also to the interiors of Valluvanad territory which was fertile with paddy fields. The Zamorin with the support of the Moorish settlers defeated the Valluvakkonathiri, the ruler of Valluvanad and occupied all the important strongholds of Valluvanad. (These incidents are described in the book – ‘Malabar and the Portuguese’ by Sardar K.M.Panicker, pages 16–25). He conquered Thirunavaya and the position of the “Protector of Mamangam” (രക്ഷാപുരുഷസ്ഥാനം) was snatched by the Zamorin from Valluvakonathiri the ruler of Valluvanad darkening the power and prestige of the latter.

During his victory march towards South after capturing Valluvanad the Zamorin captured Ponnani and with that he could seize all the trade opportunities through the port of Ponnani. The Lord of Punnathur who had control over the area South of Ponnani including Chavakkad, got afraid of the growing mightiness of the Zamorin, accepted the suzerainty of the Zamorin and surrendered all his lands including Chavakkad to the Zamorin. The Pazhayanchery Nair who was serving Valluvanad Raja had also lost by then his position and property. Zamorin transferred the stretch of land from Chettuva to Kodungallur which was under the control Pazhayanchery Nair-s to Ullanat Panicker, who was till then probably a Kalari Master training royal princes and Nair soldiers for the Zamorin. During this period (14^th Century A.D.) the Zamorin should have appointed Ullanat Panicker, as his Administrator of the region south of Ponnani and north of Kodungallur, the southernmost territory of Zamorin’s kingdom. The records and traditions are not clear whether it was during this period when Ullanat Panickers moved to Venkitangu and established their Kalari with the tutelary deities. However, the Kalari at Venkitangu is as per the characteristic and pattern of Tulu region which will be dealt with in more detail at the appropriate section here.

Nedunganad was the region which constituted the southern part of Valluvanad lying between Thuthapuzha and Bharatapuzha. In the ancient days it had extended from Kalladikode hills on the east to Punnayurkulam on the west containing the major part of area known as Valluvanad in later history. It was an independent territory from ancient times. Cherpulassery. Ottappalam, Pattambi and Vaniyamkulam were the quintessential trade centres of Nedunganad which was under the control of local chieftain Nedungethiripad.

S.Rajendu, an acclaimed scholar in his colossal research work called History of Nedunganad (നെടുങ്ങനാട് ചരിത്രം - പ്രാചീനകാലം മുതൽ ഏ.ഡി. 1860 വരെ) based on unpublished Kozhikode Palace Chronicles (കോഴിക്കോടൻ ഗ്രന്ഥവരി), inscriptions and other records, throws more light on this part of history. According to his findings, the Nedungethiripad was an independent overlord ruling Nedunganad from Cherpulassery until 15^th Century A.D. There were rich and extensive paddy fields in Nedunganad and there was increasing need for rice at Kozhikode which had a large settlement of Moors, traders and the enormous retinue and bureaucratic functionaries of Zamorin. The rice variety from the bountiful paddy fields of Chunangad near Ottappalam (മൂന്നു നുറുങ്ങിയ ചുനങ്ങാടൻ കുത്തരി) was most popular and in great demand then at Kozhikode markets. This was one of the main reasons for the Zamorin to reach the interior lands of Nedunganad through Valluvanad. The Zamorin also made sure that the newly conquered lands in Valluvanad and Nedunganad were secure by making his faithful subordinates from Kozhikode move to these places. Thus Dharmoth Panicker was moved to Rayiranellur and Kuthiravattathu Nair to Naduvattam. There were many similar lieges of Zamorin who gained lands in Valluvanad and Nedunganad. It should have been a similar strategy to move Ullanat Panicker also during this period to Venkitangu to secure the land captured from Pazhayanchery Nair-s.

There was an influential man (ഊരാളൻ) at Chunangad by name Tharakkal Sekhara Variar. In A.D.1559, the Zamorin designated this Tharakkal Variar as local chieftain (തലചെന്നവർ) and gave him an honorary title as Tharakkal Menon. For 200 years (1559-1763) Menon-s (Variar-s) of Tharakkal family ruled Nedunganad on behalf of the Zamorin to collect tax and procure agricultural produce for the Zamorin. In 200 years the influence of this Tharakkal Menon expanded and he was holding the control of land from Valanchery on the west to the Mannarkkad forest range in the east.

In 1763 when the then Zamorin came to know that the Kavalappara Nair who had sided with the king of Cochin, was attacking the western side of Valluvandu, the then Tharakkal Menon was asked to oppose and control this invasion. On account of the arrogance of accumulated wealth and affluence, Tharakkal Menon refused to heed and help Zamorin. The Zamorin himself had to proceed for a fight with Kavalappara Nair and drive him away. While he was returning through Nedunganad, a hired goon of Tharakkal Menon shot at the forehead of Zamorin. The furious Zamorin crushed the Tharakkal family by chopping the heads of all the male members of Tharakkal house, taking away their women to Ponnani, bulldozing the Variam house to the ground and digging a pond at that spot by bringing an elephant (ആനയെ ഇറക്കി കുളം തോണ്ടുക – which was considered as an extreme measure of exterminating a family).

In 1766 Hyder Ali invaded the kingdom of Zamorin and brought it under his control and thus the power of Zamorin as an independent sovereign came to an end after about five centuries. The then Zamorin sent the members of the royal family to Venad in south Kerala, set fire to the powder magazine at the palace at Kozhikode, and sacrificed his life on April 27, AD 1766. From 1766 to 1792 the kingdom of Kozhikode was under Mysorean rule. In 1792 the English defeated Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The defeat of Tipu Sultan at the hands of the British in 1792 paved the way for the whole of Malabar to be occupied by the British - East India Company and Malabar was officially incorporated into the East India Company’s dominions. When the Zamorin heir (and many other feudal chieftains of Malabar), who had taken shelter in Travancore during the Mysorean rule returned, the East India Company refused to give them back the power and position they had earlier. Thus the mighty regime of the Zamorins which had many strong and gallant kings who had captured and ruled almost half of Kerala, finally had to lose its crown and scepter and meekly accept the supremacy of the East India Company.

Though the East India Company did not return their royal positions and rights, it decided however, to use the knowledge and influence of these erstwhile feudal lords over their respective territories to maintain peace and collect taxes for the company. However, the Company decided to pay 20% of the tax that they collect from the territory of Zamorin as a pension to him (Malikhana) annually.