History
Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the
third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district.
During the Middle Ages, Calicut was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its
role as the major trading point of eastern spices.[1] Kozhikode was once
the capital of an independent kingdom, and later of the erstwhile
Malabar District.
Kozhikode has a population of 436,556 as per 2001 census, with an
extended metropolitan population of about 0.9 million, making it the
third largest urban agglomeration and the third largest city in Kerala.
According to data compiled by economics research firm Indicus Analytics
on residences, earnings and investments, Kozhikode ranked as the second
best city in India to reside in. Indicus considered six parameters –
health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and
entertainment – for preparing their 'reside-in' index of liveability.[
The ports of the Malabar Coast have participated in the Indian Ocean
trade in spices, silk, and other goods for over two millennia. There are
documented visits, as early as the 14th century, by Chinese travellers
such as Zheng He.[3]
During the Sangam period, Calicut District formed part of the Chera
Empire. It played an important role in fostering trade relations between
Kerala and the outside world. Tondi, present day Kadalundi, as per
scholars, was a flourishing seaport of Kerala at that time. Very little
is known about Calicut's history in the post-Sangam age (which is
considered to be a Dark Age in South India's history). During the 9th
century, Calicut became a part of the Second Chera Empire. The Cheras
(also known as Perumals) ruled the territory until 1122 AD. After the
fall of the Cheras, the Chera kingdom in Kerala was divided into many
independent districts called "Nadus", such as Eranad (land of the
Eradis) and Polanad. The Porlarthris, rulers of Polanad, controlled the
area to be later called as kozhikode.
During the 13th century AD,[citation needed] the Udaiyavar of Ernad,
whose headquarters was at Nediyiruppu wanted an outlet to the sea. After
going to war with the Polatthiri King for 48 long years he conquered the
area around Ponniankara (Panniyankara) and build a fort at a place
called Velapuram. Thus the city of Calicut came into existence sometime
in the 13th century AD. With the conquest of Calicut, the status of the
Udaiyavar increased and he came to be known as Swami Nambiyathiri
Thirumulpad. This title gradually shortened to Samoothirippadu or
Saamoothiri or Samuri over the years. The Europeans called him Zamorin.
Vasco da Gama delivers the letter of King Manuel I of Portugal to the
Zamorin of Calicut
In 1498 Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kappad, about 15 km
from Calicut city. This was a major event in the era of European
exploration because the discovery of the sea route from Europe to India
gave the Portuguese a significant advantage in the control of
international trade. Portuguese control of the sea route lasted for
almost a century.
It was during the 16th century that the Portuguese set up trading posts
to the north in Kannur and to the south in Kochi, The Zamorin, however,
resisted the establishment of a permanent Portuguese presence in the
city. In 1509, the kingdom was forced to accept a Portuguese trading
post at Chaliyar.[citation needed]
In 1604 the Samoothirippadu allied with Steven van der Hagen,
representing the Dutch East India Company and by the mid-17th century
the Dutch had captured the Malabar Coast spice trade from the
Portuguese.
In 1766 Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikode and much of the northern
Malabar Coast. This bought him into conflict with the British based in
Madras, which resulted in four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Kozhikode and the
surrounding districts were among the territories ceded to the British by
Tipu Sultan of Mysore at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Mysore War in
1792. The newly acquired possessions on the Malabar Coast were organized
into the Malabar District of Madras Presidency, and Calicut became the
district capital.
After Indian Independence in 1947, Madras Presidency became the Madras
State. In 1956 when the Indian states were reorganized along linguistic
lines, Malabar District was combined with the state of Travancore-Cochin
to form the new state of Kerala on 1 November 1956. Malabar District was
split into the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad on 1 January
1957
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