Mooshaka kingdom, present Kasaragod, Kannur and other nearby places of north Kerala state in India, had come to be known as Kolathunad and the rulers known as Kolathiris. The Kovilakam (Palace in the Malayalam language) of Kolathiris were in Chirakkal, 6 km from the present Kannur town. Kolathiri were also known as Chirakkal Raja or King of Chirakkal. The southern branch of this family ruled over Venad and is today known as the Travancore Royal family.Kolathiris are the successors of Mooshiks Kings who ruled Northern Kerala in AD First Century. The detailed history of this dynasty and Hidden history of this region is mentioned in "Mooshika Vamsham" a Sanskrit poetic Text, written by Athulan in the AD 10th century. Mooshika Vamsham is believed to be one of the earliest Sanskrit Books written based on the History of Northern Kerala.Kolathiris were political and commercial rivals of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.Bekal Fort now in Kararagod and Chandragiri Fort were originally under the Chirakkal Rajas until the time of Shivappa Naik's Invasion of Kolathunadu as cited by Nandakumar Koroth in his 'History of Forts in North Malabar'.::Contents::1 Portuguese in Kolathunad 2 Kolathiries and Zamorins
Portuguese in KolathunadSt. Angelo Fort in Kannur was constructed in 1505 by Don Francisco De Almeida, Portuguese admiral. The fort was under the Portuguese until the Dutch captured the fort in 1663. The Dutch then sold the fort to the king Ali Raja of the Arakkal kingdom. After this the history of Chirakkal was connected to the Arakkal Kingdom.
Kolathiries and ZamorinsThe Portuguese followed a policy of religious persecution and forcible conversion. They therefore clashed with most of the native princes and chieftains.[citation needed]The Zamorin was able to convince the Kolathiri of the real motives of the Portuguese in India and the perils inherent in his policy of befriending them.By providing support to the Kunjali Marrikkars of Kozhikode,in 1558 AD the Kolathiri came openly into the field against the Portuguese. In 1564 AD the Kolathiri and the Zamorin fought war against the Portuguese and they besieged the fort of St. Angelo at Kannur. The Portuguese continued to maintain a precarious foothold at Kannur till 1663.