| Zamorin of Calicut | |
|---|---|
 The Zamorin of Calicut (1495–1500) on his throne as painted by Veloso Salgado in 1898 | |
| Details | |
| First monarch | Mana Vikrama |
| Last monarch | Krishna Varma |
| Formation | 1124 |
| Abolition | 1806 |
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: Sāmūtiri, [saːmuːd̪iɾi], Arabic: Sāmuri,[1] Portuguese: Samorim, Dutch: Samorijn, Chinese: Shamitihsi[2]) was the title of the erstwhile ruler and monarch of the Kingdom of Calicut in the South Malabar region of India.[3] Originating from the former feudal kingdom of Nediyiruppu Swaroopam, the Samoothiris and their vassal kings from Nilambur Kovilakam established Calicut as one of the most important trading ports on the southwest coast of India. At the peak of their reign, they ruled over a region extending from Kozhikode Kollam to the forested borders of Panthalayini Kollam (Koyilandy).[4][5] The Samoothiris belonged to the Eradi subcaste of the Samantan community of colonial Kerala, and were originally the ruling chiefs of Eranad.[6][7] The final Zamorin of Calicut committed suicide by setting fire to his palace and burning himself alive inside it, upon learning that Hyder Ali had captured the neighboring country of Chirackal in Kannur.[8]
- ^ S. Muhammad Hussain Nainar (1942). Tuhfat-al-Mujahidin: An Historical Work in The Arabic Language. University of Madras.
- ^ Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' [1433]. Translated and Edited by J. V. G. Mills. Cambridge University Press for the Hakluyt Society (1970).
- ^ Krishna Iyer, K. V. (1938). The Zamorins Of Calicut. Norman Printing Bureau, Calicut.
- ^ Varier, M. R. Raghava. "Documents of Investiture Ceremonies" in K. K. N. Kurup, Edit., "India's Naval Traditions". Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, 1997
- ^ K. V. Krishna Iyer, Zamorins of Calicut: From the earliest times to AD 1806. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938.
- ^ Balakrishna, N. Nair (1975). "Culture and Society: A Festschrift to Dr. A. Aiyappan". Thomson Press (India), Publication Division. p. 220.
- ^ Narayanan, M.G.S (1996). "Perumals of Kerala: Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cēra Perumals of Makotai (c. 800 A.D.–1124 A.D.)". Xavier Press.
- ^ "The inheritance of loss: Government decision to grant monthly pension to the Zamorin family, which once ruled Calicut, stirs fierce debate". 30 November 1999.