[1] Valluvanad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Vellodis, similar to the Eradis of neighbouring Eranad and Nedungadis of Nedunganad.

A larger portion of what is presently called Eranad region was originally under the Kingdom of Valluvanad before the conquest of Zamorin of Calicut.

In early medieval period, Valluvakonathiri conquered a larger portion of Nedunganad (Pattambi-Ottapalam-Shoranur-Cherpulassery area), which was under the rule of Nedungathirippad.

The chiefdom was disestablished in 1793 with the British East India Company taking over its management directly, and the hereditary ruling family settling for a pension arrangement.

The house/dynasty that had hereditary control over the region (in the north) was known as the Arangottu Swaroopam, possibly because the original home of the family was at Arangode (Arangottukara) along Bharathappuzha river near present-day Shoranur [1]: 186 .

Inscriptions at the Shiva temple at Thiruvotriyur (late 10th century) describing the life of Vellan Kumaran states that he is from a place called "Nandikkarai Puttur" (present-day Thirunandikkara), and is the son of the Valluvanad chieftain ('valabha rashtra natha') Rajasekhara.

[2] The Vellattiri chieftain (the udayavar) initially exercised suzerain rights over a large portion of central Kerala.

[2] A 10th century Chera inscription from Irinjalakuda temple, declaring its protection by the Six Hundred of Valluvanad, shows either the southern extent of the border (or influence) of the chiefdom.

[1][2] Rayiran Chathan, the chieftain (the udayavar) of Valluvanad, is mentioned as a witness in the Jewish copper plates of Cochin (c. 1000) issued by the Chera Perumal.

[14] After the fall of Chera Perumal kingdom in the 12th century, the right to preside over the Tirunavaya Mamankam festival (as the 'Rakshapurusha') passed on to the Vellattiri (according to local traditions).

When the zamorin (the samoothiri) of Calicut became a major force in Kerala, they made inroads into Valluvanad and even usurped the right to preside over the Mamankam [9]: 91 .

Ever since, the Vellattiri used to send groups of suicide warriors (known as the Chavers) to kill the king of Calicut during the Mamankam and the Thaippuyam festivals and recover the long-lost right.

Thus it takes the form of blood feud ..."[15] Notes from historian K. V. Krishna Ayyar[9] The country marked as "Valluvanad Proper" in the Company records was the sole remaining territory under the control of the Valluvanad "Raja" (chieftain) at the time of the Mysorean invasion of Kerala.

[7] At the time of the Mysore conquest the following amsams (of the 1887 Valluvanad and Ernad taluks, the Valluvanad Proper) remained to Vellattiri[7] The following regions (known as Valluvanad-zamorin) were controlled the zamorin of Calicut ("latest acquisition" by zamorin from Vellattiri)[7] By the treaty of Seringapatam (1792), Tipu Sultan ceded half of his territories, including Malabar, to the English East India Company.

The Valluvanad Raja, back from exile in Travancore (where the family was since c. 1788), requested the holding of the territories he laid claim to ("Millattoor, Angarypooram, Vanarcaddo, Kaapil"; and "the three districts of Congaad, Manoor and Edratura formerly belonging to Palgautcherry") as a manager for the company.

The agreement also mandated revenue collection from all minor landholders who, prior to Tipu's rule, only contributed to war efforts.

Inability to preserve the peace of the district (primarily owing to Mappila uprisings prevalent in the region) and shortfall in revenue collections were cited as the main reasons[17]: 206 .

[7] Until 1860's Nedunganad (Pattambi-Ottapalam-Cherpulassery are south of River Thuthapuzha), which was the original land of Nedungathirippad, was a separate Taluk, and was considered as the ruling area of the Zamorin of Calicut.