List of Marthandavarma characters
The following is a list of characters from Marthandavarma, the 1891 historical novel by C. V. Raman Pillai; as well as its allusions to personalities from legends, history, and real life.
He shows great respect to Subhadra's words, pertains to which he releases Kudamon Pillai from detention, once he becomes the king.
Ananthapadmanabhan disguises himself as Shamsudeen, Dweller of Kasi, Mad Channan, The Beggar, The Diglot to help Marthanda Varma from his enemies.
Ananthapadmanabhan is described as a young man of 22 years of age and an expert in disguise with superior fighting skills.
She was married to a relative of Kudamon Pillai, however they got separated after living together for six months as a relationship was alleged between her and Padmanabhan Thambi.
He married Subhadra, with whom he breaks up after believing the false news about her relationships with other men, especially Padmanabhan Thambi.
[2] At the age of one, he lost his parents among whom, his father was a Kilimanoor Koithampuran who, died of severe fever and his mother was adapted to Venad royal family during the period of Umayamma Rani from Kolathunadu.
Ananthapadmanabhan was a warrior and expert in martial arts who played a pivotal role in defending the plans of conspirators against Marthanda Varma.
The author of the novel, C. V. Raman Pillai happened to go for an expedition to Hyderabad following a heatbreak due to unfulfilled love.
He is a descendant of Kolathunadu kingdom, from where he was adopted to Travancore royal family during the period of Umayamma Rani.
[16] P. Shangoony Menon and V. Nagam Aiya state that the four members were provided from Kolathunadu to Travancore family on the request of Umayamma Rani.
[17] Rama Varma is the father of Thambimar and he succeeded his brother and ascend to the throne of Venad in Kollavarsham 899.
According to T. K. Velu Pillai, Rama Varma was a weak ruler and his reign led to the disorganization of political life in Travancore.
He was born in Kollavarsham 899 as the son of a Kilimanoor Thampuran and Attingal Queen, who was adopted as a princess to Travancore royal family from Kolathunadu during the period of Ravi Varma.
[21] She was adopted to Travancore royal family from Kolathunadu kingdom in Kollavarsham 893 during the period of king Ravi Varma.
She gave birth to Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma from the alliance with a lord of Kilmanoor in Kollavarsham 899.
[30] In the Malayalam translation of History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, C. K. Kareem claims that Ettuveettil Pillais were gradually grown as Madambies, even though it conflicts with the source material.
[33] Dr. Ibrahim Kunju cites the references of conspiracy by Pillais in Letters to Tellicherry,[H] the British records.
Arukkoottathil Pillais or Arukoottathil Pillamar refer to members of wealthy noble Nair families prevailed in the yesteryear Travancore.
In the royal edicts, it is mentioned that, a set of six members of them are found among the conspirators during the period of Marthanda Varma.
[38] In the novel, he is presented as a supporter and adviser to Marthanda Varma, whom he accompanies during the final coup by Thambi brothers.
[39] He assisted Ramanyyan in the deputation to explain and convince Azhagappa Mudaliyar regarding the accession tradition and respective stratum prevailed in Travancore.
Mangottu Assan is the head of a family at Mancode and one of the masters of 108 Kalaries (martial arts schools) prevailed in Venad.
[43] In the ballad Ōṭṭan Katai, it is mentioned that his house was burned down by Kunchukkoottam (men of Kunchu Thambi).
[44] In the novel, he is presented as Mangoikkal Kuruppu whose house is burned down by the men of Padmanabhan Thambi, as Marthanda Varma took shelter there.
According to Dr. P. Venugopalan, Chadachi Marthandan is mentioned in the legends as the one who becomes the supporter of Marthanda Varma, even though earlier he was with the conspirators.
[49] The character of Thirumukhathu Pillai is based on the caretaker and patron of the author, Nangoikkal Kesavan Thambi, who was a Karyakkar (Administrative head of a Taluk) in Travancore.
There is also reference to a namboothiripad of Akavoor[I] family, and presented as famous for sorcery meant for protective measures against bad luck and danger.
There is a reference to the look of members of Tiruvallā Pōṯimār (Brahmins of ten houses at Thiruvalla); with which the attire of prince Marthanda Varma at Charottu palace is being compared with.
In the sequel to the Dharmaraja novel, Ramarajabahadur, Chanthrakaran and Karthika Thirunnal Ramavarma continue as Manikyagaundan and the title character respectively.
