The present work explores the historical origins and early development of Cananore and North Kerala region till they were annexed by the British in 1792 when the said place became part of Madras Presidency under the British administration. It traces back its journey from the ancient Sangam age independent Kingdom of Nannan to the rule of the Mushika dynasty during the medieval period and it ends with the emergence of the Kolatiri dynasty that succeeded the Mushikas. This book places a particular emphasis on the Arakkal family a branch that originated from the Kolatiris. The Arakkals controlled the large tracts of land including the Laccadive Islands. As Dutch expended its influence in Malabar at the expense of the Portuguese the Arakkals successfully asserted their independence in Malabar. The arrival of the Mysore Sultans helped the Arakkals to shake off the domination of the Kolatiris. However the defeat of Tipu Sultan at the hands of the English East India Company in 1792 sealed the fate of the Arakkals as well as the Kolatiris. The author has put to good use her knowledge of Malayalam French and English sources to reconstitute the history of Kannur and north Malabar until 1792. About the Author Leena More obtained her doctorate in History from the University of Calicut Kerala under Late Prof. Dr Sreekumaran Nair. Her Ph.D. was later published into a book titled English East India Company and the Local Rulers in Kerala: A Case Study of Attingal and Travancore. She was formerly a lecturer in Chinmaya Mission College Kannur. She has published several articles in historical journals and is proficient in several languages including French and Malayalam. Currently she lives in Paris.
