Koli Maharaja Ezhimalai Nannan

Koli Maharaja Ezhimalai Nannan

Kingdom
Mushika Kingdom (Ezhimalai Kingdom)

Ruling Blood (Caste)
Koli

Dynasty
Kolathiri Dynasty (Mushika Dynasty)

Subcaste
NagWanshi (?)

Capital
Ezhimalai

Language
Tamil

Battle
Battle Of Pazhi
Vakaipperum Turai

Court Poet
Paranar


Ezhimalai Nannan (approx. 3rd century BCE, sometimes approx 1st-5th century CE) was a South Indian Koli ruler of the Mushika kingdom and was a suspected contemporary of Mauryan emperor Bindusara, in the Sangam Period. Ezhimalai Nannan, a celebrated hero in the Sangam literature, is famous for his military expansions and battles against their powerful neighbors, the Chera kingdom.

Ezhimalai was a flourishing seaport and center of trade around the beginning of the Common Era, it was also one of the major battlefields of the Chola-Chera Wars of the 11th century. Mooshika Vamsham, written by Athulan in the 10th century, throws light on the history of the Mushika Royal Family in particular and of North Kerala in general.

Under Nannan, an able military commander also, Mushika kingdom transformed into a force in South India, and stretched into Wynad and Gudalur Districts in the foothills of the Western Ghats, and the northern parts of present-day Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Eager to expand his kingdom, Nannan waged war against the Cheras, and successfully defeated the Chera commanders at the Battle of Pazhi.

It is believed that Nannan buried an immense treasure of coins in the foothills of Ezhimalai. Sangam literature gives us a vivid picture of the life of people at Ezhimalai. Paranar, the court poet of Nannan, describes the victory of Pazhi in his works. The victories of Nannan over the Cheras and other neighbouring chieftains are alluded to in the Agamnanuru, Nattinai and other works. However the Chera king, Narmudi Cheral, defeated him at the Battle of Vakaipperum Turai and consequently the Mushika kingdom passed into the hands of the Cheras.