Person · Malabar admiral · India
Kuñjāli Marakkār IV
Also known as Kunjali Marakkar, Kunhali Marakkar, Kutti Ali, Marakkar
The last of four Marakkar admirals who commanded the Zamorin of Calicut's fleet against the Portuguese for almost a century, fighting with small fast paraos out of the Malabar creeks rather than in line of battle. He was besieged at Kottakkal, surrendered in 1600 and was executed at Goa.
- Function
- Military & resistance
- Confidence
- Not assessed
- Location
- 11.159, 75.924
Worth knowing
The Marakkars were Muslim shipowners of the Malabar pepper trade whose commercial interests the Portuguese cartaz system destroyed, which is why the Hindu Zamorin's navy was commanded by Muslims. Their tactics are among the earliest documented use of massed small craft against European carracks.
About the place
Placed at Kottakkal near Vadakara, the fortified creek base from which the Marakkar fleet operated and where he was finally besieged.
Connections (1)
- CampaignKozhikode / Calicut
The Zamorin's navy was commanded for four generations by the Marakkars, Muslim shipowners of the pepper trade whose livelihood the Portuguese cartaz system had destroyed — which is why a Hindu ruler's fleet was led by Muslims against a Christian one. They raided with massed light craft rather than fighting in line, and held the Malabar coast in contest until 1600.
On these journeys
Sources
Wikipedia, “Kunjali Marakkar”. Zainuddin Makhdum, Tuhfat al-Mujāhidīn (16th c.); K.M. Panikkar, Malabar and the Portuguese (1929).
Open Kuñjāli Marakkār IV in the repository →