List of Maharajas of Travancore

The Maharaja of Travancore was the principal title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Travancore in the southern part of Kerala, India. The Maharaja of Travancore was the topmost ruler of Travancore until 1949, when Travancore was annexed into India. Since then, the Maharaja of Travancore remains as a titular position.

Maharajas of the Kingdom of Travancore
Image Name Reign
Rama Varma I 1663–1672
Aditya Varma I 1672–1677
Umayamma Rani[1] 1677–1684 (Regent Queen)
Ravi Varma 1684–1718
Aditya Varma II 1718–1719
Unni Kerala Varma 1719–1724
Rama Varma II 1724–1729
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma I 1729–1758
Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma I (Dharma Raja) 1758–1798
Avittom Thirunal Balarama Varma I 1798–1810
Ayilyom Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810–1813 (Queen Regnant)
1813–1815 (Regent Queen)
Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvati Bayi 1815–1829 (Regent Queen)
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma II 1829–1846
Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma II 1846–1860
Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma III 1860–1880
Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma IV 1880–1885
Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma V 1885–1924
Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi 1924–1931 (Regent Queen)
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma II 1931–1971

Titular Maharaja

After British India became independent as two dominions in 1947, Chithira Thirunal agreed to accede his state to the new Dominion of India. Travancore was united with the neighbouring Cochin state and Chithira Thirunal served as Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from 1 July 1949 to 31 October 1956, which was the entire duration of the existence of that political entity. On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was created by uniting the Malayalam-speaking areas of the Travancore-Cochin Union with those of neighbouring Madras State, and Sree Chithira Thirunal's office of Rajpramukh came to an end. On 28 December 1971, Chithira Thirunal lost his privy purse and other privileges when the Indian government derecognized the rulers of the erstwhile princely states. Since then the head of the Travancore royal family is the pretender to the abolished title. The titular Maharaja fulfils his duties as Maharaja of Travancore in rituals related to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. In 2012, the High Court of Kerala in a judgement on Mujeeba Rahman vs the State Of Kerala stated that, 'though by the 26th amendment of the Constitution, Article 363 was repealed whereby the rights and privileges of the rulers of Indian States were taken away, still the name and title of the rulers remained as such and unaffected in so far as names and titles were not contemplated as rights or privileges under the repealed Articles 291 and 362 of the Constitution.' So the titles were not abolished by the Government; only their political powers and right to receive Privy Purse were cancelled.[2][3]

Image Name Period
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma II 1971–1991
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma III 1991–2013
Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI 2013 – present

See also

References
  1. "Kingdom of Travancore and the Travancore Royal Family genealogy project".
  2. hanif, mahir. "'His Highness' isn't unconstitutional: Kerala high court". The Times of India. No. Kochi. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. Mujeeba Rahman vs State Of Kerala (High Court of Kerala 22 October 2013).Text
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