Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (‘ധര്മ്മ രാജ‘ കാര്ത്തിക തിരുനാള് രാമവര്മ്മ, 1724–17 Feb 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the religious and military onslaught of Tipu Sultan.
Tipu Sultan is the son and successor of Hyder Ali. He followed his father’s root similarly by entering Malabar and laid these revolts down, engaging in campaign that included the forced transportation to Seringapatam (Capital of Mysore) and also the forced conversion of Hindu and Christian people to Islamic Religion. During the Tipu’s invasion of Malabar, lot of Hindu and Christian families fled to Travancore, where they are treated with kindly by the king Dharma Raja. Tipu then demanded the Cochin kingdom to give the Alangad and Parur, inorder to attack the Travancore. But the Cochin raja handled the matter diplomatically by assuring Tipu to sent Khareeta (letter) to Travancore, stating a cultivate friendship. The king received the letter in attendance of an East India Company representative. The King negotiated with the british force for defensing Tippu attack. Finally in 1789, Tipu Sultan assembled with his whole force in Malabar and protested towards Nedumkotta (northern border of Travancore) to attack Travancore. But a small number of Travancore military handled the attack by opening fire shooting on about 14,000 Mysore soldiers. Tipu Sultan fights back away with the soldiers. During this attack he lost his seals, sword, rings and further individual ornaments into the hands of Travancore soldiers headed by the Diwan of Travancore, Raja Kesavadas Pillai. At the end of fight, tippu smells the danger from the British force and returned back to Seringapatnam.
Tippu sent a letter on 19 January 1790 to Budruz Zuman Khan. It said:
"Don't you know I have achieved a great victory recently in Malabar and over four lakh Hindus were converted to Islam? I am determined to march against that cursed Raman Nair very soon. Since I am overjoyed at the prospect of converting him and his subjects to Islam, I have happily abandoned the idea of going back to Srirangapatanam now".
After several weeks, tipu complained the English governor Holland for their negotiation with Travancore. Later Tipu attacked the Nedumkotta again and this time tipu succeeded in defending the Nedumkotta army and occupied the Nedumkotta. Travancore Army feels the heat of tipu attack without the power of English army. The British military stationed here to support Travancore did not give their help, since they had not obtained commands from Governor Hollond to clash with Tipu Army. Finally they received the order, but it was too late, tipu already invaded the northern part of Travancore. The Sultan and his military now moved to a place where the Travancore army had built a wall across the river obstructing the water. Taking this as an advantage, the Travancore Army broke down the retaining wall, letting the water flood onto the Mysorean forces. A large number of Tipu's soldiers were killed by the sudden flood and the road of succour and assistance to the advance guard was cut off. The remaining forces were defeated by a sudden attack by Travancore Military forces. After the second defeat, the sultan returned back to Seringapatnam, leaving the Malabar and the invaded Travancore due to the British retreat. Meanwhile, Governor of Madras, Mr.Hollond was removed from his post, due to his irresponsible handling of Tippu’s battle. However Tipu Sultan was surrendered during the Third Anglo-Mysore War with the British force and his two sons were taken hostages to British custody.
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