For 13th century CE copper plates issued by Viraraghava to Iravikorttan, see Viraraghava copper plates.
Kollam/Quilon Syrian copper plates, also known as Kollam Tarisappalli copper plates, or Kottayam inscription of Sthanu Ravi, or Tabula Quilonensis record a royal grant issued by the chieftain of Kollam (Ayyan Adikal) to a Syrian Christian merchant magnate (Mar Sapir Iso) in Kerala.[1] The royal charter is engraved in old Malayalam in Vattezhuthu (with some Grantha characters) on six copper plates.[1] The document is the oldest available Chera Perumal inscription.[2]
Quilon Syrian copper plates (849 AD) (six plates)
The charter is dated to the 5th regnal year of the Chera Perumal ruler Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (849/50 AD).[3] The sixth plate contains a number of signatures of the witnesses to the grant in Arabic (Kufic script), Middle Persian (cursive Pahlavi script) and Judeo-Persian (standard square Hebrew script).[4] Until 2013 it was believed that the six plates formed two separate grants (dated separately) issued by Kerala rulers to the Syrian Christian merchants.[5]
Insignia from Quilon Syrian copper plates (plate 5)
The grant is dated the 5th regnal year of king Sthanu Ravi, 849-50 AD (old Malayalam: Ko Tanu Ravi).[6][3] It was drafted in the presence of Chera Perumal prince Vijayaraga, Venad chieftain Ayyan Adikal Thiruvadikal, junior chieftain Rama Thiruvadikal, other important officers of the chiefdom (the adhikarar, the prakrithi, the punnathala padi, and the pulakkudi padi) and the representatives of merchant guilds anjuvannam and manigramam.[6][3]
The charter grants land to Mar Sapir Iso, the founder the Kollam trading city (the nagara), to build the Church of Tarisa at Kollam. The land, evidently a large settlement with its occupants, is donated as an "attipperu" by Ayyan Adikal.[6][3]Sapir Iso also recruited two merchant guilds (the anjuvannam and the manigramam) as the tenants of the nagara (the karanmai). The Six Hundred of Venad, the Nair militia of the chiefdom, was entrusted with the protection of the nagara and the church. The charter also granted serfs to the nagara and the church. This included personnel like agricultural laborers (the vellalars), carpenters (the thachar), toddy tappers (the ezhavar) and salt-makers (the eruviyar).[3]
The charter granted Sapir Iso several titles, rights and aristocratic privileges.[3] All revenues from the donated land and its occupants were 'exempted' (which perhaps meant that these were to be made over to the church).[2][3]
Quilon Syrian copper plates (849 AD, plates 1 and 4)
Witnesses to grant
The vertical plate contains a number of signatures of the witnesses to the grant in Arabic (Kufic script), Middle Persian (cursive Pahlavi script) and Judeo-Persian (standard square Hebrew script).[4]
Quilon Syrian copper plates (plate 6)
Arabic signatures ― Kufic script
Maymun, son of Ibrahim
Muhammad, son of Manih
Sulh, son of Ali
Uthman, son of al-Marzuban
Muhammad, son of Yahya
Amr, son of Ibrahm
Ibrahim, son of al-Tayy
Bakr, son of Mansur
al-Qasim, son of Hamid
Mansur, son of Isa
Ismail, son of Yaqub
Middle Persian signatures ― Pahlavi script
Farrox, son of Narseh, son of Sahraban
Yōhanan, son of Mašya, son of Wehzād
Šāhdōst, son of Mardweh, son of Farroxīg
Sēnmihr, son of Bayweh
Sīnā, son of Yākub
[...], son of Mardweh
Marōē, son of Yōhanan
Farrbay, son of Windād-Ohrmazd
Mard-Farrox, son of Bōyšād
Āzādmard, son of Ahlā
Judeo-Persian signatures ― Hebrew script
Hasan Ali
Sahaq
Samael
Abraham Quwami
Kurus Yahiya
Mention of Thomas of Cana
Duperron's translation mentioning Thomas of Cana (1758)
Thomas of Cana copper plates dated between the mid 4th and early 9th century are a lost set of copper-plate grants issued by an unidentified Chera Perumal king to the Christian merchants in the city of "Makotayar Pattinam" (present day Kodungallur).[7] Translations of the Quilon plates made by the Syrian Christian priest Ittimani in 1601 as well as the French scholar A. H. Anquetil-Duperron in 1758 both note that one of the Quilon plates mentioned a brief of the arrival of Thomas of Cana.[8][9] However, the presently available Quilon plates do not mention this episode.[8] It is generally assumed that this was a notation of the previous rights bestowed upon the Christians by the Chera king (and the abovesaid plate was missing).[9]
“The history of the founding of the town of Cranganore when Pattanam was the City, (he) visited, revered and requested the Emperor and the Minister at Kolla Kodungalloor for a marsh where thickets grow. Measured by Anakol (elephant kol) 4,444 kols of land was granted in the year of the Jupiter in Kubham, on the 29th of Makaram, 31 the Saturday, Rohini and Saptami (7th day of the moon),' the palace, great temple and school at Irinjalakuda also were founded. The same day that place was called Makothevar pattanam (the town of the Great God), and it was made the city (capital). From there privileges such as drawbridge at gates, ornamented arches, mounted horse with two drums, cheers, conch blowing, salutes were granted in writing to the Christian foreigner called Kynai Thomma with sacred threat and libation of water and flower. The sun and the moon are witnesses to this. Written to the kings of all times.”
Re-engraved plates
Some recent studies suggest that the original text of the Thomas of Cana plates once might have been part of the Quilon plates collection.[8] Scholar István Perczel theorizes that at one time the Quilon plates and the Thomas of Cana plates, or parts of them, were re-engraved together (and thus the text of both grants were present on a single set of plates).[8]
Cereti, C. G. (2009). "The Pahlavi Signatures on the Quilon Copper Plates". In Sundermann, W.; Hintze, A.; de Blois, F. (eds.). Exegisti Monumenta: Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims-Williams. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN9783447059374.
Devadevan, Manu V. (2020). "Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State". The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781108494571.
Narayanan, M. G. S. (2002). "Further Studies in the Jewish Copper Plates of Cochin". Indian Historical Review. 29 (1–2): 66–76. doi:10.1177/037698360202900204. S2CID 142756653.
Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. ISBN9788188765072.
King, Daniel, ed. (2018). The Syriac World. Routledge Press. ISBN9781138899018.
Kollaparambil, Jacob (2015). Sources of the Syro Malabar Law. Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India. ISBN9789382762287.
Varier, M. R. Raghava; Veluthat, Kesavan (2013). Tharissappally Pattayam. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): National Book Stall.
Vellian, Jacob (1986). Symposium on Knanites. Syrian Church Series. Vol. 12. Jyothi Book House.
Further reading
Veluthat, Kesavan, 2009. The Early Medieval in South India. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quilon Syrian copper plates.
January 20, 2023
quilon, syrian, copper, plates, 13th, century, copper, plates, issued, viraraghava, iravikorttan, viraraghava, copper, plates, kollam, also, known, kollam, tarisappalli, copper, plates, kottayam, inscription, sthanu, ravi, tabula, quilonensis, record, royal, g. For 13th century CE copper plates issued by Viraraghava to Iravikorttan see Viraraghava copper plates Kollam Quilon Syrian copper plates also known as Kollam Tarisappalli copper plates or Kottayam inscription of Sthanu Ravi or Tabula Quilonensis record a royal grant issued by the chieftain of Kollam Ayyan Adikal to a Syrian Christian merchant magnate Mar Sapir Iso in Kerala 1 The royal charter is engraved in old Malayalam in Vattezhuthu with some Grantha characters on six copper plates 1 The document is the oldest available Chera Perumal inscription 2 Quilon Syrian copper plates 849 AD six plates The charter is dated to the 5th regnal year of the Chera Perumal ruler Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara 849 50 AD 3 The sixth plate contains a number of signatures of the witnesses to the grant in Arabic Kufic script Middle Persian cursive Pahlavi script and Judeo Persian standard square Hebrew script 4 Until 2013 it was believed that the six plates formed two separate grants dated separately issued by Kerala rulers to the Syrian Christian merchants 5 One part four plates of the copper plates is kept at the Devalokam Aramana of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church while the other two small plates is at Poolatheen Aramana Thiruvalla of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church The copper plate also mentions about the Jews and Muslims of Kerala in the Arabic Kufic script Middle Persian cursive Pahlavi script and Judeo Persian standard square Hebrew script parts 4 Contents 1 Summarised prescription 1 1 Witnesses to grant 2 Mention of Thomas of Cana 2 1 Re engraved plates 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Works cited 5 Further readingSummarised prescription Edit A modern depiction of Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Insignia from Quilon Syrian copper plates plate 5 The grant is dated the 5th regnal year of king Sthanu Ravi 849 50 AD old Malayalam Ko Tanu Ravi 6 3 It was drafted in the presence of Chera Perumal prince Vijayaraga Venad chieftain Ayyan Adikal Thiruvadikal junior chieftain Rama Thiruvadikal other important officers of the chiefdom the adhikarar the prakrithi the punnathala padi and the pulakkudi padi and the representatives of merchant guilds anjuvannam and manigramam 6 3 The charter grants land to Mar Sapir Iso the founder the Kollam trading city the nagara to build the Church of Tarisa at Kollam The land evidently a large settlement with its occupants is donated as an attipperu by Ayyan Adikal 6 3 Sapir Iso also recruited two merchant guilds the anjuvannam and the manigramam as the tenants of the nagara the karanmai The Six Hundred of Venad the Nair militia of the chiefdom was entrusted with the protection of the nagara and the church The charter also granted serfs to the nagara and the church This included personnel like agricultural laborers the vellalars carpenters the thachar toddy tappers the ezhavar and salt makers the eruviyar 3 The charter granted Sapir Iso several titles rights and aristocratic privileges 3 All revenues from the donated land and its occupants were exempted which perhaps meant that these were to be made over to the church 2 3 Quilon Syrian copper plates 849 AD plates 1 and 4 Witnesses to grant Edit The vertical plate contains a number of signatures of the witnesses to the grant in Arabic Kufic script Middle Persian cursive Pahlavi script and Judeo Persian standard square Hebrew script 4 Quilon Syrian copper plates plate 6 Arabic signatures Kufic script Maymun son of Ibrahim Muhammad son of Manih Sulh son of Ali Uthman son of al Marzuban Muhammad son of Yahya Amr son of Ibrahm Ibrahim son of al Tayy Bakr son of Mansur al Qasim son of Hamid Mansur son of Isa Ismail son of YaqubMiddle Persian signatures Pahlavi script Farrox son of Narseh son of Sahraban Yōhanan son of Masya son of Wehzad Sahdōst son of Mardweh son of Farroxig Senmihr son of Bayweh Sina son of Yakub son of Mardweh Marōe son of Yōhanan Farrbay son of Windad Ohrmazd Mard Farrox son of Bōysad Azadmard son of AhlaJudeo Persian signatures Hebrew script Hasan Ali Sahaq Samael Abraham Quwami Kurus YahiyaMention of Thomas of Cana Edit Duperron s translation mentioning Thomas of Cana 1758 Main article Thomas of Cana copper plates Thomas of Cana copper plates dated between the mid 4th and early 9th century are a lost set of copper plate grants issued by an unidentified Chera Perumal king to the Christian merchants in the city of Makotayar Pattinam present day Kodungallur 7 Translations of the Quilon plates made by the Syrian Christian priest Ittimani in 1601 as well as the French scholar A H Anquetil Duperron in 1758 both note that one of the Quilon plates mentioned a brief of the arrival of Thomas of Cana 8 9 However the presently available Quilon plates do not mention this episode 8 It is generally assumed that this was a notation of the previous rights bestowed upon the Christians by the Chera king and the abovesaid plate was missing 9 Translation by A H A Duperron 1758 10 The history of the founding of the town of Cranganore when Pattanam was the City he visited revered and requested the Emperor and the Minister at Kolla Kodungalloor for a marsh where thickets grow Measured by Anakol elephant kol 4 444 kols of land was granted in the year of the Jupiter in Kubham on the 29th of Makaram 31 the Saturday Rohini and Saptami 7th day of the moon the palace great temple and school at Irinjalakuda also were founded The same day that place was called Makothevar pattanam the town of the Great God and it was made the city capital From there privileges such as drawbridge at gates ornamented arches mounted horse with two drums cheers conch blowing salutes were granted in writing to the Christian foreigner called Kynai Thomma with sacred threat and libation of water and flower The sun and the moon are witnesses to this Written to the kings of all times Re engraved plates Edit Some recent studies suggest that the original text of the Thomas of Cana plates once might have been part of the Quilon plates collection 8 Scholar Istvan Perczel theorizes that at one time the Quilon plates and the Thomas of Cana plates or parts of them were re engraved together and thus the text of both grants were present on a single set of plates 8 See also Edit India portalJewish copper plates of Cochin Thomas of Cana copper platesReferences Edit a b Narayanan 2002 pp 66 76 a b Devadevan 2020 pp 126 27 a b c d e f g Narayanan 2013 pp 277 278 and 295 a b c Cereti 2009 pp 31 50 Varier amp Veluthat 2013 p page needed a b c Narayanan 2013 pp 435 37 Narayanan 2013 pp 302 303 a b c d King 2018 pp 663 679 a b Vellian 1986 pp 54 55 Kollaparambil 2015 p 179 Works cited Edit Cereti C G 2009 The Pahlavi Signatures on the Quilon Copper Plates In Sundermann W Hintze A de Blois F eds Exegisti Monumenta Festschrift in Honour of Nicholas Sims Williams Wiesbaden Harrassowitz ISBN 9783447059374 Devadevan Manu V 2020 Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cera State The Early Medieval Origins of India Cambridge University Press ISBN 9781108494571 Narayanan M G S 2002 Further Studies in the Jewish Copper Plates of Cochin Indian Historical Review 29 1 2 66 76 doi 10 1177 037698360202900204 S2CID 142756653 Narayanan M G S 2013 1972 Perumals of Kerala Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks ISBN 9788188765072 King Daniel ed 2018 The Syriac World Routledge Press ISBN 9781138899018 Kollaparambil Jacob 2015 Sources of the Syro Malabar Law Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India ISBN 9789382762287 Varier M R Raghava Veluthat Kesavan 2013 Tharissappally Pattayam Thiruvananthapuram Kerala National Book Stall Vellian Jacob 1986 Symposium on Knanites Syrian Church Series Vol 12 Jyothi Book House Further reading EditVeluthat Kesavan 2009 The Early Medieval in South India Delhi Oxford University Press Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quilon Syrian copper plates Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Quilon Syrian copper plates amp oldid 1129950649, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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