The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern tip of the peninsula of India for most of its early history.

The Cheras ruled over the Malabar coast in the South Western India. This is the modern day Kerala State in the Indian Union. The other two major dynasties were Cholas in the eastern Coramandal coast and Pandyas in the south central peninsula. These dynasties came into existence in the later centuries BCE and were in constant conflict with one another. Despite this (or because of it) in this period Tamil language, arts and literature prospered.

The Chera capital was Vanchi. Its exact location is still a matter of conjecture. Possibilities range from Karur, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, to areas closer to Kochi. Twenty five Cheran kings are recorded, including details of their reigns and accomplishments. They secured and maintained large armies, and fought neighboring kingdoms to acquire or expand their domain. They confronted and crushed piracy on the high seas. In an tempt to restore harmony they sometimes married women of warring neighbors.

Throughout the reign of the Cheras, Trade continued to bring prosperity to Kerala with spices, ivory, timber and gems being exported to the Middle East and southern Europe.

Belief systems as well as products were exchanged. Early beliefs and religious practices generally has a naturist or animist basis people housed the elements of the cosmos as well as the trees and animals, believing that such entities embodied the spirits of deities. It seem that ancestor worth was also practiced the early stone monuments being indicative of this custom. Cheras kings prayed to a goddess whom they honored with chanting, drumming and rice offerings. Around the 3rd to 2nd centuries BCE, both Buddhism and Jainism came to Kerala. Trade with the Middle East may have established early contact with Judaism. In fact some accounts relate King Solomon’s court as receiving spices, ivory and peacocks form Kerala. Fleeing the ravages of Jerusalem, Jewish settlers may have arrived as early as 70 CE. Christianity may also have made inroads, with some accounts suggesting that Thomas the Apostle arrived in 52CE.

List of Ancient Chera Kings

Name of King	Period	Son of	Capital
Udiyancheralatan	848-881	NA	NA
Antuvancheral	NA	NA	NA
Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	56-115	Udiyancheralatan	NA
Palyanai Sel-Kelu Kuttuvan	115-130	Udiyancheralatan	NA
Poraiyan Kadungo	NA	Antuvancheral	NA
Kalankai-Kanni Narmudi Cheral	115-140	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Vel-Kelu Kuttuvan	130-185	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Adukotpattu Cheralatan	140-178	Imayavaramban Nedun-Cheralatan	NA
Selvak-Kadungo	131-155	Poraiyan Kadungo	NA
Kuttuvan Irumporai	NA	Vel-Kelu Kuttuvan	NA
Ilamcheral Irumporai	241-257	Kuttuvan Irumporai	NA
Tagadur Erinda Perumcheral	185-201	Selvak-Kadungo	NA
Yanaikat-sey Mantaran Cheral	201-241	Tagadur Erinda Perumcheral	NA
Perumkadungo	257-287	Yanaikat-sey Mantaran Cheral	NA
Ilamkadungo	287-317	Perumkadungo	NA
Kanaikal Irumporai	367-397	NA	NA

MIDDLE KINGDOMS OF INDIA Missing image WesternSatrap.JPG
Timeline:	Northern empires	Southern Kingdoms	Foreign kingdoms
6th century BCE 5th century BCE 4th century BCE 3rd century BCE 2nd century BCE 1st century BCE 1st century CE 2nd century CE 3rd century CE 4th century CE 5th century CE	Magadha empire Nanda empire Mauryan empire Satavahana empire Sunga empire Gupta empire	Pandya Kalinga Chera Chola	(Persian rule) (Greek conquests) Indo-Greek kingdom Indo-Scythians Kushan empire Indo-Parthian kingdom Western Kshatrapas Hephthalites

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