John de Britto's preaching led to the conversion of Thadiyathevan (தடியத் தேவன்), a Marava prince who had several wives.
When Thadiyathevan was required to dismiss all his wives but one, a serious problem arose.
One of the wives was a niece of the neighbouring king, the Sethupathi (சேதுபதி), the King of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram), who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution of Christians.
Britto and the catechists were taken and carried to the capital, Ramnad.
Thence he was led to Oriyur (ஓரியூர்), some 30 miles northward along the coast, where he was executed on 4 February 1693.

Britto was beatified by Pope Pius IX on 21 August 1853.
He was canonised by Pope Pius XII on 22 June 1947.
St John de Britto's feast day is 4 February.
John de Britto's preaching led to the conversion of Thadiyathevan (தடியத் தேவன்), a Marava prince who had several wives. When Thadiyathevan was required to dismiss all his wives but one, a serious problem arose. One of the wives was a niece of the neighbouring king, the Sethupathi (சேதுபதி), the King of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram), who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution of Christians. Britto and the catechists were taken and carried to the capital, Ramnad. Thence he was led to Oriyur (ஓரியூர்), some 30 miles northward along the coast, where he was executed on 4 February 1693.
Britto was beatified by Pope Pius IX on 21 August 1853. He was canonised by Pope Pius XII on 22 June 1947. St John de Britto's feast day is 4 February.
John de Britto