Valluvakonathiri, the ruler of Valluvanad, was the strongest enemy the Zamorin had to face in the earlier stages of his imperial development.
The immediate goal of Zamorin was to capture Tirunavaya on the bank of the river Bharathappuzha, which belonged to Valluvakonathiri.
Tirunavaya, where the Mamankam festival was celebrated once in every twelve years under the presidency of the king of Valluvanad, was of great political significance.

The Zamorin lined up on one side and the Valluvakonathiri along with the ruler of Perumpadappu on other.
When the Zamorin's army reached north and settled at Triprangode, Eralpad, the young king of the Zamorin, reached Ponnani by sea, crossed the Bharathappuzha and settled on the other side of Tirunavaya.
It was not too long before Valluvakonathiri had to concede defeat.
The ruler of Perumpadappu, who fled away to Mahodayapuram, later established the Kingdom of Cochin headquartered at Kochi.

Inspired by the victory at Tirunavaya, the Zamorin continued his attacks.
Soon Nilambur, Manjeri, Malappuram, and Venkatakotta (Kottakkal) came under his control.
Hence by the end of 13th century, majority of the district came under the control of Nediyiruppu Swaroopam.
However a small portion of the present Perinthalmanna subdistrict remained under the Kingdom of Valluvanad, including Angadipuram, which was the headquarters of the erstwhile Valluvanad.

Thrikkavil Kovilakam in Ponnani served as a second home for Zamorin, and his navy headquarters.
Archaeological relics found in Malappuram include the remnants of palaces of the eastern branch of the Zamorin reign.
Malappuram was the military headquarters of the Zamorin in the Eranad region.
The Zamorins held sway over Malappuram and their chieftain Para Nambi, ruled the area in early days with headquarters at Downhill (Kottappadi), Malappuram.
Zamorin earned a greater part of his revenue by taxing the spice trade through his ports.
Smaller ports in kingdom included Parappanangadi, Tanur, and Ponnani.
The headquarters of the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal, who were considered as the supreme religious head of Kerala Brahmins, was at Athavanad.

The works like Kozhikode Granthavari, Mamakam Kilippattu written by Kadanchery Namboodiri in 17th-century CE, Kandaru Menon Patappattu (1683), and Ramchcha Panicker Pattu contains pieces of information about the Mamankam festival held at the bank of Bharathappuzha in Tirunavaya.
The modern Malayalam alphabet (accepted by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan), and the Arabi-Malayalam script (also known as Ponnani script) were developed in the district during the medieval period.
The Sanskrit works like Kokila Sandeśa (15th-century CE) written by Uddanda Śāstrī, Bhramara Sandesham (17th century CE) by Vasudevan, and Chathaka Sandesha (18th-century CE) have descriptions about Tirunavaya and Triprangode.
Many medieval Malayalam works also help to trace the history of district.
Valluvakonathiri, the ruler of Valluvanad, was the strongest enemy the Zamorin had to face in the earlier stages of his imperial development. The immediate goal of Zamorin was to capture Tirunavaya on the bank of the river Bharathappuzha, which belonged to Valluvakonathiri. Tirunavaya, where the Mamankam festival was celebrated once in every twelve years under the presidency of the king of Valluvanad, was of great political significance.
The Zamorin lined up on one side and the Valluvakonathiri along with the ruler of Perumpadappu on other. When the Zamorin's army reached north and settled at Triprangode, Eralpad, the young king of the Zamorin, reached Ponnani by sea, crossed the Bharathappuzha and settled on the other side of Tirunavaya. It was not too long before Valluvakonathiri had to concede defeat. The ruler of Perumpadappu, who fled away to Mahodayapuram, later established the Kingdom of Cochin headquartered at Kochi.
Inspired by the victory at Tirunavaya, the Zamorin continued his attacks. Soon Nilambur, Manjeri, Malappuram, and Venkatakotta (Kottakkal) came under his control. Hence by the end of 13th century, majority of the district came under the control of Nediyiruppu Swaroopam. However a small portion of the present Perinthalmanna subdistrict remained under the Kingdom of Valluvanad, including Angadipuram, which was the headquarters of the erstwhile Valluvanad.
Thrikkavil Kovilakam in Ponnani served as a second home for Zamorin, and his navy headquarters. Archaeological relics found in Malappuram include the remnants of palaces of the eastern branch of the Zamorin reign. Malappuram was the military headquarters of the Zamorin in the Eranad region. The Zamorins held sway over Malappuram and their chieftain Para Nambi, ruled the area in early days with headquarters at Downhill (Kottappadi), Malappuram. Zamorin earned a greater part of his revenue by taxing the spice trade through his ports. Smaller ports in kingdom included Parappanangadi, Tanur, and Ponnani. The headquarters of the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal, who were considered as the supreme religious head of Kerala Brahmins, was at Athavanad.
The works like Kozhikode Granthavari, Mamakam Kilippattu written by Kadanchery Namboodiri in 17th-century CE, Kandaru Menon Patappattu (1683), and Ramchcha Panicker Pattu contains pieces of information about the Mamankam festival held at the bank of Bharathappuzha in Tirunavaya. The modern Malayalam alphabet (accepted by Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan), and the Arabi-Malayalam script (also known as Ponnani script) were developed in the district during the medieval period. The Sanskrit works like Kokila Sandeśa (15th-century CE) written by Uddanda Śāstrī, Bhramara Sandesham (17th century CE) by Vasudevan, and Chathaka Sandesha (18th-century CE) have descriptions about Tirunavaya and Triprangode. Many medieval Malayalam works also help to trace the history of district.
Malappuram district