Mangalore is mentioned in the manuscripts of the Great Library at Alexendria, Egypt. Roman history describes it as a port on the mouth of the river Nitras (Netravathi). Ptolemy, a famous astronomer and explorer of the second century AD mentions Mangalore in his journey record. Greek drama also alludes to the West coast of India, in particular Udayavara and Mangalore.
Named after the famous Mangaladevi Temple, the coastal belt is said to have been reclaimed from the sea by the legendary sage Parashurama. He crowned a king known as Bhanu Vikrama, who appointed one of his brothers, Udayavarma to rule the territory between Payaswini River in the South and Gokarna in the North. Under the rule of Ashoka, the land of Tuluva was called Sathia and the Kadambas ruled this place till 600 AD. Later it became a part of the Kingdom of Alupas, whose unbroken dynastic rule from 567 to 1325 AD is perhaps the longest in Indian history. The Vijayanagar Kingdom was founded in 1346 and the Kingdom absorbed Tuluvanad. Vijayanagara princes possessed the Kingdom for about three centuries. During the time of Vijayanagar Empire, Arab Traders established a brisk trade route for silk and spices between Mangalore and West Asia.
Portuguese depredations started during the reign of Kamaraya II (1491-1533 AD) In the year 1498 Vasco-Da-Gama landed near Udupi and set up a cross on St. Mary’s Isles. The region had longstanding trade relations with the Arabs and when the Portuguese defeated the Bangara King and his allies, trade passed out of Muslim hands into Portuguese hands. The Portuguese ruled the place till 1640. In the 17th century, Venkatappa Nayaka from the Ikkeri family stormed the Portuguese bastion and defeated them. Thereafter the Bangara chieftains continued as rulers with the Portuguese only allowed trade relations until their final expulsion on 27 May 1805.
Nawab Hyder Ali Khan, first of the Mysore Kings entered the region in the 18th century for its Naval Station. He ruled for 21 years till his death in 1784 and was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan. In 1799, after the fall of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatna, the entire Kanara region including Mangalore came into British hands and continued till Indian independence in 1947.
The city had a peaceful administration under British rule and visible improvements were effected in this period. Education and Industry thrived and it became a commercial centre. The linking of Mangalore, in 1907, with the South Indian Railway and later the advent of motor vehicles further increased the trade and communication with the rich hinterland. However during reorganisation of states in 1956, a portion of South Kanara was annexed to Karnataka and a portion went to Kerala. Thereafter Mangalore gained a very important position in the state since it gave the erstwhile Mysore state the benefit of a coastline. Mangalore is now a fast growing city.
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