early 15th century, Calicut and Kochi were in an intense rivalry, so the Ming dynasty of China decided to intervene by granting special status to Kochi and its ruler known as Keyili (可亦里) to the Chinese. Calicut had been the dominant port-city in the region, but Kochi was emerging as its main rival. For the fifth Ming treasure voyage, Admiral Zheng He was instructed to confer a seal upon Keyili of Kochi and enfeoff a mountain in his kingdom as the Zhenguo Zhi Shan'' (鎮國之山, Mountain Which Protects the Country). Zheng He delivered a stone tablet, inscribed with a proclamation composed by the Yongle Emperor himself, to Kochi. As long as Kochi remained under the protection of Ming China, the Zamorin of Calicut was unable to invade Kochi and a military conflict was averted. The cessation of the Ming treasure voyages consequently had negative results for Kochi, as the Zamorin of Calicut would eventually launch an invasion against Kochi. In the late 15th century, the Zamorin occupied Kochi and installed his representative as the king of the port-city. Rulers of Kochi Unni Ramman Koyil – 11 (1503–1537) Veera Kerala Varma (1537–1565) Keshava Ramavarma (1565–1601) Veerakerala Varma (1601–1615) Ravivarma (1615–1624) Veera Kerala Varma (1624–1637) Godhavarma (1637–1645) Veera Rayira Varma (1645–1646) Veerakerala Varma (1645–1650) Ramavarma (1650–1656) Rani Gangadhara Lakshmi (1656–1658) Ramavarma (1658–1562) Godhavarma (1662–1663) Veera Kerala Varma (1663–1687) Rama Varma (1687–1693) Ravi Varma (1693–1697) Rama Varma (1697–1701) Rama Varma (1701–1721) Ravi Varma (1721–1731) Rama Varma (1731–1746) Veera Kerala Varma (1746–1749) Rama Varma (1749–1760) Veera Kerala Varma (1760–1775) Rama Varma (1775–1790) Rama Varma (Shaktan Thampuran (1790–1805), (the ruler of Cochin Kingdom) Rama Varma (1805–1809)- Vellarapalli-yil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Vellarapali") Veera Kerala Varma (1809–1828) – Karkidaka Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "karkidaka" month) Rama Varma (1828–1837) – Thulam-Maasathil Theepett1a Thampuran (King who died in "Thulam" month) Rama Varma (1837–1844) – Edava-Maasathil Theepett1a Thampuran (King who died in "Edavam" month) Rama Varma (1844–1851) – Thrishur-il Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Thrishivaperoor" or Thrishur) Veera Kerala Varma (1851–1853) – Kashi-yil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Kashi" or Varanasi) Ravi Varma (1853–1864) – Makara Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Makaram" month) Rama Varma (1864–1888) – Mithuna Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Mithunam" month) Kerala Varma (1888–1895) – Chingam Maasathil Theepetta Thampuran (King who died in "Chingam" month) Rama Varma (1895–1914) – aka Rajarshi, Abdicated Highness (died