India's epic freedom struggle has many legendary figures whose contributions have largely remained unsung. Pazhassi Raja aka Kerala Varma is one of them, who, despite his heroic resistance against the British, has not found his due place in history.

Known for his gorilla warfare, the 18th-century ruler of Malabar was the only person to defeat Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in a war.

He was born as Kerala Varma in 1753 into the Kottayam royal family (not to be mistaken with the Kottayam district in central Kerala) he got the name Pazhassi Raja from Pazhassi from the village in Kannur where he was born.

During the Malabar invasion of Hyder Ali of Mysore (father of Tipu Sultan) Pazhassi, who was originally fourth in line for succession became the de facto ruler after the then king of Kottayam fled to Travancore and sought political asylum there.

At just 21 years of age, Pazhassi to support of the British to fight off the enemy and fought both Ali and later Tipu from 1774 to 1793.

With the help of the arms supplied by the British, Varma fought the invading Mysore army.

In 1792, after Tipu lost the Third Anglo-Mysore War, he ceded Malabar to the British, effectively ending his control there.

But, after realising that the British had no interest in restoring the Kottayam royal family to power, which was the original agreement, Varma turned against his former friends.

The British citing the Treaty of Srirangapatna in 1792 where Tipu ceded Malabar to the British staked claim for the area ruled by Varma.

They then installed Vira Varma, an uncle of the Pazhassi Raja as the King of Kottayam, who effectively had very limited powers. The real power remained in the hands of a British Resident.

With the discontent among his people growing over the increased taxes, Vira Varma encouraged Pazhassi to fight the British offering him a share of the lucrative pepper trade.

Pazhassi who was against the exploitation of people by his uncle did not allow Vira Varma's men to collect the tax.

A furious British then turned against Pazhassi and in 1796 a British force comprising of 300 men attacked his palace.

Pazhassi managed to escape to the jungles of Wayanad and with the help of his men and tribal warriors began plotting his revenge.

Already well versed in Guerilla warfare Pazhassi and his men aided by the rough terrain began making a comeback against the British.

On 18th March 1797, in one of the biggest setbacks to the British till then a contingent of 1100 army men under Major Cameron came under a surprise ambush by Pazhassi's men. The attack was so brutal, that the British force was decimated, leaving only a few alive. It is said that between 1793 and 1797, 1,000 British soldiers and 3,000 British-employed native sepoys were killed by Pazhassi’s men.

With the British fighting multiple wars in Mysore, Wayanad, the French in India and the American War of Independence, they had their hands full and following the ambush they offered to have a ceasefire with Pazhassi.

As part of the deal Vira Varma was removed as the Raja and Ravi Varma, Pazhassi’s elder brother was made the new king. Pazhassi was also given back the land which was taken away from him.

But the peace did not hold for long. With the death of Tipu in 1799, the British once again tried annexing Wayanad which was key to Pazhassi. Though the British faced stiff resistance they had a new Army Commandant of Mysore, Canara and Malabar - Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Wellington who later went on to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Waterloo.

Even under the command of Wellesley, the British remained unsuccessful in taming the revolt or capturing Pazhassi.

By 1804 when Wellesley who had defeated the Marathas a year earlier went back to England, failing to capture Pazhassi. It is said that in his despatches, Wellesley had remarked “We are not fighting 1000 men… but one man … Kerala Varma.”

Pazhassi finally fell to treachery, on November 30, 1805 when a Chetti who found out the location of their camp leaked it to Thomas Hervey Baber, who was the then Sub-Collector.

Baber who reached the camp with a huge army defeated and killed Pazhassi in a fiercely fought battle. But according to folklore, Pazhassi consumed poison before he was captured by the British.

Unlike many other kings who had fallen before and after him, the British cremated his body with full military honours at same spot where he died.