Thampi and Thankachi
The Thampis are the sons of the Samanthan Nair Maharajahs of Travancore and their morganatic Illathu Nair wives. They form a part of the Nair caste and had no title of succession to the throne.
Origin
Since the Varma kings or Maharajahs of South Kerala (Travancore) also belong to the Warrior race of the Nairs, they followed the matrilineal system (Marumakkathayam) of inheritance. Hence when a king died his sister's son would become the next Varma (Samanthan Nair) ruler and his own son born of his wife, of the Illathu Nair caste would be called Thampi with the title "Kannaku Chempakaraman" which was also one of the highest titles of nobility in Travancore.
All of the Maharajahs' female descendants were known by the style of Kochamma or Thankachi added to their name. The sons, as mentioned, were styled Thampis with the title of Kanakku Chempakaraman. Since the Marumakkathayam law of matrilineal inheritance existed in Travancore, the sons of these Thampi gentlemen would, however, not gain any distinguishing title.
Families from where Maharajas got married are known as "Ammaveedus". Arumana Ammaveedu, Vadasseri Ammaveedu, Nagercoil Ammaveedu, Thiruvattar Ammaveedu, etc. are some of the prominent families in Trivandrum from where the Maharajas of Travancore married. The Rajahs of Travancore traditionally took wives from Ammaveedus and such Royal consorts, known as Ammachis would get the additional title of Panapillai Amma. If at all another lady from outside the Ammaveedu's was to be married to the Rajah, she would be adopted to one of the Ammaveedus first and then wed to the King. This was the case in the marriage of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal, Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal and Maharajah Moolam Thirunal.
As mentioned previously, the title of Thampi was also given to some loyal noble families in Travancore. Thampis had special privileges in Travancore. Besides the Maharajah, they were the only people permitted the use of Palanquins. They also had the right to visit their cousin, their father's heir as per the Marumakkathayam law, without formally previously announcing their visit. The very term Thampi and Thankachi meant, in Tamil language, brother and sister respectively which indicated the position of the Thampi families as relatives of the Royal House of Travancore.
Tradition
The consort of the ruling prince was known as the Ammachi with the title of Panapillai Amma. To the names of the sons of the Maharajahs was prefixed the title of Sri suffixed with Thampi. The daughters were known as Ponnammas. The other members of the Ammaveedus however were simply known as Thampis and Thankachis or Kochammas.
The Thampi Insurrection
During the early 18th century a rebellion occurred in Travancore after Maharajah Marthanda Varma succeeded to the throne from his uncle, Rajah Rama Varma in 1729. Rajah Rama Varma had left two sons, namely Sri Padmanabhan Thampi and Sri Raman Thampi, known as the Kunju Thampis. Their mother Abhirama Ammachi also know as Vempadi Valiammachi belonged to the Royal House of Kosala. The Kunju Thampis wanted to succeed to the throne of their father by putting an end to the matriarchal system in practice known as Marumakkathayam. With this view, they organised a private army with the help of the wicked 'Pillamar' and Azhagappa Mudaliar. The Thampies were also misguided by Sundarayyan, a cunning brahmin from Tamil Nadu.
The Kunju Thampis for some time remained low. But their instigators, the Ettuveetil Pillamar against whom the Maharajah had secured documented evidence of conspiracy to assassinate him and instigating the Kunju Thampis to seek Pandyan help, came to their heed once again. On the morning of 28 October 1730, Padmanabhan and Raman Thampi called on Maharajah Marthanda Varma who was then at Nagercoil Palace. The sentries at the door had been particularly informed not to permit the Kunju Thampis entry into his chamber, where he was sleeping on a swinging cot.
Raman Thampi, who after seeing the possible defeat at the hands of King Marthanda Varma, headed towards Kalkulam to kill the former. But he was stopped by Ramayyan, who killed Raman Thampi in a fierce encounter that followed.
Hearing about his younger brother's death, Pappu Thampi rushed into the Maharajah's chamber and tried to attack him. He missed his aim and his sword struck the low ceiling of the room giving enough time to Marthanda Varma to recover from the shock, who eventually disarmed Pappu Thampi and later killed the elder Thampi with his mighty sword.
While this is the generally believed story, there is no clarity as to the reason why the sister of the Kunju Thampis, Ummini Thankachi also known as Kochumadathamma committed suicide. The mother of Thampies and Thanka, Vempadi Valia Ammachi also had a mysterious death at Vempadi Koikkal Palace. It is said that Ummini Thanka spied for Marthanda Varmma. Although Veera Marthanda Varma wanted to protect Thanka, she committed suicide seeing the tragedy of her brothers and mother. She later acquired the status of a minor Goddess known as 'Melangode Yakshi'. Her temple is still there in Kaliyan kadu surrounded by a forest of cacti which is known as 'Kallimullu' in Malayalam. However, the great Royal Family of Travancore wiped out the followers of Thampies and now Thampies are a minuscule minority with in the Nair community.
Thampies are also called "Thoruvam", a corrupted form of Swaroopam, in Trivandrum as they had Royal origins. There is a poem in praise of these Thampies of Nagercoil who fought against Vara Vanchi Veera Marthanda Varma, called "Thampimar kadai" which is very popular in South Western Tamil Nadu.