Then, the next day, the next day, and so on. Then, the next day, and so on. The international fabric of a thriving trade community was torn apart, ushering in an era of carnage and violence with its Jewish and Arab merchants, Chinese pirate heroes, and skillful Hindu Zamorins. Yet, one prince survived this plunge into anarchy and emerged victorious. Martanda Varma crowned the dominion of Travancore, which was destined to become one of the most obedient pillars of the British Raj, by deftly fusing Western weapons with Eastern strategy. A dynastic quarrel between two sisters fighting for control of one of India's most prominent princely states resulted from the two centuries of internal strife that followed.