Marthanda Varma (1706 - 1758) was the son of the Rani of Attingal. He inherited the throne of Venad , a small principality on the southernmost tip of peninsular India, from his uncle, according to the matrilineal system of inheritance. A shrewd tactician and a brilliant general, he signed a treat with the English East India Company in 1723, in his capacity as the crown prince.

The sons of the king, Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi, conspired with the nobles Ettuveetil pillamar (nobles of the 8 houses) and the religious heads, the Yoggakaar to assassinate him. He escaped from the capital city of Padmanabhapuram to the loyal city of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), and was assisted all along the way by the local people. Collecting his forces, he destroyed both the feudal nobles and his cousins and exiled the Yogakkar from the land.

On assuming the throne in 1729, he was assisted by his able minister Ramayyan Dalawa. Marthanda Varma raised a powerful and well trained army from the local people of Venad. He started on his campaign of expansion and started conquering the neighbouring kingdoms. Many of these were allies of the Dutch East India Company and they declared war on Marthanda Varma. Following the defeat of the Dutch and the capture of Admiral D'lennoy at the battle of Colachael in 1741, Marthanda Varma continued his expansion and annexed all the princely states right up to Kochi in 1746.

An invasion from Rettipalayam through the Aramboli Ghat was stopped and Marthanda Varma secured the Eastern border as well. Marthanda Varma renovated the 8th century old Sri. Padmanabha temple of Trivandrum, and on January 3rd 1750, he dedicated his new kingdom to his deity (tripaddidhanam) and ruled as the servant of the deity (Sri. Padamanabhadasa).

He is known as "the maker of modern Travancore" for developing a small kingdom into a powerful state. He appointed his former prisoner, Admiral D'lennoy, as his commander-in-chief and gave him the status of a local noble. D'lennoy modernised the Travancore army and equipped the army with firearms and artillery.

Marthanda Varma also took steps to improve trade, and built waterways and roads. He passed away in 1758, leaving his kingdom to his nephew Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja), during whose reign, the kingdom withstood the Mysorean invasion.