The oldest battalion of the Regiment (and thus the Indian Army) was the 9th Battalion, formerly known as the Nair Brigade ("Nayar Pattalam", "Nair Army"). This militia was raised in 1704 at Padmanabhapuram as body guards for the Maharajah of Travancore, and were active in the Battle of Colachel in defeating the Dutch forces. The army was made up of soldiers from Nair warrior clans, however after the 1940s, non-Nairs were permitted to join. The "Nayar Army" became incorporated into the Indian Army in April 1951.