Manjeri was once the headquarters and the military centre of the Kingdom of Mysore under Tipu Sultan. Under British rule, Manjeri served as the administrative headquarters of Eranad subdistrict, which was the largest subdistrict within the Malabar District. In 1896, the landlords of "Manjeri Kovilakam" started to evacuate the tenants from their lands. The landless tenants started to revolt under the leadership of Variyan Kunnathu Kunjahammed Haji. They seized the land and properties of the landlords. British army came to help the landlords. The conflict caused the British to risk 94 out of 100 soldiers.