Appanur, as a part of the Ramnad district was under the Sethupathis during the beginning of the 17th century, then under the British Raj, before it came under the Union of India in 1947 when India received its independence.
The Sethupathis (the guardian of the Isthmus of Rameswaram) were the rulers of the Ramnad and Sivaganga regions during the beginning of the 17th century.
The Sivaganga estate was ruled by a branch of the Marava royal family of Ramnad.