Maya monarchs, also known as Maya kings and queens, were the centers of power for the Maya civilization. Each Maya city-state was controlled by a dynasty of kings. The position of king was usually inherited by the oldest son.
Symbols of power
Maya kings felt the need to legitimize their claim to power. One of the ways to do this was to build a temple or pyramid. Tikal Temple I is a good example. This temple was built during the reign of Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil. Another king named Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal would later carry out this same show of power when building the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque. The Temple of Inscriptions still towers today amid the ruins of Palenque, as the supreme symbol of influence and power in Palenqusix.
Succession
Maya kings cultivated godlike personas. When a ruler died and left no heir to the throne, the result was usually war and bloodshed. King Pacal's precursor, Pacal I, died upon the battlefield. However, instead of the kingdom erupting into chaos, the city of Palenque, a Maya capital city in southern Mexico, invited in a young prince from a different city-state. The prince was only twelve years old.
Expansion
Pacal and his predecessors not only built elaborate temples and pyramids. They expanded their city-state into a thriving empire. Under Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil, Tikal conquered Calakmul and the other cities around Tikal, forming what could be referred to as a super city-state. Pacal achieved in creating a major center for power and development.
Responsibilities
A Maya king was expected to be an excellent military leader. He would often carry out raids against rival city-states. The Maya kings also offered their own blood to the gods. The rulers were also expected to have a good mind to solve problems that the city might be facing, including war and food crises.
Maya kings were expected to ensure the gods received the prayers, praise and attention they deserved and to reinforce their divine lineage.[1] They did this by displaying public rituals such as processions through the streets of their cities. A more private ritual was that of blood sacrifice, which was done by Lords and their wives.[2]
Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Classic Period
Notes:
All dates AD; if otherwise, it is stated.
The lists may not be completed. However, take in consideration that some lists are more completed than others in different aspects.
English language names are provisional nicknames based on their identifying glyphs, where rulers' Maya language names have not yet been definitively deciphered phonetically.
The kings of Calakmul-Dzibanche were known as k'uhul kaan ajawob (/k’uːˈχuːlkänäχäˈwoɓ/) ("Divine Lords of the Snake Kingdom").[6] This list is not continuous, as the archaeological record is incomplete. All dates AD.
Probably resided in Calakmul. Maybe the pre-accession name of Yuknoom Chʼeen II. Defeated his rival to the throne Waxaklajuun Ubaah Kaan 4 of April 636.
Founder of the dynasty, or at least the first recorded ruler of the city. Yet is only known from two Late Classic back dated texts. One places him at AD 331, and the second at AD 349.
Appears on the 6th century genealogical text of Stela 16, but his place in the line of reigning lords is unknown. His reign has been estimated to be circa AD 470. He may have been the father of Yajaw Te’ K’inich I.
Stela 16 text gives his parentage statement, and tells that his accession was overseen by a ‘higher authority,’ either another lord or a divine being.[13]
Named after his grandfather. His first monument, Stela 14, records the K’atun ending in AD 554 (9.6.0.0.0). As told on Altar 21, Yajaw Te’ K’inich II's accession takes place under the auspices of the Tikal Lord Wak Chan K’awiil. He erected Stela 1 and Altar 1 to mark his last K’atun ending of 9.8.0.0.0, and four years later he is referenced as ‘seeing’ the 9.8.10.0.0 ending. He is mentioned in the fragmentary text on Stela 23. In AD 562 – 9.6.8.4.2 he enacted the first recorded star war against Tikal and Lord Wak Chan K’awiil. Yajaw Te' K'inich II's two sons, Knot Ajaw and K’an II, rule after him.[13]
The most successful Caracol ruler. Reigning for 40 years, he expanded the causeway system and saw an increase in the site's population. Born as Sak Witzil Baah (“White First Hill”, or “White Gopher Hill”) in AD 588, he took his grandfather's name at his accession. He was the half-brother of Knot Ajaw, and was thus always stressing his legitimacy by referencing his mother (who may be Batz’ Ek’). It is interesting that he never references the rule of his brother Knot Ajaw in any of his monuments, even those that describe his dynastic predecessors. He also seems to have developed diplomatic contacts with the Snake polity, with whom he coordinated the war with Naranjo, which began in 626, and ended with the defeat of Naranjo in 631.
Two stucco texts at Caana (Structures B16-sub and B18)[12]
Succeeded K’an II in 658, but as he has no surviving parentage statements, we cannot be certain that he is K’an II's son. One of the stucco texts shows that in 680, Caracol was the victim of a star war from Naranjo (also called Naranjo's war of Independence). Martin and Grube suggest that this action drove K’ahk’ Ujol K’inich from Caracol, at which time he may have fled to La Rejolla, 12 km to the northwest. The remainder of this text has not been excavated. This star war event seems to have launched Caracol's epigraphic hiatus, which continues for 96 years, until 798.
Reigned during the epigraphic hiatus. One candidate for this ruler comes from Naj Tunich, some 46 km to the south. In one of the cave's chambers dated to 692 is a text referring to a Caracol elite named Tz’ayaj K’ajk’, who carries the emblem glyph, but not the k’inich ajaw prefix.
He is as enigmatic as Ruler VII. He likewise appears in Naj Tunich, and also lacks the k’inich ajaw prefix, leaving his royal status in question. In this text (dated to 27 August 744), he performs a fire-bearing ritual under the supervision of a lord of Ixkun; an unnamed lord of Calakmul is also involved. All other appearances of his name occur in later retrospective texts like Altar 23, which lists him as a 3 K’atun lord, and the captor of two lords from Ucanal and Bital.
Began a revival of the Caracol polity with his accession. He commissioned the B-Group Ballcourt, the markers of which date back to the dynastic founder Te’ K’ab Chaak. Stela 11 shows Tum Yohl K’inich in an ambiguous relationship to Joy K’awiil, which may show that he is the latter's father, or as suggested by Altar 23 potentially a relative in a high-ranking military position.
His accession date is not certain, but he erected five (possibly six) monuments (Stelae 18, 19, Altars 12, 13), and seems to have repaired relations with Ucanal. This new relationship is depicted on Altars 12 and 13, as well as on stucco text from Structure B18.
Last known lord of Caracol, and erected only one monument: Stela 10. Stela 10 is a carved all glyphic monument which may commemorate the half-K’atun 10.1.10.0.0 (AD 859).
A lady that probably came from the Snake kingdom at Dzibanche/Calakmul. She had a superior title than her husband (she was called kaloomte). The queen celebrated her first and only period ending on 7 December 573.
Probably abdicated to her husband, who starts his reign in 574.
She bore the title kaloomte' ('superior warrior'), which was a very high title in contemporary Maya culture, and not worn by all rulers. She is depicted presiding over, or treading upon, over a dozen captives under her feet, a larger number than any other Maya queen, and more than almost any other Maya king. Her reign took place during a period of golden age of Coba, with political continuity, economic prosperity, and expansionistic, militaristic power, and not a vassal of Calakmul.
(Note:Despite the sparse references to previous rulers in Copán, the first safe reference is from 426. All the rulers, with the exception of the last one, appear in the called Altar Q.)
He probably saw himself as the legitimate heir to the Tikal throne. However, moved away from the capital to found a new one at Dos Pilas, which grew to become a rival kingdom, under overlordship of Calakmul. One of his children was Lady Wak Chanil Ajaw, queen regnant Naranjo, who, by using the Tikal emblem, proved her ascendance, through Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil, from Tikal royal line.
Has no apparent family relation to his predecessors, being probably a regent. It is known that, twenty years earlier, he was already a prominent figure in the kingdom (being responsible, for example, for the capture of the lord of Tikal in 705, or involving himself closely in rituals performed by the previous king). As a ruler (regent or usurper) he provided strong leadership. Erected monuments in Dos Pilas and Aguateca.
At the end of his reign, Machaquilá's suzerain kingdom, Dos Pilas, was abandoned and, during the political turmoil that followed, Cancuén stole power from Machaquilá.
37th ruler of Naranjo, according to the inscriptions on the site.[41] His rule, however, didn't produce any surviving monuments. He was victorious against Caracol.
Wak Chanil arrived from Dos Pilas to form a new dynasty in Naranjo. United herself in marriage with a cousin of the previous ruler, Kʼahkʼ Xiiw Chan Chaahk, from 693 she held regency for her son. Possibly as early as 721 or after his son's death in 728, she reassumed the reins of the kingdom as queen regnant, or queen regent for her second son (or grandson).
In the reign of Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Chaak, Wak Chanil's son, Naranjo fought and won a series of victories against polities, some of whom may have been rebelling against Wak Chanil herself. It's possible that was her the organizer of many of Naranjo campaigns that, early in his reign, defeated Yaxha, Tikal, and Ucanal.
Grandson of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I. His construction program rivaled that of his predecessors, and contributed enormously to the surviving records of Palenque history.
There is evidence that Itzam Kʼan Ahk II started a new patriline at Piedras Negras. It's possible that he also married the daughter of the previous ruler.[55]
Took the throne almost a year following the death of Ha' K'in Xook. Despite this time gap, there is no evidence anyone was ruling Piedras Negras in the interim. He was later captured by K'inich Tatbu Skull IV of Yaxchilan.[58][59][52][60]
The son of the person identified as the ruler of Teotihuacan, placed on the throne by Siyaj Kʼakʼ and under his influence, founded a new line of rulers in Tikal.
Described in one text as fifteenth in line from Yopaat Bʼalam I. Bird Jaguar III took Lady Pakal as his wife, who lived a very long life, dying in 705 at the age of at least 98 years. Their son and heir was Itzamnaaj Bahlam II.
Ruled for 60 years. He was often referred to in hieroglyphic texts as Master of Aj Nik, referring to the capture of his first captive before he became king, this phrase being attached to his name on 32 separate occasions. Aj Nik himself was a sub-lord from a place known as either Maan or Namaan and was not of high rank.
Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Post-Classic Period
Notes:
All dates AD; if otherwise, it is stated.
The lists may not be completed. However, take in consideration that some lists are more completed than others in different aspects.
English language names are provisional nicknames based on their identifying glyphs, where rulers' Maya language names have not yet been definitively deciphered phonetically.
^L., Tignor, Robert (2014). Worlds together, worlds apart: a history of the world from the beginnings of humankind to the present (Fourth ed.). New York. ISBN9780393123760. OCLC854609153.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Tignor, Adelman, Brown, Elman, Liu, Pittman, Shaw, Robert, Jeremy, Peter, Benjamin, Xinru, Holly, Brent (2014). Worlds Together, Worlds Apart (V1). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. pp. 311–313. ISBN9780393922080.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens by Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube 2008:103, 115)
^ abSimon Martin and Nikolai Grube 2008 Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens, 2nd edition. Thames and Hudson, London
^ abNikolai Grube 1994 Epigraphic Research at Caracol, Belize. In Studies in the Archaeology of Caracol, Belize, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase. Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute, San Francisco, California
^Guernsey & Reese-Taylor (2009) date the end of her reign in c.650 (according to Stela 29), but this overlaps with Lady Kʼawiil's reign, which started in 640, and her predecessors.
^ abGronemeyer S. A Preliminary Ruling Sequence at Coba, Quintana Roo // Wayeb Notes 14. — 2004
^Double dates indicate carvings in different dates on the same stela
^Martin, Simon (25 March 2008). Chronicle of the Maya kings and queens : deciphering the dynasties of the ancient Maya. Grube, Nikolai (Second ed.). London. ISBN978-0-500-28726-2. OCLC191753193.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Wak Chanil's father was 14 years old in this date; it is the earliest date of her birth, which could also have happened later)
^Last monument of him on 26 October 716; in 721 he was already dead.
^Skidmore, Joel (2010). The Rulers of Palenque(PDF) (Fifth ed.). Mesoweb Publications. p. 6. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
^Despite some authors defending that K'inich Ich'aak Chapat's father was K’inich B’aaknal Chaak, his existence as B'aaknal's son would prevent the succession of the previous ruler, K’inich Chuwaaj Chaak, a son of B'aaknal's sister. Therefore, it's more probable that he had no relation at all with the previous rulers.
^Falcon, Maricela Ayala (2002). Ardren, Tracy (ed.). Lady K'awil, Goddess O and Maya Warfare. Rowman Altamira. pp. 109–110.
^Belyev, D.D.; Safronov, А. В. "Правители Яшчилана" (in Russian). «МесоАмерика.Ru». Archived from the original on 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2012-11-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^He was probably the third and not the second ruler of that name in Yaxchilan.
^It's possible that Yaxun Bahlam "changed" his age to look older, which would be another proof of his turbulent succession. 709 seems too early as his birth age, since his own's mother's birth dates to 704 (unless 704 is the date of Lady Eveningstar's marriage and not her birth).
Tiesler, Vera and Andrea Cucina (2006). Janaabʼ Pakal of Palenque: Reconstructing the Life and Death of a Maya Ruler. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. ISBN0-8165-2510-2. OCLC62593473.
Prager C. Die Inschriften von Pusilha: Epigraphische Analyse und Rekonstruktion der Geschichte einer klassischen Maya-Stätte. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Bonn: Institut für Altamerikanistik und Ethnologie, Universität Bonn, 2002 P. 220
Prager C., Volta B., Braswell G. The Dynastic History and Archaeology of Pusilha, Belize // The Maya and their Central American Neighbors: Settlement Patterns, Architecture, Hieroglyphic Texts, and Ceramics / Ed. by G. Braswell. — London and New York: Routledge, 2014. — P. 272–281.