Chakán (, ‘1) oregano of this land; 2) macaw tail feathers.’)
is the name of one of the
Mayan jurisdictions ''(
kuchkabalob)'' that existed on the
Yucatan Peninsula at the
arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the
sixteenth century. Unlike other jurisdictions, Chakán did not seem to have a centralized government or control of a dominant ''
Halach Uinik'', as in the case of the provinces
Ceh Pech or
Ah Kin Chel. This is inferred from the fact that upon the Spaniards' arrival,
Francisco de Montejo (el Mozo) was well received by some local leaders (
''batabob''), but not others, such as Ah Kin Chuy, who organized resistance in the region's eastern towns to repel Spanish settlers.
The most important city in the jurisdiction may have been
Caucel, which controlled the region's salt trade since this material came from
Chuburná and
Sisal
Sisal (, ; ''Agave sisalana'') is a species of flowering plant native to southern Mexico, but widely cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. It yields a stiff fibre used in making rope and various other products. The sisal fiber is ...
. Caucel's ''batab'', named Ah Kin Euán, was so open to the Spanish from the outset of the conquest that he converted to
Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
and changed his name to Francisco Euán, maintaining his position as ''batab'' for much longer.
, the present day capital of
Yucatan state, was founded on the ruins of
Ti'Ho
T'ho () is a Mayan settlement located in the northwest of the Yucatán Peninsula, commonly indicated also with the alternative name of T'hó (in short), Ichcansiho, Ichkanzihóo or Ichcaanzihó.
Mérida, the capital of the Mexican state of Y ...
, a Mayan city that was virtually abandoned and had no recognizable leadership in the mid-16th century.
Images
Vestigios mayas de la Colonia Francisco Villa Oriente, Kanasín, Yucatán (04).JPG, Mayan Ruins in Kanasín
Kanasín, Yucatán (09).jpg, Monument to Nachi Cocom in the Parque principal in Kanasín
Acanceh1.jpg, Temple pyramid in Acanceh (Mayan site)
Caucel, Yucatán (06).jpg, Maya-ruins of Caucel
Mérida Prehisp.png, Schematic localization of the pre-Hispanic buildings in Mérida
Vestigios mayas en la UADY, Mérida, Yucatán (01).jpg, Mayan stucco in Spanish architecture in Mérida
References
Mayan chiefdoms of the Yucatán Peninsula
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