Maya Rulers

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. 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.

Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Classic Period

Aguas Calientes

* c.790: Chak Lakamtuun

Aguateca

* ?_770: Uchaʼan Kʼan Bʼalam – father of Tan Te' Kinich, ruled in the 8th century AD.
* 770_c.802: Tan Teʼ Kʼinich – son of Uchaʼan Kʼan Bʼalam

Altun Ha

* 4 December 584ʼ?: Til Man K'inich

La Amelia

Bonampak

Calakmul

The kings of Calakmul-Dzibanche were known as ''k'uhul kaan ajawob'' () ("Divine Lords of the Snake Kingdom").Braswell et al. 2005, p.162. This list is not continuous, as the archaeological record is incomplete. All dates AD.

Cancuén

Caracol

El Cayo

* Aj Chak Wayab' K'utim
* Chan Panak' Wayib
* Aj Chak Suutz' K'utiim

Chinikiha

* K’inich B’ah Tok'
* Aj Tok' Ti'

Cobá

Comalcalco

* ?-649: Ox Balam

Copán

(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.)

La Corona

* c.520-544: Chak Took Ichʼaak
* c.658: Chak Naahb Kaan
* 667-679: Kʼinich Yook
* ?: Chak Ak'aach Took
* c.721: Yajaw Teʼ Kʼinich

Dos Pilas

Dzibilchaltun

* c.800: Ukuw Chan Chaak

Ekʼ Balam

* Ukit Kan Leʼk Tokʼ (770-840)
* K'an B'ohb' Tok'
* Ukit Jol' Ahkul
* K'ihnich Junpik' Tok' Ku'uh Nal

Edzná

* Unen-Kʼawiil (c. 620-638)
* Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil (c. 636–649)
* Kal-Chan-Chaak (649-662)
* Bʼaah Pahk (662-672), wife of the former
* Janaab Yook Kʼinich (672–692)
* Hul Janaab Chanek (692-c. 710)
* Chan Chawaj (c.711-731)
* Aj-Koht-Chowa-Nahkaan (c. 805–850)
* Pdrich (850-860s)
* Ajan (c.869)

La Florida

* ?: Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil
* ?: Aj Pat Chan
* ?: Chakaj Chaak
* c.677: Bahlam Kʼawiil
* c.681: Kʼahk Tiʼ Kuy
* ?: Uh Tiʼ Kuy
* c.700: Tahn Tuun Chaak
* c.731: Lady Chaak
* 731-766: Kʼahk Chan Yopaat
* c.790: A king, depicted in Stela 1

Holmul

(Note: No known dates)

* ?: Och Chan Yopaat
* ?: Sakhb Chan Yopaat Makcha
* ?: K’inich Tacal Tun
* ?: Vilaan Chak Tok Vakhab

Ixkun

Ixtutz

* c.780:Zender, p.4. Aj Yaxjal B’aak

Lacanha

* Aj Popol Chay

Machaquila

La Mar

* 781-?: Parrot Chaak

Moral Reforma

* 662-after 690: Muwaan Jol, ascended under king Yuknoom of Calakmul; however, in 690, ascended once again under the king of Palenque.

Motul de San José

* 701-c.710: Yichte Kʼinich I
* c.700–725: Sak Muwaan
* c.725–735: Tayel Chan Kʼinich
* ?: Sihyaj Kʼawiil
* c.742–755: Yajaw Teʼ Kʼinich (son of Sak Muwaan)
* c.755–779: Lamaw Ekʼ

Naranjo

Palenque

Mythological and legendary rulers

* ?-Muwaan Mat c.2325 BC
* Ukʼix Chan c.987 BC
* Casper c.252 BC

Historical rulers

El Palma

El Perú

Piedras Negras

Pomona

* Muyal Hix Chaahk

Pusilha

* c.569–595: K’awiil Chan K’inich (this first ruler and dynasty probably descended from the first dynasty of Naranjo)
* c.595–650: K’ahk U’ Ti’ Chan
* c.650–670: Muyal Naah K’ukhul K’ahk’ U’
* c.670–680: '' Ruler D''
* c.680–710: '' Ruler E''
* c.710–731: Lady Ich’aak K’inich
* c.731–750: K’ahk Chan (began a new line of rulers)
* c.750–768: K’ahk Kalav
* c.768-c.800?: K’awiil Chan

Quiriguá

Río Azul

* '' Ruler X'', not yet satisfactorily deciphered.

Sacul

* c.760–790:Laporte et al 2006, p.222. Ch'iyel

Sak Tz'i

Seibal

Tamarindito

Teotihuacan

* c.378: Spearthrower Owl, ruled when his son took over Tikal.

Tikal

The dynastic line of Tikal, founded as early as the 1st century AD, spanned 800 years and included at least 33 rulers.

Toniná

Ucanal

* Itzamnaaj Bahlam, ruled at least between 698 and 702.

Xultun

* Yax Weʼnel Chan Kʼinich, depicted in a mural of a Late Classic room, 10K2

Yaxchilan

Yaxha

* c.799:Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 688. Kʼinich Lakamtuun

Yoʼokop

* c.570: Na Chaʼak Kab, a ''Kaloomte'' that may have ruled under the overlord Sky Witness from Calakmul or Dzoyola.

Yootz

* 14 January 713–730: Yajawte K’inich
* c.730-750: K’ahk’ Yohl K’inich
* c.750-760: Taxin Chan

El Zapote

* c.404?: K’ahk Bahlam
* c.439: Chan K’awiil

Zapote Bobal

* ?: Yukul K’awiil
* ?: Ti’ K’awiil
* ?-559: Chan Ahk
* c.660: Janaab Ti’O
* ?-23 IV 663: Itzamnaaj Ahk

Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Post-Classic Period

Chichen Itzá

* c.869–890: K’ak’upakal K’awiil, possibly ruler or a high-ranked official
* c.930–950: Ak-Holtun-Bahlam I
* ?-1047: Ak-Holtun-Bahlam II
* 1047-?: Poshek Ix Soi
* c.1194: Canek

Cocom dynasty

* Hunac Ceel, general who conquered the city in the 12th–13th century, and founded a new ruling family.

Iximche

Izamal

* c.1000?: Ah Ulil

Mixco Viejo

Q'umarkaj

* c.1225–1250: Bahlam Kitze
* c.1250–1275: Kʼokʼoja
* c.1275–1300: E Tzʼikin
* c.1300–1325: Ajkan
* c.1325–1350: Kʼokaibʼ
* c.1350–1375: Kʼonache
* c.1375–1400: Kʼotuja
* c.1400–1435: Quqʼkumatz
* c.1435–1475: Kʼiqʼabʼ
* c.1475–1500: Vahxakʼ i-Kaam
* c.1500–1524: Oxib Keh

Uxmal

This city is here included because, despite being founded in the Classic period, it attained the peak of its influence in the Post Classic.

Tutul Xiu dynasty

* c.500: Hun Uitzil Chac, founded the kingdom in year 500.
* ?: Ah Suytok
* c.890–910: K’ahk Pulaj Chan Chaak
* 987–1007: Ak Mekat
* 1441–1461: Ah Xiu Xupan

See also

* List of kings of Copán
* List of kings of Dos Pilas
* List of lords of Tikal
* List of kings of Yaxchilan
* Maya stelae

References

Further reading

*
*
* 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.

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