The

Tikal–Calakmul wars The Tikal–Calakmul wars were a series of wars, mainly between Tikal and Calakmul on the Yucatán Peninsula, but also with vassal states in the Petén Basin such as Copan, Dos Pilas, Naranjo, Sacul, Quiriguá, and briefly Yaxchilan had a role ...

were a series of wars between Tikal and Calakmul. The First Tikal–Calakmul War was the first of these wars. During this and following conflicts in Petén

vassal states A vassal state is any state that has a mutual obligation to a superior state or empire, in a status similar to that of a vassal in the feudal system in medieval Europe. Vassal states were common among the empires of the Near East, dating back to ...

Naranjo Naranjo is a Pre-Columbian Maya city in the Petén Basin region of Guatemala. It was occupied from about 500 BC to 950 AD, with its height in the Late Classic Period. The site is part of Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The city lies along the ...

and

Dos Pilas Dos Pilas is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization located in what is now the department of Petén, Guatemala. It dates to the Late Classic Period, and was founded by an offshoot of the dynasty of the great city of Tikal in AD ...

were often used. Though

Yaxchilan Yaxchilan () is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. In the Late Classic Period Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta River, with Pie ...

was in the war it only had a minor presence at the beginning.

Yaxchilan and Calakmul

In 537 the Ajaws of

Bonampak Bonampak (known anciently as ''Ak'e'' or, in its immediate area as ''Usiij Witz'', 'Vulture Hill') is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The site is approximately south of the larger site of the people Yaxchilan ...

, Lakamtuun, and

Calakmul Calakmul (; also Kalakmul and other less frequent variants) is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul was one of the larg ...

(Calakmul) were captured by Yaxchilan. Bonampak and Lakamtuun remained under the control of Yaxchilan but in retaliation Calakmul conquered the latter. This gave the polity a strategic position with territory in both the east and the west of

Tikal Tikal () (''Tik’al'' in modern Mayan orthography) is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Co ...

. Calakmul was the largest Classic Maya city ever, containing around 6,500 buildings in the initial 30 square kilometre area. The population density in the urban core may have been 1,000/km². Greater Calakmul, consisting of around 122 km2, probably had a density of around 420/km2. Together this would count for a total urban population of 50,000 inhabitants. Twenty secondary sites were found within the Calakmul kingdom, raising the population to around 200,000. There appear to have been smaller third- and fourth-level sites. When all populations are summed up, the total population of the Calakmul Kingdom may have been between 1.5 and 1.75 million people. This appears to be a larger population than the kingdom of Tikal.

All-out war

By 546 (9.5.11.11.18 on the Maya calendar)

had been conquered by Calakmul; during this time Aj Wosal was appointed ruler of Naranjo. In 561 (9.6.6.15.17) the ruler known as

Sky Witness Sky Witness is a British pay television channel owned and operated by Sky, a division of Comcast. The channel primarily broadcasts drama shows from the United States, aimed at the 18–45 age group. An Italian version of Sky Witness, named S ...

was crowned at Los Alcranes. His reign began the Kaan dynasty in Calakmul. Sky Witness played a major role in the politics of the Maya. He forged an alliance with

Caracol Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District, of Belize. It is situated approximately south of Xunantunich, and the town of San Ignacio, and from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau, ...

, which had previously been a major ally of Tikal. In 562 (9.6.7.16.2) Wak Chan K’awiil, Ajaw of Tikal, was captured and sacrificed by soldiers from Caracol during a raid directly into the city of Tikal. His death ended the reign of his dynasty in Tikal. In 564 (9.6.9.16.12) troops from Tikal had a victory in Caracol, but it was short lived. Calakmul Wall Painting

In 572 (9.6.18.0.14) the year Sky Witness died Tikal was defeated.

Aftermath

The political and economic implications of defeat by Calakmul had a major impact on Tikal. South of Tikal city but still in the kingdom was Mutul, Mutul actually prospered slightly from the war. Tikal remained one of the most powerful cities in Peten, even in the world, but having lost much of its importance power partially transferred to Mutul. In 695 (9.13.2.14.19) 123 years later Tikal would turn the tables in Calakmul.Sharer & Traxler 2006, p.496.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Tikal-Calakmul War 6th-century conflicts Tikal-Calakmul Wars 6th century in the Maya civilization