Knot Ajaw

Knot Ajaw was a king of the Maya city-state Caracol in Belize, a successor of his father Yajaw Te' K'inich II. He reigned AD 599-613>.

Knot Ajaw/Knot Ahaw
Ajaw
King of Caracol
Reign	24 June 599 - 613
Predecessor	Yajaw Te' K'inich II
Successor	K'an II
Born	28 November 575 Caracol
Died	613(613-00-00) (aged 37–38) Caracol
Father	King Yajaw Te' K'inich II
Mother	Lady 1 of Caracol
Religion	Maya religion

Name

Ajaw (Ahaw) means "king" or "ruler" in Mayan. This king is also known as Ruler IV, Ahaw Serpent and Flaming Ahaw.

Biography

Birth and family

Knot Ajaw (also known as "Saak Ti' Huun") was the eldest son of the king Yajaw Te' K'inich II. His mother was Lady 1 of Caracol. His stepmother was Lady Batz' Ek' and his half-brother was K'an II. Grandparents of Knot Ajaw were K'an I and Lady K'al K'inich (named after the Sun god).^[1]

He was born on November 28, 575.

Reign

He acceded on June 24, 599. He may have co-ruled during the last years of his father.^[2]

Stela 6 accords a full emblem glyph to a lord named Chekaj K'inich, who is referred to as a "younger brother", presumably of Yajaw Te' K'inich; this suggests that he may have acted as a sort of "guardian uncle" to Knot Ajaw.

His successor was his younger brother.