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Maya monarchs
Centers of power for the Maya civilization From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2016) |
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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 Palenque.
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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.
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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]
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Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Classic Period
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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.
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[3]
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 (/k’uːˈχuːl kän äχäˈwoɓ/) ("Divine Lords of the Snake Kingdom").[6] 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[33]
- 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:[36] 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[61])
- 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[62]
- 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 
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.[75]
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:[102] Kʼinich Lakamtuun
Yoʼokop
- c.570: Na Chaʼak Kab, a Kaloomte that may have ruled under the overlord Sky Witness from Calakmul or Dzoyola.
Yootz
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
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Known rulers of Mayan city-states in the Post-Classic Period
Summarize
Perspective
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.
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
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See also
References
Further reading
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