Chakan (Maya province) explained

Native Name:Chakan
Common Name:Chakan
Era:Post classic and Early modern
Government Type:Kuchkabal
Year Start:1461
Event End:Spanish conquest of Yucatán
Year End:1547
P1:League of Mayapan
Flag P1:Mayapan 1200.jpg
S1:New Spain
Flag S1:Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg
Image Map Alt:300x300px
Image Map Caption:Maya chiefdoms or kuchkabalob of Yucatán in the 16th century according to Ralph L. Roys.[1]
Capital:Ti’ho
Common Languages:Official language:
Yucatec
Religion:Maya religion
Currency:Cocoa bean
Demonym:Chakan
Today:Yucatán, Mexico

Chakán (myn|Chakán, ‘1) oregano of this land; 2) macaw tail feathers.’)[2] 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.[3]

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. Caucel's batab, named Ah Kin Euán, was so open to the Spanish from the outset of the conquest that he converted to Catholicism and changed his name to Francisco Euán, maintaining his position as batab for much longer.

Mérida, the present day capital of Yucatan state, was founded on the ruins of Ti'Ho, 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 KanasínKanasín, Yucatán (09).jpg|Monument to Nachi Cocom in the Parque principal in KanasínAcanceh1.jpg|Temple pyramid in Acanceh (Mayan site)Caucel, Yucatán (06).jpg|Maya-ruins of CaucelMérida Prehisp.png|Schematic localization of the pre-Hispanic buildings in MéridaVestigios mayas en la UADY, Mérida, Yucatán (01).jpg|Mayan stucco in Spanish architecture in Mérida

Notes and References

  1. Book: Roys, Ralph L. (Ralph Loveland), 1879-1965.. The political geography of the Yucatan Maya. 1957. Carnegie Institution of Washington. 239893707.
  2. Book: Barrera Vásquez, Alfredo. Diccionario Maya Cordemex: Maya - Español, Español - Maya. Ediciones Cordemex. 1980. Mérida, Yucatán, México.
  3. Book: Yucatán en el tiempo : enciclopedia alfabética.. 1998. Inversiones Cares. Duch, Juan.. 970-9071-00-9. 1.. Mérida, Yucatán, México. 41674194.