List of lords of Tikal explained
| Royal Title: | Ajaw |
| Realm: | Tikal |
| Coatofarms: | ROGMXQ01.svg |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Emblem glyph of Tikal |
| First Monarch: | Yax Ehb Xook |
| Residence: | Tikal |
This is a list of rulers of Tikal, a major city-state of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic period. Tikal is known to have had at least 33 rulers from the 1st through 9th centuries AD. Twenty-seven of these have been identified, as of 2008.
Background
The monarchy of Tikal is the oldest yet known in the Maya Lowlands, having been founded at the turn of the 1st century AD. The dynasty is last attested in the late 9th century, after a span of some 800 years and 33 rulers. Thorough excavations, first begun by the University of Pennsylvania, and later by the Guatemalan Institute of Archaeology, have uncovered troves of epigraphic data which Mayanists have employed to reconstruct Tikal's dynastic lineage. As of 2008, 27 rulers have been identified, including at least one woman.
List
The following is an annotated, chronological list of lords of Tikal. A tabular list is provided in the following section.
Late Preclassic
- Yax Ehb Xook – r. c. AD 60 or c. AD 90; dynastic founder.
- Siyaj Chan Kʼawil Chak Ichʼaak ("Stormy Sky I") – r. c. 2nd century.
- Yax Ch’aktel Xok – r. c. 200.
Early Classic
- Balam Ajaw ("Decorated Jaguar") – r. 292.
- Kʼinich Ehbʼ – r. c. 300.
- Siyaj Chan Kʼawiil I - r. c. 307.
- Unen Bahlam ("Queen Jaguar") – r. 317.
- "Leyden Plate Ruler" – r. 320.
- Kʼinich Muwaan Jol – r. c. 359.
- Chak Tok Ichʼaak I ("Jaguar Paw I") – r. c. 360–378; died on the same day that Siyaj Kʼakʼ arrived in Tikal.
- Yax Nuun Ahiin I – r. 379–404; son of a foreign noble.
- Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil II ("Stormy Sky II") – r. 411–456; son of Yax Nuun Ayiin I.
- Kʼan Chitam ("Kan Boar") – r. 458–486.
- Maʼkin-na Chan – r. c. late 5th century.
- Chak Tok Ichʼaak II ("Jaguar Paw Skull") – r. 486–508; married "Lady Hand."
- Ix Kaloʼmteʼ Ix Yo Kʼin ("Lady of Tikal") – r. 511–527; co-ruled with Kaloomteʼ Bʼalam, possibly as consort.
- Kaloomteʼ Bʼalam ("Curl-Head," "19th Lord") – r. 511–527; co-ruled with Ix Kaloʼmteʼ Ix Yo Kʼin as regent.
- "Bird Claw" ("Animal Skull I," "Ete I") – r. c. 527–537.
- Wak Chan Kʼawiil ("Double-Bird") – r. 537–562; captured and possibly sacrificed in Caracol.
- "Lizard Head II" – r. unknown; lost a battle to Caracol in 562.
Late Classic
- Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I ("Ruler A," "Ah Cacao") – r. 682–734; entombed in Temple I; married Lady Lahan Unen Moʼ; won a battle against Calakmul in 711.
- Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil ("Ruler B") – r. 734–766; tomb unknown.
- "Temple VI Ruler" – r. 766–768.
- Yax Nuun Ayiin II ("Chitam") – r. 768–790.
- Chitam II ("Dark Sun") – r. c. 810; buried in Temple III.
- "Jewel Kʼawil" – r. 849.
- Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II – r. 869–889
Table
See also
- Maya monarchs, listing known rulers of various Classic and Postclassic Maya states
- Lists of ancient kings, listing lists of known rulers of various ancient Old and New World states
Notes and references
Full citations
- Web site: FAMSI . 2012 . First published ca 2004 by FAMSI . Revised by Inga E Calvin . Guide . Maya Royal Dynasties . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230618223818/http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/calvin/royal_dynasties.pdf . 18 June 2023 . FAMSI . Los Angeles County Museum of Art . Los Angeles, California.
- Book: Martin S, Grube N . 2008 . Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya . London . Thames & Hudson . 978-0-500-28726-2 . 2008396649 . First published 2000 by Thames & Hudson . 2nd.
- Book: Sharer RJ, Traxler LP . 2006 . First published 1946 by SUP . 6th . The Ancient Maya . Stanford, California . Stanford University Press . 0-8047-4816-0 . 2005003043.
