Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I (Mayan pronunciation: [kʼihniʧ xanaːɓ pakal], also known as Pacal, Pacal the Great, 8 Ahau and Sun Shield, was ajaw of the Maya city-state of Palenque in the Late Classic period of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican chronology. He acceded to the throne in July 615 and ruled until his death. During a reign of 68 years, the longest known regnal period in the history of the Americas, the 30th longest worldwide and longest until Frederick III in the 15th century, Pakal was responsible for the construction or extension of some of Palenque's most notable surviving inscriptions and monumental architecture.
Kʼinich Kan Bahlam II, also known as Chan Bahlum II, was ajaw of the Maya city-state of Palenque. He acceded to the throne in January, 684, several months after the death of his father and predecessor, Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I and ruled until his death.
Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Nahb III also known as Chaacal III and Akul Anab III,, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Palenque. He took the throne on 30 December 721, reigning until c.736.
Kʼinich Kʼan Joy Chitam II, also known as Kan Xul II and Kʼan Hokʼ Chitam II, October 31, 644 – c.721, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Palenque. He took the throne on May 28, 702 (9.13.10.6.8), reigning until c.721. He succeeded his elder brother Kʼinich Kan Bahlam II. Their father was Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I, who had ruled for 68 years, and their mother was Lady Tzʼakbu Ajaw. His possible brother could be Tiwol Chan Mat. Kʼinich Kʼan Joy Chitam apparently reigned for about nine years. He was captured by the Toniná in 711 and was possibly executed by their leader, Kʼinich Baaknal Chaak or was later restored to his kingship. He was succeeded in late 721 by Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Nahb III.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk I, also known as Ruler 2, was an ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from AD 639-686. The son of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I took the throne when he was only 12 years old. His reign was marked by several wars, and he seems to have had a special connection with Calakmul. Itzam Kʼan Ahk I died just a few days before the marriage of his son, who succeeded him as ajaw of Piedras Negras and took on the name Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II. Itzam Kʼan Ahk I left behind several monuments, including eight stelae stelae, three panels, a throne, and a short stela-like column; this made him the most active of Piedras Negras's leaders in regards to erecting monuments.
Chak Tok Ichʼaak I also known as Great Paw, Great Jaguar Paw, and Toh Chak Ichʼak was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He took the throne on August 7, 360? and reigned until his death in 378, apparently at the hands of invaders from central Mexico.
During the 7th and 8th centuries in Mesoamerica, there was an evident shift in the roles women played in ancient Maya society as compared with the previous two centuries. It was during this time that there was a great deal of political complexity seen both in Maya royal houses as well as in the Maya area. Warfare was a significant factor in political competition and marriage was one of the ways that alliances were made between the different polities. This was accompanied by a shift in women's roles from wife and mother to playing integral parts in courtly life, such as participating in rituals involving the supernatural world and at times ruling individual polities.
Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil II, also known as Storm Sky and Manikin Cleft Sky, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He took the throne on November 26, 411 and reigned until his death. He was a son of his predecessor Yax Nuun Ahiin I and Lady Kʼinich, and a grandson of Spearthrower Owl. Stela 31, erected during his reign, describes the death of his grandfather in 439; other monuments associated with Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil II are Stelae 1 and possibly Stelae 28. Tikal Temple 33 was Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil II's funerary pyramid and his tomb was located beneath it.
Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I, also known as Ruler 1, was an ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 603–639 AD. It has been proposed that he began a new dynasty at Piedras Negras, following years of ineffective kings. As to how Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I came to power, a consensus has not yet been reached, although it is known that he waged several successful wars against Palenque and Sak Tzʼiʼ. He was succeeded by his son, Itzam Kʼan Ahk I, in 639 AD and left behind several monuments, including stelae at Piedras Negras and a large mortuary temple now known as Pyramid R-5.
Itzam Kʼan Ahk II, also known as Ruler 4, was an ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 729–757 AD. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II ascended to the throne following the death of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II may have fathered the following three kings of Piedras Negras: Yoʼnal Ahk III, Haʼ Kʼin Xook, and Kʼinich Yat Ahk II. Following Itzam Kʼan Ahk II's demise, he was succeeded by Yoʼnal Ahk III in 757 AD. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II left behind several monuments, including stelae at Piedras Negras and a large mortuary temple now known as Pyramid O-13. In addition, the details of his life and his Kʼatun-jubilee were commemorated on Panel 3, raised by Kʼinich Yat Ahk II several years following Itzam Kʼan Ahk II's death.
Yajaw Teʼ Kʼinich II was a king of the Mayan state Caracol in Belize. He was also known as Ruler III, Lord Water and Lord Muluc and reigned AD 553-593>.
Kʼinich Yat Ahk II, also known as Ruler 7, was the last ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 781 to roughly 808 AD. Possibly a descendant of Itzam Kʼan Ahk II, Kʼinich Yat Ahk II ascended the throne upon the death of his brother, the sixth ajaw of the site, Haʼ Kʼin Xook. While Kʼinich Yat Ahk II presided over the destruction of the rival Maya site Pomona, his reign likely ended with Kʼinich Tatbu Skull IV of Yaxchilan capturing and subjugating Piedras Negras. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II left behind several monuments, including stelae at Piedras Negras, a stone seat known as Throne 1 which records either the death or abdication of Haʼ Kʼin Xook, and Panel 3 which recounts the exploits of Itzam Kʼan Ahk II.
Kʼinich Kʼukʼ Bahlam II, also known as Bahlum Kʼukʼ II and Mahkʼina Kuk,, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Palenque. He acceded to the throne on March 4, 764 and ruled until c. 783. He was a son of Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Nahb III and Lady Men Nik. Knowledge of him is limited to a few broken monuments: the Tablet of the 96 glyphs, the Creation Tablet, the House B Mural? and Bodega no. 218.
Kʼinich Kan Bahlam III,, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Palenque. He ruled c.751. Ruler is not mentioned in any monument at Palenque but only one text at Pomona, that suggest his reign was short or troubled.
Kʼinich Janaab Pakal II, also known as Upakal Kʼinich,, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Palenque. He ruled c.742 and he was probably brother of Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Nahb III. There are only few details about his reign like Bodega no. 1144 and portraits on a stucco-covered pier from Temple 19, only date from his reign is from 742, when he installed lord into important office.
Wak Chan Kʼawiil, also known as Double Bird, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He took the throne on December 27, 537(?) and reigning probably until his death. He was son of Chak Tok Ichʼaak II and Lady Hand. He sponsored accession of Yajaw Teʼ Kʼinich II, ruler of Caracol in 553. The monument associated with Wak Chan Kʼawiil is Stelae 17.
23rd Ruler was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He ruled in around the year 635. Information about this ajaw and his successor 24th Ruler are scarce. K'inich Muwaan Jol II is estimated to have been 23rd or 24th Ruler because he could have been the father of the 25th ajaw Nuun Ujol Chaak.
24th Ruler was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He ruled in around the year 645. Information about this ajaw and his predecessor 23rd Ruler are scarce. K'inich Muwaan Jol II is estimated to be the best candidate for the 23rd or 24th Ruler as might have been the father of 25th ajaw Nuun Ujol Chaak.
Nuun Ujol Chaak also known as Shield Skull and Nun Bak Chak was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He took the throne before 657 and reigning probably until his death.
Nuun Ujol Kʼinich, was an ajaw of the Maya city of Tikal. He ruled sometime between 794 and 810 and he was probably father of Dark Sun.
