Ucha'an K'in B'alam

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Ucha'an K'in B'alam
King of Dos Pilas

DospilasSt5.jpg

Stela 5 of Dos Pilas is Ucha'an K'in B'alam's monument.
Reign 727-741
Predecessor Itzamnaaj K'awiil
Successor K'awiil Chan K'inich
Died May 28, 741
Spouse Queen GI-K'awiil of Cancuén
Religion Maya religion

Ucha'an K'in B'alam[ pronunciation? ] (died on May 28, 741) was the fourth Mayan king of Dos Pilas. He is also known as the Ruler 3, Master of Sun Jaguar, Scroll-head God K, Spangle-head and Jewelled-head. His title was "He of Five Captives".

Maya civilization Mesoamerican civilization

The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya peoples, and noted for its logosyllabic script—the most sophisticated and highly developed writing system in pre-Columbian Americas—as well as for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system. The Maya civilization developed in an area that encompasses southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. This region consists of the northern lowlands encompassing the Yucatán Peninsula, and the highlands of the Sierra Madre, running from the Mexican state of Chiapas, across southern Guatemala and onwards into El Salvador, and the southern lowlands of the Pacific littoral plain.

King class of male monarch

King, or king regnant is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, while the title of queen on its own usually refers to the consort of a king.

Contents

He reigned from 727 to 741. [1]

Biography

His parents are not known. He was a successor of the king Itzamnaaj K'awiil.

The fact that Ucha'an K'in B'alam followed Itzamnaaj K'awiil on the throne even though the latter probably had a son, can be explained in this way: the royal prince was too young to assume the rulership on his own, so there was a need for his regent. [1]

One depiction shows us Ucha'an K'in B'alam presiding over a ritual featuring a young boy, presumably the prince and his successor K'awiil Chan K'inich.

Ucha'an K'in B'alam is famous for capturing Yich'aak B'alam, king of Seibal.

Seibal Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization

Seibal, known as El Ceibal in Spanish, is a Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala, about 100 km SW of Tikal. It was the largest city in the Pasión River region.

He erected victory monuments at both Dos Pilas and Aguateca. [1]

Aguateca archaeological site

Aguateca is a Maya site located in northern Guatemala's Petexbatun Basin, in the department of Petén. The first settlements at Aguateca date to the Late Preclassic period. The center was occupied from about 200 B.C. until about 800 A.D., when the city was attacked and ransacked. Because the city was rapidly abandoned by its population, Pompeii-style assemblages were left scattered on the floors of elite residences. Horizontal excavation of these residences has revealed ancient elite activity and household level craft production areas. Aguateca sits on top of a 90 metres (300 ft) tall limestone bluff, creating a highly defensible position. This steep escarpment overlooks Petexbatun Lagoon in the Southwestern Guatemalan lowlands and is accessible by boat. There is an extensive system of defensive walls that surrounds the city, reaching over 3 miles (4.8 km) in length. Its center consisted on the Palace Group, which was probably a royal residential compound, and the Main Plaza. These monumental complexes were connected by a causeway, along which was a densely occupied elite residential area. During the reign of Tan Te' K'inich the city was invaded and burned. The city was completely abandoned around 830 AD. A 6-metre (20 ft) tall temple at the site was left unfinished, the centre of the city was destroyed by fire, valuables were left scattered in elite residences, and ceramics were left in their original domestic positions, all of which demonstrate the sudden abandonment of the city. The ruins of Aguateca are considered to be among the best preserved in Guatemala.

He died on May 28, 741.

Marriage

Ucha'an K'in B'alam married GI-K'awiil, Lady of Cancuén. It seems that they had no children. [2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Dos Pilas Ruler 3 at Mesoweb.
  2. Martin & Grube 2000, p. 61

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References

Martin, Simon; Nikolai Grube (2000). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. London and New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN   0-500-05103-8. OCLC   47358325.