List of lords of Tikal

Ajaw of Tikal
Ajaw of Tikal
	Emblem glyph of Tikal
	Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II on frontispiece of Stela 31 of Tikal / 2010 photograph by HJPD / via Commons
Details
Style	ajaw; k'uhul ajaw; kaloomte' ; ochk'in kaloomte' ;
First monarch	Yax Ehb Xook
Last monarch	Jasaw Chan K'awiil II / last known
Formation	c. AD 90
Abolition	c. 869
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.^{[n 1]}

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.^[1] The dynasty is last attested in the late 9th century, after a span of some 800 years and at least 33 rulers.^[2] 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.^[2] As of 2008, 27 rulers have been identified, including at least one woman.

List

The following is an annotated, chronological list of known lords of Tikal. A tabular list is provided in the following section.^{[n 2]}

Late Preclassic

Yax Ehb' Xok – r. c. AD 60 or c. AD 90; dynastic founder.
Siyaj Chan K'awil Chak Ich'aak ("Stormy Sky I") – r. c. 2nd century.
Yax Ch’aktel Xok – r. c. 200.

Early Classic

Balam Ajaw ("Decorated Jaguar") – r. 292.
K'inich Ehb' – r. c. 300.
Siyaj Chan K'awiil I - r. c. 307.
Unen Bahlam ("Queen Jaguar") – r. 317.
"Leyden Plate Ruler" – r. 320.
K'inich Muwaan Jol – r. c. 359.
Chak Tok Ich'aak I ("Jaguar Paw I") – r. c. 360–378; died on the same day that Siyah K'ak' arrived in Tikal.
Yax Nuun Ayiin I – r. 379–404; son of a foreign noble.
Siyaj Chan K'awiil II ("Stormy Sky II") – r. 411–456; son of Yax Nuun Ayiin I.
K'an Chitam ("Kan Boar") – r. 458–486.
Ma'kin-na Chan – r. c. late 5th century.
Chak Tok Ich'aak II ("Jaguar Paw Skull") – r. 486–508; married "Lady Hand."
Ix Kalo'mte' Ix Yo K'in ("Lady of Tikal") – r. 511–527; co-ruled with Kaloomte' B'alam, possibly as consort.
Kaloomte' B'alam ("Curl-Head," "19th Lord") – r. 511–527; co-ruled with Ix Kalo'mte' Ix Yo K'in as regent.
"Bird Claw" ("Animal Skull I," "Ete I") – r. c. 527–537.
Wak Chan K'awiil ("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 K'awiil I ("Ruler A," "Ah Cacao") – r. 682–734; entombed in Temple I; married Lady Twelve Macaw; won a battle against Calakmul in 711.
Yik'in Chan K'awiil ("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 K'awil" – r. 849.
Jasaw Chan K'awiil II – r. 869–889

Table

List of *known* sovereigns of Tikal.^[3]
Name	a.k.a.	No.	From	To	Note
Yax Ehb Xook	Yax Moch Xok Yax Chakte'l Xok	1st	c. 90	c. 110	Founder
?	Foliated Jaguar Scroll Ahau Jaguar	?	?	?	–
?	Animal Headdress	?	c. 280	c. 300	–
Sihyaj Chan K'awiil I	–	11th	c. 307	c. 310	Son of Animal Headdress
Unen Bahlam	–	?	c. 317	c. 320	–
K'inich Muwaan Jol	Mahk'ina Bird Skull Feather Skull	13th	c. 330	359	Death 23 May 359, possibly
Chak Tok Ich'aak I	Jaguar Paw Great Paw Great Jaguar Paw Jaguar Paw III Toh Chak Ich'ak	14th	360	378	Son of K'inich Muwaan Jol Accession 7 Aug. 360, possibly Death 15 Jan. 378
Yax Nuun Ahiin I	Curl Snout Curl Nose	?	379	c. 404	Son of Spearthrower Owl Accession 12 Sep. 379 Death 17 Jun. 404, possibly
Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II	Stormy Sky Manikin Cleft Sky	16th	411	456	Son of Yax Nuun Ahiin I Accession 26 Nov. 411 Death 3 Feb. 456
K'an Chitam	Kan Boar K'an Ak	?	458	c. 486	Son of Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II Birth 26 Nov. 415, possibly Accession 8 Aug. 458
Chak Tok Ich'aak II	Jaguar Paw Skull Jaguar Paw II	?	c. 486	508	Son of K'an Chitam Death 24 Jul. 508
?	Lady of Tikal Woman of Tikal	?	511	c. 527	Daughter of Chak Tok Ich'aak II, possibly Birth 1 Sep. 504 Accession 19 Apr. 511
Kaloomte' Bahlam	Curl Head	19th	c. 511	c. 527	–
?	Twentieth Ruler	20th	?	?	a.k.a. Bird Claw or Animal Skull I or Ete I, possibly
Wak Chan K'awiil	Double Bird	21st	537	562	Son of Chak Tok Ich'aak II Accession 29 Dec. 537, possibly
?	Animal Skull	22nd	c. 590	c. 620	Son of Fire Cross
?	Twenty-third Ruler	23rd	?	?	–
?	Twenty-fourth Ruler	24th	?	?	–
Nuun Ujol Chaak	Shield Skull Nun Bak Chak	?	c. 655	c. 680	Son of K'inich Muwaan Jol II, possibly
Jasaw Chan K'awiil I	Ruler A Ah Cacao Sky Rain	?	682	734	Son of Nuun Ujol Chaak Accession 3 May 683
Yik'in Chan K'awiil	Ruler B Yaxkin Caan Chac Sun Sky Rain	27th	734	c. 746	Son of Jasaw Chan K'awiil I Accession 8 Dec. 734
?	Twenty-eighth Ruler	28th	c. 766	768	Son of Yik'in Chan K'awiil
Yax Nuun Ahiin II	Ruler C Chitam	29th	768	c. 794	Son of Yik'in Chan K'awiil Accession 25 Dec. 768
Nuun Ujol K'inich	–	?	c. 800	c. 800	–
?	Dark Sun	?	c. 810	c. 810	–
Jewel K'awiil	–	?	c. 849	c. 849	Son of Nuun Ujol K'inich, possibly
Jasaw Chan K'awiil II	Stela 11 Ruler	?	c. 869	c. 869	–

Notes and references

Explanatory footnotes

^ Dates sourced from Martin & Grube 2008 are in the Julian calendar, converted from the Maya Long Count via the GMT+2 correlation (Martin & Grube 2008, p. 13).
^ English language names are provisional nicknames based on rulers' identifying glyphs, where their Maya language names have not yet been definitively deciphered phonetically.

Short citations

^ Martin & Grube 2008, pp. 17, 25–26.
^ ^a ^b Martin & Grube 2008, p. 25.
^ Martin & Grube 2008, pp. 24–53.

Full citations

FAMSI (2012) [First published ca 2004 by FAMSI]. "Maya Royal Dynasties" (PDF). FAMSI (Guide) (Revised by Inga E Calvin ed.). Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2023.
Martin S, Grube N (2008) [First published 2000 by Thames & Hudson]. Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya (2nd ed.). London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-28726-2. LCCN 2008396649.
Sharer RJ, Traxler LP (2006) [First published 1946 by SUP]. The Ancient Maya (6th ed.). Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4816-0. LCCN 2005003043.

External links

[1] Dates sourced from Martin & Grube 2008 are in the Julian calendar, converted from the Maya Long Count via the GMT+2 correlation (Martin & Grube 2008, p. 13).

[4] English language names are provisional nicknames based on rulers' identifying glyphs, where their Maya language names have not yet been definitively deciphered phonetically.

[FOOTNOTEMartinGrube200817,_25–26-2] Martin & Grube 2008, pp. 17, 25–26.

[FOOTNOTEMartinGrube200825-3] Martin & Grube 2008, p. 25.

[FOOTNOTEMartinGrube200824–53-5] Martin & Grube 2008, pp. 24–53.

[n 1]

[1]

[2]

[n 2]

[3]

v t e Tikal
Rulers	Yax Ehb Xook Foliated Jaguar Animal Headdress Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil I Unen Bahlam Kʼinich Muwaan Jol Chak Tok Ichʼaak I Yax Nuun Ahiin I Sihyaj Chan Kʼawiil II Kʼan Chitam Chak Tok Ichʼaak II Lady of Tikal Kaloomteʼ Bahlam Bird Claw Wak Chan Kʼawiil Animal Skull 23rd Ruler 24th Ruler Nuun Ujol Chaak Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil 28th Ruler Yax Nuun Ahiin II Nuun Ujol Kʼinich Dark Sun Jewel Kʼawiil Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II
Pyramids	Temple I Temple II Temple III Temple IV Temple V Temple VI Temple 33
Architectural Groups	Central Acropolis Mundo Perdido North Acropolis Plaza of the Seven Temples Twin-pyramid complex
See also: Maya city

v t e Maya civilization
History	Preclassic Maya Classic Maya collapse Spanish conquest Chiapas Guatemala Petén Yucatán
Topics	Architecture E-Group Triadic pyramid Twin-pyramid complex Revival Art Graffiti Ceramics Cities Cuisine Dance Economy Trade Maritime trade Languages Classic Script List Mayanist Medicine Music Mythology Numerals People Sites Stelae Textiles Warfare
Society	Childhood Women Midwifery Religion Priesthood Sacrifice Human sacrifice Death rituals Social classes Ajaw Households
Calendar	Ajaw Baktun Haabʼ Kʼatun Kʼin Tun Tzolkʼin Winal
Literature	Annals of the Cakchiquels Chilam Balam Codices Dresden Grolier Madrid Paris Popol Vuh Rabinal Achí Ritual of the Bacabs Songs of Dzitbalché Título Cʼoyoi Título de Totonicapán
Deities	Classic Bacab Chaac Death gods God L Goddess I Hero Twins Howler monkey gods Itzamna Ixchel Jaguar gods Kʼawiil Kinich Ahau Maize god Mam Moon goddess Yopaat Post-Classic Acat Ah-Muzen-Cab Akna Chin Ixtab Kukulkan Yum Kaax Popol Vuh Awilix Camazotz Hun Hunahpu Huracan Jacawitz Qʼuqʼumatz Tohil Vucub Caquix Xmucane and Xpiacoc Xquic Zipacna
Kings	Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil Haʼ Kʼin Xook Itzam Kʼan Ahk II Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Yopaat Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal Kʼinich Yat Ahk II Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk I Uaxaclajuun Ubʼaah Kʼawiil Yoʼnal Ahk III Yuknoom Chʼeen II Yuknoom Yichʼaak Kʼahkʼ
Queens	Lady Eveningstar Lady of Itzan Lady of Tikal Lady Xoc Sak Kʼukʼ Wak Chanil Ajaw Yohl Ikʼnal

v t e Maya sites
Belize	Actun Tunichil Muknal Altun Ha Baking Pot Barton Creek Cave Cahal Pech Caracol Cerros Chaa Creek Colha Cuello El Pilar KaʼKabish Kʼaxob La Milpa Lamanai Louisville Lower Dover Lubaantun Marco Gonzalez Minanha Nim Li Punit Nohmul Nohoch Cheʼen Pacbitun Pusilha San Estevan Santa Rita Tipu Uxbenka Xnaheb Xunantunich
Guatemala	Aguateca Altar de Sacrificios Arroyo de Piedra Balberta Bejucal Cancuén Cerro Quiac Chama Chitinamit Chocolá Chutixtiox Cotzumalhuapa Dos Pilas El Baúl El Chal El Mirador El Perú El Porvenir El Temblor El Tintal El Zotz Guaytán Holmul Holtun Itzan Iximche Ixkun Ixlu Ixtonton Ixtutz Kaminaljuyu Kinal Kʼatepan La Amelia La Blanca La Corona La Joyanca La Muerta Machaquila Mixco Viejo Montana Motul de San José Naachtun Nakbe Nakum Naranjo Pajaral Piedras Negras Punta de Chimino Quiriguá Qʼumarkaj Río Azul Sacul San Bartolo San Clemente Seibal Takalik Abaj Tamarindito Tayasal Tikal Topoxte Tres Islas Uaxactun Ucanal Wajxaklajun Witzna Xultun Yaxha Zacpeten Zaculeu Zapote Bobal
Honduras	Copán El Puente
Mexico	Acanceh Aguada Fénix Aké Balamku Balankanche Becan Bonampak Calakmul Chacchoben Chactún Chicanná Chinkultic Chichen Itza Chunchucmil Chunhuhub Chunlimón Coba Comalcalco Dzibanche Dzibilchaltun Edzna Ekʼ Balam Hormiguero Izamal Izapa Jaina Joljaʼ Kabah Kiuic Kohunlich Komchen Labna La Mar Mayapan Maní Moral Reforma Muyil Ocomtún Oxkintok Palenque Plan de Ayutla Pomona Punta Sur Río Bec San Gervasio Sayil Toniná Tortuguero Tulum Uxmal Uxul Xcaret Xelha Xlapak Xpuhil Xtampak Yaxchilan Yaxuná Yula Yoʼokop (for more articles see Category:Maya sites in Mexico)
El Salvador	Cara Sucia Casa Blanca Cihuatán Joya de Cerén San Andrés Tazumal
See also: Pre-Columbian era