Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil facts for kids

Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil (born October 15, 625) was an important Maya ruler. He was the king of a city called Dos Pilas. People also knew him as Ruler 1, Flint Sky God K, or Malah Chan Kʼawil. He played a big part in the history of the Maya world.

Becoming a King

Early Life in Tikal

Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil was born in the powerful city of Tikal on October 15, 625 A.D. His father was K'ihnich Muwahn Jol II, who was a king of Tikal. His brother, or half-brother, was Nuun Ujol Chaahk, who would also become a king of Tikal later.

When he was just 6 years old, Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil took part in a special ceremony. This was a "pre-accession ritual," meaning it happened before he became a king. When he was 9 or 10, he had another ritual in Tikal. During this, he received a royal symbol for his forehead.

Moving to Dos Pilas

As a young man, Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil was sent to lead the city of Dos Pilas. This city was under the control of Tikal. He was still very young, but his father, the king of Tikal, trusted him with this important role.

Ruling Dos Pilas

The War with Tikal

Over time, the good relationship between Dos Pilas and Tikal broke down. This led to a long and difficult war. In 648 A.D., when Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil was 21, a "Civil War of Tikal" began. He led his army and defeated Tikal's forces in a battle. This battle happened in a place called Sakha'al, which we don't know the exact location of today.

After this, the kingdom of Tikal was split. Nuun Ujol Chaahk controlled the main part of Tikal. Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil controlled the rebel area to the southwest.

Calakmul's Role

Yuknoom Ch'een II, the king of Calakmul, was a big enemy of Tikal. He saw a chance to weaken Tikal by dividing its power. He decided to attack Dos Pilas first. On December 20, 650 A.D., Calakmul attacked Dos Pilas. Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil, who was 25, had to escape to the city of Aguateca. Calakmul then took control of the area around Dos Pilas.

Six years later, in 657 A.D., Calakmul attacked Tikal itself. Nuun Ujol Chaahk had to flee.

The Yaxhá Agreement

Between 657 and 662 A.D., something important happened. The future king of Calakmul, Yuhknoom Yich’aak K’ahk’, had a special event. Both Nuun Ujol Chaahk and Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil were there. Experts believe this was the "Yaxhá Agreement." In this agreement, both kings agreed to become loyal to Yuhknoom Yich’aak K’ahk’ and the Snake Kingdom (Calakmul).

Return to Dos Pilas

After the Yaxhá Agreement, Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil returned to Dos Pilas. Now, he was a loyal ruler under the Snake Kingdom. He continued to expand his power. In 664 A.D., he captured an important person named Tajal Mo from Machaquilá. He might have even conquered that city. Around this time, he married a princess from the city of Itzán.

Exile and Return

On December 8, 672 A.D., Nuun Ujol Chaahk's army attacked Dos Pilas again. Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil was forced to leave his city. He went into exile in a place called Chaahk Naah. Nuun Ujol Chaahk kept chasing him. In May 673, he attacked two cities allied with Dos Pilas. In June, he invaded Chaahk Naah, forcing Bʼalaj to move to Hiix Witz. This place was connected to Piedras Negras, which was allied with Calakmul.

On December 13, 677 A.D., the army of Calakmul, along with Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil, fought back. They attacked and burned a city called Puluul. Nuun Ujol Chaahk had to flee. Seven days later, Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil finally returned to Dos Pilas after five years away.

Final Victory and Later Years

On April 30, 679 A.D., the last big event of the Tikal Civil War happened. Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil's forces, supported by Calakmul, entered Tikal. They defeated his brother's army. It is believed that Nuun Ujol Chaahk died during or after this event. Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil then controlled Tikal for three years. Later, Nuun Ujol Chaahk's son, Hasaw Chan K'awiil, became the new king of Tikal.

In 682 A.D., Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil traveled to Calakmul. He celebrated the victory against Tikal with King Yuhknoom Ch'een. He also ordered the creation of a special stone staircase in Dos Pilas. In that same year, he sent his daughter, Lady Wak Chanil Ajaw, to the city of Naranjo. She went there to help bring back the royal family of Naranjo, with Calakmul's support.

By 686 A.D., Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil was 60 years old. He attended the crowning of Yuhknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' as the new Snake King in Calakmul. The last record we have of Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil is from 692 A.D. He performed a dance ceremony in Aguateca. His son, Itzamnaaj K'awiil, became king of the Petexbatún kingdom in 698 A.D. This means Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil likely died between 692 and 698 A.D.

Family Life

Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil had two wives: Lady of Itzan and Lady Buluʼ.

His daughter, Wak Chanil Ajaw, whose mother was Lady Bulu', left Dos Pilas. She went to Naranjo to start a new royal family there. Another daughter, or perhaps a sister, married into the royal family of Arroyo de Piedra.

With his wife, the Lady of Itzan, Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil had two sons: Itzamnaaj Bʼalam and Itzamnaaj Kʼawiil. He was also the grandfather of Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Chaak, a king of Naranjo, through his daughter with Lady Bulu'.

In Art

There is a special stone monument in Dos Pilas called Stela 9. It was made in 682 A.D. This stela has the only known picture of Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil.

Images for kids

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  A robot for kids, related to the Spanish version of this article.

See also

In Spanish: B'alaj Chan K'awiil para niños