Chel family facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chel family |
|
|---|---|
| Current region | Ah Kin Chel |
| Etymology | From Yucatec Che'el Staff / rod of justice or Chel arch sky / rainbow |
| Place of origin | Mayapan / Tecoh |
| Members | Mo-Chel, Namox Chel, Namux Chel |
| Connected families | Pech family, Cocom family, Xiu family, Canul family |
| Distinctions | Rulers of Ah Kin Chel |
The Chels, also known as Cheles or Che'els, were a very important ruling family in the ancient Maya world. Their name comes from the Yucatec words for "staff" or "rod of justice," and also "arch sky" or "rainbow." You can even see their name in Maya glyphs like this: 
. The Chels were the leaders of a region called Ah Kin Chel, which was a type of Maya state known as a Kuchkabal.
Who Were the Chels?
The Chel family was a powerful group of leaders. They were known for being priests and nobles. This means they had both religious and political power. They guided their people and made important decisions for their community.
Where Did They Come From?
The Chel family originally came from a big city called Mayapan. This city was one of the three main capitals of the League of Mayapan. The League was a powerful alliance of Maya cities. In Mayapan, the Chels were respected members of society. They held important roles as priests and nobles.
Mo-Chel: A New Beginning
The first ruler of Ah Kin Chel was a man named Mo-Chel. He was a nobleman from Mayapan. His father-in-law was a very important priest there. Another priest, Ah Xupan Nauat, arranged for his daughter Namox Chel to marry Mo-Chel.
Mo-Chel was said to be very wise. He predicted that the League of Mayapan would be destroyed in 1441. Because of this, he decided to leave Mayapan. He took some of his followers and moved to a new place called Tecoh, near Izamal. There, he started his own independent state. He named it Ah Kin Chel. The name Ah Kin means "high priest" or "is from the sun." He added "Chel" from his own family name. This was a common way for Maya states to get their names.
The Last Chel Ruler
The Chel family continued to rule Ah Kin Chel for many years. They were in power until the very end of their state's independence. Namux Chel was the last ruler of Ah Kin Chel. He was in charge in 1527 when the Spanish explorer Francisco de Montejo arrived. To avoid fighting, Namux Chel allowed the Spanish to pass through his territory peacefully.
