Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II |
|
|---|---|
Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II's portrait on Stela 11.
|
|
| King of Tikal | |
| Reign | c. 869 |
| Predecessor | Jewel Kʼawiil |
| Successor | None |
| Born | 850 Tikal |
| Died | 898 Tikal? |
| Religion | Maya religion |
| Signature |  |
Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II, also known as the Stela 11 Ruler, was an important king of the ancient Maya city of Tikal. He ruled around the year 869. An ajaw was a powerful ruler or lord in Maya society. Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II is especially famous because he was the last known ruler of Tikal whose name we can still read from old stone carvings.
Who Was Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II?
Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II was a king of Tikal, a very large and important city in the Maya world. He ruled during a time when Tikal was not as strong as it used to be. Even so, his rule is a key part of Tikal's long history. We know about him from special stone monuments.
Tikal's Last Known Ruler
When Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II became king, Tikal was losing its power. It was no longer the biggest or most important city in the region. Despite this, Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II is very important to historians. He is the last king of Tikal that we can identify from the writings left behind. These writings are called inscriptions.
The Mystery of Stela 11
The main monument linked to Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil II is called Stela 11. A stela is a tall, carved stone slab. Stela 11 has a picture of the king and also some writing. This writing includes the latest date found on any monument in Tikal. The date is 10.2.0.0.0 in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. This date matches August 15, 869, in our modern calendar.
Stela 11 is the only monument found at Tikal from the period known as the Terminal Classic. This period was a time when many Maya cities began to decline. Stela 11 helps us understand the very end of Tikal's long history as a powerful city.
