Kejache facts for kids
The Kejache (pronounced kay-HAH-chay) were a Maya group who lived in the southern Yucatán Peninsula during the 1600s. Their land was in the Petén Basin, an area that is now part of both Guatemala and Mexico.
The Kejache likely shared a history with the nearby Itzas. They might have lived in this region since the Classic period (around 250 to 900 AD). The Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés first met the Kejache in 1525. Later, the Spanish had more contact with them as they created a path south towards Lake Petén Itzá.
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Where the Kejache Lived
The Kejache lived in an area that is now on the border between Guatemala and the Mexican state of Campeche. This region was about 40 by 100 kilometers (25 by 62 miles) in size. It stretched from lakes Silvituk and Moku in Mexico down to Uaxactun in Guatemala.
Their land was located between the Itza kingdom, which was centered at Nojpetén, and the Spanish-controlled Yucatán to the north. To their immediate north, the Kejache shared a border with the Acalan, another Maya group. We don't know much about the exact borders of the Kejache territory. No archaeological studies have been done there.
The Kejache region had low hills and wide valleys that turned into swamps during the rainy season. It also had several small lakes, like Lake Moku, Lake Silvituk, and Chan Laguna.
Kejache Culture and Daily Life
The Spanish described the Kejache as being less wealthy than other Maya groups nearby. They used wood and thatch to build their homes. Their weapons were short spears, bows, and arrows. Unlike their neighbors, they didn't seem to use shields.
The Kejache grew important crops like corn, black beans, and squash. They also raised turkeys. They traded with the Acalan Maya to their northwest, exchanging cotton clothing for salt.
By the mid-1600s, the Kejache became important traders. They helped connect the Itza people with the Spanish in Yucatán. Some Kejache groups had traded directly with the Itza before. However, after being affected by diseases and Spanish missionaries, the Kejache became middlemen in trade instead of direct suppliers.
Kejache Language and Name Meaning
The Kejache called themselves "Kejache." They spoke the Yucatec Maya language. The name kejache comes from the Yucatec words kej, meaning "deer," and ach, a suffix that might have meant there were many deer.
The Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, referred to the Kejache territory as Mazatlan. This name also meant "land of the deer." The Kejache shared many family names with the Itzas. Even though they later became enemies, it's likely they came from the same ancestors.
Kejache History
The Kejache and Itza people likely came from the same origin, possibly as far back as the Late Classic period (around 600–900 AD). We don't know exactly when they split into separate groups. This split might have happened because the Itza kept moving into Petén, or because of wars that caused them to divide.
It's possible the Kejache had lived in their territory since the Classic period. They might even be descendants of people from important Maya cities in the area, like Calakmul and the cities of the Río Bec zone.
The Kejache province was often at war with the Itza. A deserted area separated their lands. The Kejache are thought to have lacked a strong central government. However, their main town was called Mazatlan by Aztec traders. Spanish records mention ten Kejache towns, including Tiac and Yaxuncabil, which Hernán Cortés wrote about.
Spanish Contact and Conquest
In 1525, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés traveled through Kejache land on his way to Honduras. He noted that Kejache towns were built in places that were easy to defend and were often fortified. One town was on a rocky hill near a lake and river. It had a wooden fence and a moat around it.
Cortés also reported that the town of Tiac was even larger. It had walls, watchtowers, and earthworks for defense. The town itself was divided into three separate fortified areas. The Kejache said their towns were fortified to protect against attacks from their aggressive Itza neighbors. In 1531, Alonso Dávila crossed the northern part of Kejache territory while looking for a base for conquest.
By 1600, the Kejache population was estimated to be around 7,000 people, living in 10 to 20 settlements. At this time, the Kejache faced pressure not only from the Itzá but also from the Lakandon Ch'ol to the southwest and Christianized Chontal to the west. The northern part of Kejache land received many Maya refugees who were fleeing the Spanish province of Yucatán.
By the 1600s, the Kejache became important go-betweens for Spanish Yucatán and the independent Maya people of central Petén. However, the presence of Spanish missionaries among them caused problems with the Itza. It also exposed the Kejache to dangerous diseases brought by the Europeans.
The Kejache had several well-fortified towns along the main trade route from Campeche to Lake Petén Itzá. By the early 1600s, the Kejache town of Tzuktok became the southern edge of Spanish missionary efforts from Yucatán. Tzuktok then had a mix of native Kejache and Yucatec refugees.
The Spanish built a road through Kejache land from Campeche on the west coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. They set up missions in the Kejache towns of Ichbalche and Tzuktok. By the late 1600s, the Spanish also had a priest at Chuntuki, which was also on this new "royal road."
After the Itza kingdom fell to the Spanish in 1697, the remaining Kejache fled with Itza and Kowoj refugees into the Lacandon forest. They became the ancestors of the modern Lacandon people.
Images for kids
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Map of the northern lowlands of Guatemala at the time of Spanish contact, showing the location of the Kejache province
