Second Tikal–Calakmul War facts for kids

The Second Tikal–Calakmul War was a major conflict between two powerful ancient cities: Tikal and Calakmul. These cities were rivals in the Petén Department of modern-day Guatemala during the Classic Period of Mesoamerican chronology. This war was the second in a series of battles between them, known as the Tikal–Calakmul wars. After this period, the great Maya civilization declined, and both Tikal and Calakmul were eventually left empty.

Quick facts for kids Second Tikal–Calakmul War
Part of Tikal–Calakmul wars
A vase showing a battle scene between Tikal and Calakmul
Date 648–695 Location Modern Petén Department, Guatemala Result Tikal pyrrhic victory Territorial changes Dos Pilas left Tikal and joined Calakmul. Calakmul conquered Tikal twice before Tikal conquered Calakmul.
Belligerents
Tikal	Calakmul Naranjo	Dos Pilas
Commanders and leaders
Nuun Ujol Chaak†? Jasaw Chan Kʼawiil I	Yuknoom Ch'een II Yuknoom Yichʼaak Kʼahkʼ Wak Chanil Ajaw	B'alaj Chan K'awiil

The Rise of Dos Pilas

In 629, the ruler of Tikal, Ajaw K'inich Muwaan Jol II, made his son B'alaj Chan K'awiil ( in Maya writing) the new leader of Dos Pilas. Dos Pilas was a new city that was loyal to Tikal.

B'alaj Chan K'awiil became a key figure in a big disagreement between two lords who both claimed to be the true ruler of Tikal. This conflict happened during a time when Tikal's history was unclear for about 130 years. It also happened while Tikal and Calakmul were fighting to be the most powerful city.

B'alaj Chan K'awiil said he had the right to rule Tikal because he was the son of K'inich Muwaan Jol. Nuun Ujol Chaak, the other lord who claimed to rule Tikal, was probably B'alaj Chan K'awiil's half-brother.

Calakmul

In 648, B'alaj Chan K'awiil won a military battle. On the same day, a lord claiming to be from Tikal died. These events seemed to set the stage for what happened next.

In 650, Yuknoom the Great, also known as the Snake Lord, who was the ruler of Calakmul, attacked Dos Pilas. He forced B'alaj Chan K'awiil to run away to a place called Aguateca.

Then, in 657, the Snake Lord attacked Tikal itself. He drove Nuun Ujol Chaak out of his city. This made Calakmul the most powerful city in the whole region. B'alaj Chan K'awiil accepted Yuknoom Ch'een as his new overlord. Nuun Ujol Chaak likely had to promise loyalty to Calakmul too. Both lords who claimed to rule Tikal were present at a special ceremony performed by a Calakmul prince named Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' around 662.

A Civil War Begins

In 672, Nuun Ujol Chaak attacked Dos Pilas. He forced B'alaj Chan K'awiil to leave the city again, this time fleeing to a place called Chaak Naah. The next year, Nuun burned Chaak Naah, and B'alaj Chan K'awiil had to escape once more. He traveled to the kingdom of Hix Witz.

B'alaj Chan K'awiil could not return to Dos Pilas until Calakmul defeated Nuun Ujol Chaak at a place called Pulil in 677. The final battle between them happened in 679. In this battle, B'alaj Chan K'awiil defeated Nuun Ujol Chaak and captured a Tikal lord named Nuun Bahlam.

Tikal's Comeback

Jasaw Chan K'awiil I was the ruler of Tikal in 695.

After his victory, B'alaj Chan K'awiil began to create many stone carvings in 682. These carvings told the story of his struggles and his final win. They also showed his loyalty to Calakmul. He recorded that he celebrated a special event (the 9.12.10.0.0 period ending) at Calakmul with his overlord, Yuknoom the Great. Four years later, he returned to Calakmul for the crowning of the new ruler, Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk'.

B'alaj Chan K'awiil's daughter, Lady Six Sky, helped to restart the royal family of Naranjo. Another of his daughters (or perhaps a sister) married into the royal family of Arroyo de Piedra. Arroyo de Piedra, along with Tamarindito, had been important cities in the Petexbatun region before Dos Pilas was founded. B'alaj Chan K'awiil also married the Lady of Itzan, a nearby kingdom. They had at least one son who would be his heir.

B'alaj Chan K'awiil died in 692. Three years later, in 695, Tikal won a major battle against Calakmul. This battle ended the Second Tikal–Calakmul War. After this, Tikal became much more powerful than Calakmul.