Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ facts for kids

Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ (also known as Ta Batzʼ) was an important Maya ruler. He led the powerful Kaan kingdom a long time ago. He became king on March 28, 622, and ruled until his death on October 1, 630.

Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ's Time as King

Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ became king on March 28, 622. This important event is written on a large stone monument called Caracol Stela 22. We don't know exactly where he became king. It might have been before the Kaan kingdom's main city became Calakmul.

Early Monuments and the Kaan Kingdom

The first large stone monuments from this time at Calakmul are Stelae 28 and 29. They were made in the year 623 AD. However, the names of the king and queen shown on these stones are missing. Also, the special snake-head symbol of the Kaan kingdom is not on them.

Challenges to Kaan's Power

Around 615 AD, another city called Naranjo stopped following the Kaan kingdom. This happened after the strong Kaan king, Scroll Serpent, died. Other cities that were under Kaan's rule might have wanted to test the new kings. This change might have happened when Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ's predecessor, Yuknoom Tiʼ Chan, was king. We know Yuknoom Tiʼ Chan was on the throne by 619 AD.

By 626 AD, during Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ's fourth year as king, Naranjo had definitely broken away. In that year, Caracol, a city loyal to Kaan, won two battles against Naranjo. This showed that Kaan was working to keep its power.

The End of His Reign

Tajoom Ukʼab Kʼahkʼ might have been involved in another battle in 627 AD. But his efforts to bring Naranjo back under Kaan's control ended when he died in 630 AD. Just like his start as king, his death is recorded at Caracol. An inscription there also mentions a gift he gave to the ruler of Caracol in 627 AD.