The Tumultuous Times: The Shifting Alliances of Caracol Monarchs in the Sixth and Seventh Centuries

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Rise and Apogee of the Classic Maya Kaanu’l Hegemonic State at Dzibanche" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The most extensive historical record of Caracol was produced under the reign of Tutum Yohl K’inich Tz’uutz’ II (formerly known as K’an II / Ruler V), who reigned from AD 618 to 658. In addition to outlining his life and deeds, as well as those of his father Yajawte’ K’inich Tz’uutz’ II (a.k.a. Lord Water / Ruler III; reigning from AD 553–593+), these texts provide a unique vantage on the historical events of the sixth and seventh centuries, outlining alliances, reversals and crushing military defeats—including that of Tikal in AD 562. In unparalleled detail, the same sources also narrate relations with the Kaanu’l royal house, and the schism that occurred between AD 630 and 642, resulting in the fissioning of the dynasty and the establishment of the new capital at Calakmul. Rather than passive observers of these historical highlights, a careful reading of the texts reveals the capricious character of the agents, acting out on alliances, resulting in rapidly shifting allegiances and antagonisms. Here we will outline this tumultuous century (AD 553–658) and track the shifting alliances of Caracol’s monarchs, focusing specifically on what the texts do record and also what the texts are resolutely silent about.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Rise and Apogee of the Classic Maya Kaanu’l Hegemonic State at Dzibanche   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39644.0