APRIL 3, 686

MAYA KING YUKNOOM YICH’AAK K’AHK’ ASSUMES CROWN OF CALAKMUL

Reputedly born October 6, 649, Yuknoom Yichʼaak Kʼahk’ formally succeeded his father, Yukoom the Great, on this date, but may have effectively governed the kingdom for a substantial period beforehand. The inscription of Stela 9, from 662, goes into detail about the birth of Yuknoom Yichʼaak Kʼahkʼ and accords him a full royal title. He may be credited with: Military triumphs over Tikal in 677 & 679; supervision of the accessions of kings of Moral and Cancuen in 662 & 677 respectively; and the dispatching of Lady Six Sky from Dos Pilas to re-seed the dynasty of Naranjo in 682. His accession was recorded at El Peru, Dos Pilas, and at Naranjo. In 695, Calakmul suffered a military defeat at the hands of Tikal and it was initially believed that the king was killed or captured in that battle. However, a new find at La Corona has revealed that the king survived at least until 696, when he made a visit to that town. There are reasons to believe that Yichʼaak Kʼahkʼ is buried in Tomb 4 within Structure 2. 

Source: Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens.
Photo: Wolfgang Sauber, 8/4/2008.  Permissive Use.