MARCH 10, 758

MAYAN AJAW (PIEDRO NEGRAS) YO’NAL AHK III ACCEDED TO THRONE

Also known as Ruler 5, Yoʼnal Ahk III ascended to the throne as ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala, upon the death of Itzam Kʼan Ahk II (possibly his father). His name translates to “Black House Great Turtle.” He ruled during the Late Classic Period for 9 years until succeeded by his probable brother, Haʼ Kʼin Xook. He left behind 2 surviving stelae at Piedras Negras (Stelae 14 & 16). Not much is known about either Yoʼnal Ahk III or his successor. He may have been a weak leader since he erected only a handful of monuments and did not enforce his power beyond the existing Piedras Negras hegemony. It has been hypothesized that Yoʼnal Ahk III’s focus on smaller satellite kingdoms such as La Mar and Yax Niil was a tactic to build up a “base of support” to combat the growing threat that Yaxchilan posed.

Sources: 

Simon Martin, Nikolai Grube, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens (Thames & Hudson, 2000).

Wikipedia

Glyph:  Mały koleżka, 10/10/2015. A "signature" glyph of Maya king Yo'nal Ahk III of Piedras Negras. Permissive Use pursuant to Creative Commons license. Source:  Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. Rev. ed. Thames and Hudson, London, 2008.