OCTOBER 15, 625

MAYAN AJAW (DOS PILAS) BALAJ CHAN K’AWIIL BORN

Balaj Chan K’awiil, also known as Ruler 1, Flint Sky God K and Malah Chan Kʼawil, was son of K’inich Muwaan Jol II, the 23rd or 24th king of the Tikal dynasty. He was also brother, or half-brother, of future Tikal king Nuun Ujol Chaak. At age 4, he became ruler of the city of Dos Pilas under the king of Tikal. Dos Pilas was a military outpost for Tikal and stronghold along part of the Pasión River, a major trade route of the Maya world. When Calakmul defeated Dos Pilas, it placed Balaj Chan K’awiil back on the city’s throne as a “puppet king.” Now loyal to Calakmul, he launched a decade-long war against Tikal that ended in his victory. His forces sacked Tikal and brought its ruler–his brother— and other nobles to Dos Pilas to be sacrificed. After Tikal was sacked, however, it eventually roared back and crushed Calakmul. With this, the weakened Maya world broke up into regional powers and collapsed. By 760, Dos Pilas was abandoned.

Sources:
Vanderbilt University,“Newly revealed hieroglyphs tell story of superpower conflict in the Maya World,” EurekAlert!, 9/9/2002.  Retrieved 12/3/2023, Newly revealed hieroglyphs tell story of supe | EurekAlert!
Wikipedia
Photo:  Wolfgang Sauber, 8/4/2008. Permissive use.