AD 615 – 683
Pakal at Palenque
K'inich Janaab Pakal, born in March AD 603, takes the throne of Palenque in July 615 at the age of twelve. His mother Sak K'uk', who has ruled since 612, remains a strong force at court until her death in September 640. In March 626 he marries Lady Tz'akbu Ajaw of Uxte'k'uh, and their sons K'inich Kan Bahlam II and K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II are born in 635 and 644.
The Oval Palace Tablet at Palenque: Sak K'uk' hands her son Pakal the crown on the day he becomes kingWikimedia Commons, tato grasso, CC BY-SA 2.5 (0152 Palenque.JPG)
Under Pakal, Palenque extends its power in the west. In 628 Piedras Negras captures one of Pakal’s officials, and six days later Palenque captures Nuun Ujol Chaak, lord of Santa Elena, which becomes its tributary. In 659 Pakal takes six prisoners, among them Ahiin Chan Ahk of Pipa', a place usually identified with Pomona. During Tikal’s hiatus at least one ruler of Tikal takes refuge with Pakal.
From 647 Pakal builds on a large scale, first the temple now called El Olvidado, then a great enlargement of the Palace. He adds House E, painted white, Houses B and C in 661 and House A in 668, whose walls show prisoners taken in 662. The east court of the Palace marks his military victories.
The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque, Pakal’s funerary pyramidWikimedia Commons, Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Temple of the Inscriptions - Palenque Maya Site, Feb 2020.jpg)
Pakal dies on 29 August 683 at the age of 80, after a reign of 68 years and 33 days. He is buried under the Temple of the Inscriptions in a carved stone sarcophagus, with a jade mask on his face. His son K'inich Kan Bahlam II succeeds him.
The jade mosaic mask from Pakal’s tomb, National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico CityWikimedia Commons, Gary Todd, CC0 (Maya Jade Mask of Kinich Hanab Pakal, Ruler of Palenque, 615-683 AD.jpg)
Sources
- Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens (2nd ed. 2008), pp. 162 to 168.
- Joel Skidmore, The Rulers of Palenque (5th ed. 2010), pp. 71 to 73.
- Vera Tiesler and Andrea Cucina (eds.), Janaab' Pakal of Palenque: Reconstructing the Life and Death of a Maya Ruler (2006).
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