K'uk 'Bahlam I.

Redrawing an attribution of K'uk 'Bahlam I.

K'uk 'Bahlam I (March 30, 397 ; † 435 ) was the first historically verifiable ruler ( Ajaw ) and founder of the dynasty of the Maya city of Palenque . He ruled from 431 until his death.

Origin and reign

K'uk 'Bahlam I. was born on March 30, 397 ( long count 8.18.0.13.6, calendar round 5 Kimi 14 K'ayab) and ascended the throne on March 10, 431 (8.19.15.3.4, 1 K' at 2 K'ayab). He was entitled "Herr von Toktahn ", which indicates a previously unidentified location, perhaps his place of origin. His rule and the founding of Palenque came at a time of great upheaval in the Peten region . In 378 Sihyaj K'ahk ' , ruler of Teotihuacan , overthrew the Tikal dynasty and installed one of his followers as the new regent. The founding of Palenque could also be related to the expansion of Teotihuacan's power, because the name Sihyaj K'ahk 'appears here in an inscription from the 7th century.

Details from his almost four-year reign are not known. The only date besides his inauguration can be found on an 8th-century tablet listing the appointments of dignitaries by the ruler of Palenques. Such an act seems to have been carried out by K'uk 'Bahlam I. on February 13, 435 (8.19.19.3.0, 7 Ajaw 18 Muwan). He appears to have died only a few months later, as Casper II succeeded him to the throne in August .

A stone portrait head found in Palenque shows either K'uk 'Bahlam I or his namesake K'inich K'uk' Bahlam II († after 736).

literature

Simon Martin / Nikolai Grube : Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens. Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. Thames & Hudson, 2nd ed., London 2008, ISBN 978-0-500-28726-2 , p. 156.
Joel Skidmore: The Rulers of Palenque . Mesoweb, 5th ed., 2010, pp. 6–13 ( PDF; 9.1 MB ).
David Stuart , George Stuart : Palenque. Eternal City of the Maya. Thames & Hudson, London 2008, ISBN 978-0-50-00-5156-6 , pp. 111-113.

Web links

Commons : K'uk 'Bahlam I. - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Mesoweb Encyclopedia
^ Skidmore: The Rulers of Palenque. P. 12.

predecessor	Office	successor
-	Ajaw of Palenque 431-435	Casper II.

personal data
SURNAME	K'uk 'Bahlam I.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Kuk, Bahlum K'uk '
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Ruler of the Maya city of Palenque (431–435)
DATE OF BIRTH	March 30, 397
DATE OF DEATH	435

[1] Mesoweb Encyclopedia

[2] Skidmore: The Rulers of Palenque. P. 12.