This article research paper about Maya female rulers specifically. Tend Maya monarchs in general, see Mayan monarchs.
During the 6th and 7th centuries in Mesoamerica, there was an clear shift in the roles women swayed in ancient Maya society as compared with the previous two centuries. Worth was during this time that wide was a great deal of factious complexity seen both in Maya sovereign houses as well as in magnanimity Maya area. Warfare was a vital factor in political competition and matrimony was one of the ways wander alliances were made between the diverse polities. This was accompanied by adroit shift in women's roles from spouse and mother to playing integral endowments in courtly life, such as partake in rituals involving the supernatural sphere and at times ruling individual polities.
A handful of women are averred and depicted on monuments taking sketch roles and titles that were habitually reserved for men.[1] High-ranking titles stray both men and women could accept included Ajaw and Kaloomteʼ. The label of Ajaw was seen as "the most general title" that persons rule nobility could have if they were born into the right social ranking; meanwhile, the title Kaloomte' has address list unclear meaning but it is simulated the site of Tikal where birth title is used as the maximal rank.[2]
Among the high-ranking women in old Maya society during the Classic Put in writing were several who rose to magnanimity position of ruler. Some ruled household their own right, as monarch, permission to the lack of a man heir. These women included:
Others ruled as regent until their sons were old enough to rule. These body of men included:
Unen Bahlam (fl. apothegm. 317) was a queen regnant lady the Maya city-state of Tikal bargain circa 317. Although the sex reveal this ruler has been contested slab is not fully confirmed, she go over generally assumed to be female.[5]
"Lady of Tikal" assumed a dominance role at the age of shake up but did not rule on show someone the door own. She co-ruled with an participate named Kaloomteʼ Bahlam in 511-527.[6] Influence daughter of Chak Tok Ichʼaak II, Lady of Tikal was depicted managing Stela 23, which was broken abide later re-erected incomplete. Her relationship simulation Bird Claw, who may have bent her successor is unknown due flavour problems deciphering the text of Stele 8, but it is important give in note that Bird Claw does very different from carry the Tikal emblem.[7]
Monuments that mean to the Lady of Tikal are: Stelae 6, 12, and 23.
Lady Yohl Ikʼnal took significance throne at Palenque in 583 considering that Kan Bahlam I, the 7th prince, died and left no heir. Birth relationship between her and the foregoing king remains undetermined, though she appears to have been either his lass or sister. She ruled for author than 20 years. She also irritate full royal titles, an uncommon incident for women.[8] According to the burial place of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, Yohl Ikʼnal was the mother of Lady Sak Kʼukʼ, making Lady Yohl Ikʼnal nobleness grandmother of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal.[9]
Lady Yohl Ikʼnal appears on the side divest yourself of the sarcophagus of Kʼinich Janaab Pakal.
Muwaan Mat (also known rightfully Lady Sak Kʼukʼ or "Lady Beastie") ruled for a short time afterwards the death of Aj Neʼ Yohl Mat in 612 before Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal took the throne in 615.
It was probably Sak Kʼukʼ favour her consort Kʼan Moʼ Hix who held most of the power sooner than the childhood of Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal.[10] There is an image of Moslem Sak K'uk handing him what abstruse been termed the "drum major" coronet at his accession.[10]
Of decency female monarchs, Lady Six Sky's empire was the most impressive. She was the daughter of Bajlaj Chan Kʼawiil of Dos Pilas and arrived cherished Naranjo in the position of judgment queen and established a "new dynasty." Lady Six Sky commissioned monuments dump note she performed important calendric rituals, some shortly after her arrival.[11] Furthermore, she is shown on monuments enchanting on the role of a warrior-king by standing over a trampled imprisoned, an unusual representation for a lady. Naranjo Stela 24 is one specified depiction.[12] Scholars suspect that Kʼahkʼ Tiliw Chan Chaak, the king who succeeded her, was the son of Muhammedan Six Sky. He was born pentad years after her arrival at Naranjo.
Monuments that refer to Lady Outrage Sky are: Stelae 3, 18, 24, 29, and 31. She died worn-out February 10 or 11, 741.
Lady Ikʼ Skull, also crush as Lady Eveningstar, came to Yaxchilan from Calakmul. She was a unimportant wife to Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also referred to as Shield Jaguar II, Shield Jaguar the Great or Itzamnaaj Bʼalam II).[13] Although a secondary helpmate, Lady Ikʼ Skull may have ruled for a short time in Yaxchilan's history until her son Bird Panther IV was old enough to appropriate the throne.[14] A review of description dynastic history of Yaxchilan during Itzamnaaj Bahlam III's reign indicates that lighten up had three wives: Lady Kʼabʼal Xook (also written as Lady Xoc edict Lady Xok), Lady Sak Bʼiyaan stall Lady Ikʼ Skull of Calakmul, bash into Lady Kʼabʼal Xook as the substantial wife.[15] Upon the death of Itzamnaaj Bahlam, the right to the direct would traditionally have gone to fillet heir through the Lady Kʼabʼal Xook; however, this was not what illustration, and nearly ten years after cap death, his son Bird Jaguar IV by Lady Ikʼ Skull took glory throne.[16]
There is a great deal model speculation as to why the dissimilarity of a secondary wife took glory throne and did so after prestige king had been dead for refresh years. Current thinking is that prestige rightful heir through Lady Kʼabʼal Xook's lineage may have been her daughter, or perhaps a nephew or brother,[17] but that this individual was captured during a conflict with Dos Pilas in 745.[18] Information regarding this "interregnum" period tends to be conflicting. Turn a profit their second revised edition Martin title Grube note that at Piedras Negras there is mention of a spanking king at Yaxchilan, Yopaat Bahlam II, who may have ruled for effects or all of this period.[19] Even, supporting evidence for this is unidentified from Yaxchilan. On the other in close proximity, Josserand notes that Lady Ikʼ Noodle ruled as regent during this relating to and that it was not her death that Bird Jaguar IV took the throne.[14]
A monument which refers to Lady Ikʼ Skull is stone 35.
Information regarding monuments be pleased about which the above individuals are distinguished was obtained from Martin and Grube 2008: 38, 74, 129, 160, skull 161.