Women rulers in Maya society: Difference between revisions
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[[Muwaan Mat]] (also known as Lady [[Sak K'uk']] or Lady Beastie) rules for a short time after the death of [[Ajen Yohl Mat]] before [[K’inich Janaab Pakal I]] takes the throne. There is some conflicting thoughts on whether Muwaan Mat was another name for Lady Sak K'uk' the mother of K'inich Janaab Pakal. Martin and Grube (2008) note that the name Muwann Mat is associated with a male deity and therefore it is likely not another name for Lady Sak K'uk' and further note that the reign may be metaphorical or used in place as to not mention the real name of the ruler for this short time, AD 612-615; however, we do see we do see women portrayed as wearing costumes associated with maize gods and other deities <ref> (Miller and Martin 2004)<ref> so it may not be so far fetched that [[Lady Sak K’uk’]] used the name of a god instead of her own. This action would have showed that she had a direct connection with the gods and that her son had a valid right to rule. At the same point, we are told that until K'inich Janaab Pakal took the throne and during his younger years that it was probably his mother [[Lady Sak K'uk']] and her consort [[K'an Mo' Hix]] that held most of the power <ref>(Martin and Grube 2008).</ref> In terms of [[lineage]] (Schele and Freidel 1990:221) we are told that Lady Yohl Ik'nal was mother of Lady Sak K'uk' making Lady Yohl Ik'nal the grandmother of K'inich Janaab Pakal based on the iconography on Pakal’s [[sarcophagus]]. |
[[Muwaan Mat]] (also known as Lady [[Sak K'uk']] or Lady Beastie) rules for a short time after the death of [[Ajen Yohl Mat]] before [[K’inich Janaab Pakal I]] takes the throne. There is some conflicting thoughts on whether Muwaan Mat was another name for Lady Sak K'uk' the mother of K'inich Janaab Pakal. Martin and Grube (2008) note that the name Muwann Mat is associated with a male deity and therefore it is likely not another name for Lady Sak K'uk' and further note that the reign may be metaphorical or used in place as to not mention the real name of the ruler for this short time, AD 612-615; however, we do see we do see women portrayed as wearing costumes associated with maize gods and other deities <ref> (Miller and Martin 2004)</ref> so it may not be so far fetched that [[Lady Sak K’uk’]] used the name of a god instead of her own. This action would have showed that she had a direct connection with the gods and that her son had a valid right to rule. At the same point, we are told that until K'inich Janaab Pakal took the throne and during his younger years that it was probably his mother [[Lady Sak K'uk']] and her consort [[K'an Mo' Hix]] that held most of the power <ref>(Martin and Grube 2008).</ref> In terms of [[lineage]] (Schele and Freidel 1990:221) we are told that Lady Yohl Ik'nal was mother of Lady Sak K'uk' making Lady Yohl Ik'nal the grandmother of K'inich Janaab Pakal based on the iconography on Pakal’s [[sarcophagus]]. |
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=Naranjo= |
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Lady Ik' Skull, also known as [[Lady Eveningstar]] came to [[Yaxchilan]] from the city of [[Calakmul]] and was a secondary wife to Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also referred to as Shield Jaguar II). Although she was a secondary wife, Lady Ik' Skull may have ruled for a short time in Yaxchilan’s history until her son [[Bird Jaguar IV]] was of an age to take the throne (Josserand 2007). A quick review of the dynastic history of [[Yaxchilan]] during Itzamnaaj Bahlam III’s reign tells us that he had three wives: Lady K'ab'al Xook (also written as [[Lady Xoc]] or Lady Xok), Lady [[Sak B'iyaan]] and Lady Ik' Skull of [[Calakmul]], listed in their respective order. <ref>(Martin and Grube 2008)</ref> Upon the death of Itzamnaaj Bahlam the right to the throne would traditionally go to his heir through the Lady K'ab'al Xook line; however, this is not what happens and nearly 10 years after his death it is his son, Bird Jaguar IV, from Lady Ik’ Skull that takes the throne (Josserand 2007). |
Lady Ik' Skull, also known as [[Lady Eveningstar]] came to [[Yaxchilan]] from the city of [[Calakmul]] and was a secondary wife to Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also referred to as Shield Jaguar II). Although she was a secondary wife, Lady Ik' Skull may have ruled for a short time in Yaxchilan’s history until her son [[Bird Jaguar IV]] was of an age to take the throne (Josserand 2007). A quick review of the dynastic history of [[Yaxchilan]] during Itzamnaaj Bahlam III’s reign tells us that he had three wives: Lady K'ab'al Xook (also written as [[Lady Xoc]] or Lady Xok), Lady [[Sak B'iyaan]] and Lady Ik' Skull of [[Calakmul]], listed in their respective order. <ref>(Martin and Grube 2008)</ref> Upon the death of Itzamnaaj Bahlam the right to the throne would traditionally go to his heir through the Lady K'ab'al Xook line; however, this is not what happens and nearly 10 years after his death it is his son, Bird Jaguar IV, from Lady Ik’ Skull that takes the throne (Josserand 2007). |
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However, there is a great deal of speculation as to why the son of a secondary wife took the throne and did so after the king had been dead for 10 years. Current thinking is that the rightful heir through Lady K'ab'al Xook’s lineage may not have been her son, but perhaps a nephew or brother, but that this individual was captured during a conflict with [[Dos Pilas]] in 745 (Josserand 2007, Martin and Grube 2008). Information regarding this “interregnum” period tends to be a little conflicting as Martin and Grube (2008) note that at the city of [[Piedras Negras]] there is evidence of a new king at [[Yaxchilan]], Yopaat Bahlam II, who may have ruled for part or all of this period, however they note that supporting evidence of this reign does not exist at Yaxchilan. Josserand (2007) on the other hand notes that Lady Ik' Skull ruled as regent during this time and that it wasn’t until her death that [[Bird Jaguar IV]] took the throne. Two very familiar images come to mind at the mention of the site of Palenque, one of the top of Pakal’s sarcophagus lid where he is shown on an offering plate that is growing the tree of life of “axis mundi”, meanwhile, the other image is that of his mother handing him what had been termed the “drum major” crown at his accession. <ref> (Martin and Grube 2008) |
However, there is a great deal of speculation as to why the son of a secondary wife took the throne and did so after the king had been dead for 10 years. Current thinking is that the rightful heir through Lady K'ab'al Xook’s lineage may not have been her son, but perhaps a nephew or brother, but that this individual was captured during a conflict with [[Dos Pilas]] in 745 (Josserand 2007, Martin and Grube 2008). Information regarding this “interregnum” period tends to be a little conflicting as Martin and Grube (2008) note that at the city of [[Piedras Negras]] there is evidence of a new king at [[Yaxchilan]], Yopaat Bahlam II, who may have ruled for part or all of this period, however they note that supporting evidence of this reign does not exist at Yaxchilan. Josserand (2007) on the other hand notes that Lady Ik' Skull ruled as regent during this time and that it wasn’t until her death that [[Bird Jaguar IV]] took the throne. Two very familiar images come to mind at the mention of the site of Palenque, one of the top of Pakal’s sarcophagus lid where he is shown on an offering plate that is growing the tree of life of “axis mundi”, meanwhile, the other image is that of his mother handing him what had been termed the “drum major” crown at his accession. <ref> (Martin and Grube 2008)</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Ruling Queens in Ancient Maya Society during the Classic Period
During the 7th and 8th centuries in Mesoamerica, there is an evident shift in the roles women played in ancient Maya society as compared with the previous two centuries. It is during this time that a handful of women are depicted on monuments taking on roles and titles that would otherwise be reserved only for men (Miller and Martin 2004). Among high ranking women in ancient Maya society during the classic period are four women who rose to the position of ruling queen whether they acceded the throne in their own right due to the lack of a male heir to take the throne or as regent until their son’s were old enough to rule. These women include Lady of Tikal, Lady Yohl Ik'nal and Muwaan Mat of Palenque, Lady Six Sky of Naranjo, and Lady Ik' Skull of Yaxchilan,
Tikal
Lady of Tikal
| Lady of Tikal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign | April 19, 511 – ? 527 | ||||
| Predecessor | Chak Tok Ich'aak II AKA Jaguar Paw Skull | ||||
| Successor | Bird Claw | ||||
| |||||
The reign of Lady of Tikal (also known as Woman of Tikal) is interesting from the point of view that she began ruling at the age of six (on April 19, 511) but doesn’t seem to rule in her own right and co-rules with Kaloomte' Bahlam. [1]The daughter of Chak Tok Ich'aal II, Lady of Tikal’s reign is interesting because her image is defaced on Stela 23, which was also broken and re-erected incomplete, furthermore it is presumed that Stela 6 and Stela 12 also mention Lady of Tikal but here she is referred to by a different name. Additionally, her relationship to Bird Claw, who may have been her successor and the 20th ruler of Tikal, is unknown due to problems deciphering the text of Stela 8, but it is noted that Bird Claw does not carry the Tikal emblem [2].
An interesting note about the name Lady of Tikal is that it is used for the above referenced ruler as well as it being noted as another name for Lady Six Six of Dos Pilas/Naranjo who is also known as Woman of Tikal. It should be noted that for the sake of confusion the use of this name (Lady of Tikal) does indeed refer to two different women who were not contemporaries. The birth of Lady of Tikal was in Septermber of 504 meanwhile Lady Six Sky’s birth is not noted but she accedes the throne at Naranjo in 682, nearly 200 years after the birth of Lady of Tikal.
Palenque
Lady Yohl Ik'nal
| Lady Yohl Ik'nal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign | December 21, 583 – November 4, 604 | ||||
| Predecessor | Kan Bahlam I | ||||
| Successor | Ajen Yohl Mat | ||||
| |||||
At Palenque we see a woman take the throne in 583 when Kan Bahlam I, the 7th ruler, dies leaving no heir to succeed. The relationship between Lady Yohl Ik'nal and the former king is still undetermined as to whether she was the king’s daughter or sister, however, several remarkable things should be noted about her reign. Lady Yohl Ik'nal was not only among the first women to rule during the Classic Period, but she ruled for a full term consisting of more than 20 years and she carried full royal titles which was an uncommon occurrence for women. [3]
Muwaan Mat
| Muwaan Mat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign | October 19, 612 – ? 615 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ajen Yohl Mat | ||||
| Successor | K'inich Janaab Pakal I | ||||
| |||||
Muwaan Mat (also known as Lady Sak K'uk' or Lady Beastie) rules for a short time after the death of Ajen Yohl Mat before K’inich Janaab Pakal I takes the throne. There is some conflicting thoughts on whether Muwaan Mat was another name for Lady Sak K'uk' the mother of K'inich Janaab Pakal. Martin and Grube (2008) note that the name Muwann Mat is associated with a male deity and therefore it is likely not another name for Lady Sak K'uk' and further note that the reign may be metaphorical or used in place as to not mention the real name of the ruler for this short time, AD 612-615; however, we do see we do see women portrayed as wearing costumes associated with maize gods and other deities [4] so it may not be so far fetched that Lady Sak K’uk’ used the name of a god instead of her own. This action would have showed that she had a direct connection with the gods and that her son had a valid right to rule. At the same point, we are told that until K'inich Janaab Pakal took the throne and during his younger years that it was probably his mother Lady Sak K'uk' and her consort K'an Mo' Hix that held most of the power [5] In terms of lineage (Schele and Freidel 1990:221) we are told that Lady Yohl Ik'nal was mother of Lady Sak K'uk' making Lady Yohl Ik'nal the grandmother of K'inich Janaab Pakal based on the iconography on Pakal’s sarcophagus.
Naranjo
Lady Six Sky
| Lady Six Sky | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign | 682 – 741 | ||||
| Predecessor | K'ahk Skull Chan Chaak | ||||
| Successor | K'ahk Tiliw Chan Chaak | ||||
| |||||
| Father | Bajlaj Chan K'awiil of Dos Pilas | ||||
| Mother | Lady Bulu' | ||||
Of the three queens, Lady Six Sky’s reign can be summed up as being the most impressive. The daughter of King Bajlaj Chan K'awiil of Dos Pilas, she arrives at Naranjo in the position of ruling queen and to establish a “new dynasty.” Shortly after her arrival she begins performing rituals, and during her reign Lady Six Sky commissions monuments on which tell us that she performed important calendric rituals. [6] Additionally she is shown on monuments taking on the role of a warrior-king by standing over a trampled captive; however, women weren’t normally displayed in this fashion (See Stela 24). [7] It is suspected that the following king K’ahk’ Tiliw Chan Chaak is the son of Lady Six Sky due to their close association to one another and the fact that he was born 5 years after her arrival to Naranjo.
Yaxchilan
Lady Ik' Skull
| Lady of Ik' Skull | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lady Ik' Skull, also known as Lady Eveningstar came to Yaxchilan from the city of Calakmul and was a secondary wife to Itzamnaaj Bahlam III (also referred to as Shield Jaguar II). Although she was a secondary wife, Lady Ik' Skull may have ruled for a short time in Yaxchilan’s history until her son Bird Jaguar IV was of an age to take the throne (Josserand 2007). A quick review of the dynastic history of Yaxchilan during Itzamnaaj Bahlam III’s reign tells us that he had three wives: Lady K'ab'al Xook (also written as Lady Xoc or Lady Xok), Lady Sak B'iyaan and Lady Ik' Skull of Calakmul, listed in their respective order. [8] Upon the death of Itzamnaaj Bahlam the right to the throne would traditionally go to his heir through the Lady K'ab'al Xook line; however, this is not what happens and nearly 10 years after his death it is his son, Bird Jaguar IV, from Lady Ik’ Skull that takes the throne (Josserand 2007).
However, there is a great deal of speculation as to why the son of a secondary wife took the throne and did so after the king had been dead for 10 years. Current thinking is that the rightful heir through Lady K'ab'al Xook’s lineage may not have been her son, but perhaps a nephew or brother, but that this individual was captured during a conflict with Dos Pilas in 745 (Josserand 2007, Martin and Grube 2008). Information regarding this “interregnum” period tends to be a little conflicting as Martin and Grube (2008) note that at the city of Piedras Negras there is evidence of a new king at Yaxchilan, Yopaat Bahlam II, who may have ruled for part or all of this period, however they note that supporting evidence of this reign does not exist at Yaxchilan. Josserand (2007) on the other hand notes that Lady Ik' Skull ruled as regent during this time and that it wasn’t until her death that Bird Jaguar IV took the throne. Two very familiar images come to mind at the mention of the site of Palenque, one of the top of Pakal’s sarcophagus lid where he is shown on an offering plate that is growing the tree of life of “axis mundi”, meanwhile, the other image is that of his mother handing him what had been termed the “drum major” crown at his accession. [9]
Notes
References
- Josserand, J. Kathryn. 2007. The Missing Heir at Yaxchilan: Literary Analysis of a Maya Historical Puzzle. In Latin American Antiquity vol 18(3) p 295-312.
- Martin, Simon and Nikolai Grube. 2008. Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya. Thames and Hudson, London.
- Miller, Mary and Simon Martin. 2004. Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. Thames and Hudson, London.
- Schele, Linda and David Feidel. 1990. A Forest of Kinds, The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. William Morrow and Company, Inc, New York.
- Housten, Stephen D. 1993. Hieroglyphs and History at Dos Pilas Dynastic Politics of the classic maya. University of Texas Press, Austin.