Knot Ajaw

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Knot Ajaw/Knot Ahaw
Ajaw
King of Caracol
Reign24 June 599 - 613
PredecessorYajaw Te' K'inich II
SuccessorK'an II
Born28 November 575
Caracol
Died613(613-00-00) (aged 37–38)
Caracol
FatherKing Yajaw Te' K'inich II
MotherLady 1 of Caracol
ReligionMaya religion

Knot Ajaw was a king of the Maya city-state Caracol in Belize, a successor of his father Yajaw Te' K'inich II. He reigned AD 599-613>.

Name[edit]

Ajaw (Ahaw) means "king" or "ruler" in Mayan. This king is also known as Ruler IV, Ahaw Serpent and Flaming Ahaw.

Biography[edit]

Birth and family[edit]

Knot Ajaw (also known as "Saak Ti' Huun") was the eldest son of the king Yajaw Te' K'inich II. His mother was Lady 1 of Caracol. His stepmother was Lady Batz' Ek' and his half-brother was K'an II. Grandparents of Knot Ajaw were K'an I and Lady K'al K'inich (named after the Sun god).[1]

He was born on November 28, 575.

Reign[edit]

He acceded on June 24, 599. He may have co-ruled during the last years of his father.[2]

Stela 6 accords a full emblem glyph to a lord named Chekaj K'inich, who is referred to as a "younger brother", presumably of Yajaw Te' K'inich; this suggests that he may have acted as a sort of "guardian uncle" to Knot Ajaw.

His successor was his younger brother.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens by Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube
  2. ^ Martin and Grube 2000:90