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Revision as of 10:19, 20 September 2002 by Andre Engels (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Palenque is a Mayan archeological site on the Usumacinta River in the province of Chiapas, Mexico, about 130 km. south of Ciudad del Carmen. It is the location of the important classic-age Mayan city-state of B'aakal (Bone), deriving its modern name from the nearby community of Santo Domingo del Palenque. Situated in the western reaches of Mayan territory, on the edge of the southern highlands, B'aakal was a large and vital center of Mayan civilization from the 5th century AD to the 9th century.
The B'aakal state had a chequered career. Its original dynasts were perhaps Olmec. Politically, the city experienced diverse fortunes, being disastrously defeated by Kalakmul in 599 and again in 611
Nevertheless, B'aakal produced what is arguably the best known Mayan Ajaw (king), Pakal the Great, who ruled from 615 to 683, and left one of the most magnificent tomb-works in the Mayan world.
During the 8th century, B'aakal came under increasing stress and, in concert with most other Classic Mayan city-states, disappeared back into the forest shortly after 800. The district remained essentially abandoned until the coming of the Spanish in the 1520s. Thereafter it followed standard South Mexican history.
A list of known Mayan rulers of the city is as follows:
K'uk B'alam I 431-435 "Casper" 435-487 B'utz Aj Sak Chiik 487-501 Ahkal Mo' Naab I 501-524 vacant ? K'an Joy Chitam I 529-565 Ahkal Mo' Naab II 565-570 vacant ? K'an B'alam I 572-583 Yohl Iknal (fem.) 583-604 Aj Ne' Ohl Mat 605-612 Sac K'uk' (fem.) 612-615 d. 640 K'inich Janaab' Pakal I the Great 615-683 K'inich K'an B'alam II 683-702 K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II 702-711 d. 722? Xoc (regent for Kan-Joy Chitam II) 711?-c. 722 K'inich Ahkal Mo' Naab III 722-729 > K'inich Janaab' Pakal II fl. c. 742 K'inich K'uk B'alam II 799-?