Yaxun Bʼalam IV

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For his grandfather-namesake, see Yaxun Bʼalam III.
Yaxun Bʼalam IV
Ajaw
British Museum Yaxchilan lintel 16.jpg
Lintel 16 from Yaxchilan depicts king Yaxun Bʼalam IV with his captive, king of Santa Elena
King of Yaxchilan
Reign3 May 752–768
PredecessorItzamnaaj Bahlam III
Lady Eveningstar (as possible regent)
Successor
Born27 August 709
Yaxchilán
Died768(768-00-00) (aged 58–59)
Yaxchilán
Spouse
of Motul de San José
of Motul de San José
of Hix Witz
Issue
FatherItzamnaaj Bahlam III
MotherLady Eveningstar

Yaxun Bʼalam IV[pronunciation?], also called Bird Jaguar IV, was a Mayan king from Yaxchilan. He ruled from 752 until 768 AD, continuing the period of prosperity started by his father Itzamnaaj Bʼalam II. He had to struggle to take and hold power, as he was not perceived to be the rightful heir to the throne.

Early life[]

Yaxun Bʼalam was the son of Itzamnaaj Bʼalam and Lady Eveningstar. Lady Eveningstar was not the first wife of Itzamnaaj Bʼalam and was from Calakmul.

As Bird Jaguar was not the son of Lady Xoc (Itzamnaaj Bʼalam's first wife-aunt), he was not completely of the royal blood and would have difficulty acquiring the throne. Itzamnaaj Bʼalam commissioned a stele to be carved showing both Yaxun Bʼalam and Lady Xoc in the same panel, thus legitimating Yaxun.

Accession[]

There is a ten-year gap between the death of Itzamnaaj Bʼalam II and the beginning of the reign of Yaxun Bʼalam, indicating a possible struggle for the throne of Yaxchilan. Yaxun Bʼalam took the throne on May 3, 752, but he had problems even after he succeeded.[1] In order to legitimize his claim to the throne, Yaxun Bʼalam had a series of stelae created that pictured him with his father (including Stele 11).

Reign[]

Several buildings were constructed during the reign of Yaxun Bʼalam, including Temple 33 and Temple 21. During his life, he captured at least 21 people, as evidenced by the statement on Yaxchilan Stela 11. His seventeen-year reign was much shorter than that of his father's, and he died in 768. Within a generation of his death, the building projects at Yaxchilan had ceased. He was succeeded by his son in 769.

Marriages[]

Yaxun Bʼalam had married , of Motul de San José, of Motul de San José, of Hix Witz.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ James L. Fitzsimmons. Death and the Classic Maya Kings. University of Texas Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-292-78198-6. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  2. ^ Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens by Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube
Preceded by High Kings of Yaxchilan
752–768 		Succeeded by
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