Kaybʼil Bʼalam (alternatively written Kaibil Balam) was a 16th-century leader of the

Mam people The Mam are an indigenous people in the western highlands of Guatemala and in south-western Mexico who speak the Mam language. Most Mam (617,171) live in Guatemala, in the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango.

in the Maya kingdom in the western highlands of Guatemala. During the time of the Spanish invasion, the Mam population was mainly situated in Xinabahul (now modern-day

Huehuetenango Huehuetenango () is a city and municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. The city is situated from Guatemala City, and is the last departmental capital on the Pan-American High ...

). However, due to the Spanish conquest, the people returned to the stone fortifications of

Zaculeu Zaculeu or Saqulew is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the highlands of western Guatemala, about outside the modern city of Huehuetenango. Occupation at the site dates to the Early Classic period (AD 250–600) of Mesoameric ...

for protection. The city was attacked in 1525 by '' conquistador''

Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras was a Spanish conquistador and brother of Pedro de Alvarado who participated in campaigns in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador (co-founding its present capital, San Salvador). Gonzalo de Alvarado was a native of ...

, brother of Pedro de Alvarado. Kaybʼil Bʼalam and his warriors successfully repelled the attempted siege by the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

forces for several months until being forced to surrender after being reduced to the verge of starvation.Recinos 1986, p.110. In 1975, the

Guatemalan Army The Guatemalan Armed Forces ( es, Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala) consists of the National Army of Guatemala (''Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala'', ENG), the Guatemalan National Defense Navy (''Marina de la Defensa Nacional'', includes Marines), the ...

created a

special operations Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...

force, the

Kaibiles The Kaibiles are a special operations wing of the Armed Forces of Guatemala. They specialize in jungle warfare tactics and counter-insurgency operations. Since 1974, more than 1,250 soldiers have graduated from the international training pro ...

, named after Kaybʼil Bʼalam. The group is centered out of

("Land of the Old") some 5 km from the original stand off site at Zaculeu.

Notes

References

* * 16th-century indigenous people of the Americas 16th-century rulers in North America Maya rulers Colonial Guatemala 16th century in Guatemala 16th century in the Maya civilization Mam Maya Guatemalan Maya people {{Mesoamerica-stub