Yaxun Bʼahlam IV, also called Bird Jaguar IV, was a Mayan king from

Yaxchilan Yaxchilan () is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. In the Late Classic Period Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta River, with Pi ...

. He ruled from 752 until 768 AD, continuing the period of prosperity started by his father Itzamnaaj Bʼahlam III. He had to struggle to take and hold

power Power most often refers to: * Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work" ** Engine power, the power put out by an engine ** Electric power * Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events ** Abusive power Power may a ...

, as he was not perceived to be the

rightful heir Rightful Heir is the 149th episode of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', and the 23rd episode of the sixth season. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet crew ...

to the throne.

Early life

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

Calakmul Calakmul (; also Kalakmul and other less frequent variants) is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul was one of the l ...

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

Accession

There is a ten-year gap between the death of Itzamnaaj Bʼahlam III and the beginning of the reign of Yaxun Bʼahlam. A contemporaneous inscription from

Piedras Negras Piedras Negras may refer to: * Piedras Negras, Coahuila, a city in the state of Coahuila, Mexico ** Piedras Negras Municipality, a municipality in Mexico, with the center in the eponymous city * Piedras Negras (Maya site) Piedras Negras is the ...

mentions a ruler named Sak Jukub Yopaat B'ahlam being in office in July 749. On that day, Sak Jukub Yopaat B'ahlam witnessed the anniversary of Piedras Negras Ruler 4's accession. Either Sak Jukub erected no monuments, or they were destroyed by Yaxun B'ahlam, as he is only mentioned one time at Piedras Negras. This may indicate a struggle for the throne. Also, as Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan were rivals, this could have meant that Piedras Negras had gained control of Yaxchilan for a short time or at least had a more peaceful dynamic during those years. Yaxun Bʼahlam took the throne on May 3, 752, but he had problems even after he succeeded. In order to legitimize his claim to the

throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign on state occasions; or the seat occupied by a pope or bishop on ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the mona ...

, Yaxun Bʼahlam 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 Bʼahlam, including

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

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 A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fu ...

projects at Yaxchilan had ceased. He was succeeded by his son Itzamnaaj Bahlam IV in 769.

Marriages

Yaxun Bʼahlam had married Lady Chak Joloom, Lady Wak Tuun of Motul de San José, Lady Wak Jalam Chan Ajaw of Motul de San José, Lady Mut Bahlam of Hix Witz.''Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens'' by Simon Martin and

Nikolai Grube Nikolai Grube is a German epigrapher. He was born in Bonn in 1962.Houston et al 2001, p.486. Grube entered the University of Hamburg in 1982 and graduated in 1985. His doctoral thesis was published at the same university in 1990. After he received ...

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yaxun Balam 04 709 births 768 deaths Rulers of Yaxchilan