Late Classic Period Maya Warfare

In the Late Classic period evidence for warfare becomes much more abun­dant, particularly as documented through hieroglyphic inscriptions. Rivalries that had originated in the Early Classic continued, such as those between Tikal and Kaanul, and Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras, while new ones also appear, such as those between Palenque and Tonina, and Copan and Quirigua.

18

CE.

On the western edge of the Maya area, King Bahlam Ajaw (Jaguar Lord) of Tortuguero in Tabasco commemorated his defeat of the most westerly major site of Comalcalco in 649 ce on monument 6. After this date Comalcalco stopped using its own Joychan emblem glyph and instead adopted the Baakal, or bone, emblem glyph; emblem glyphs were com­pounds of signs associated in some way with distinct political entities, though they are incompletely understood. The Baakal emblem glyph is usually associated with Palenque but was also claimed for a period by the site of Tortuguero. This suggests political subordination, but it is unclear at present whether this was to Tortuguero or, ultimately, Palenque, then ruled by its most famous king, K'inich Janaab Pakal.^[410]

Though Palenque kings were rarely depicted as warriors, the site was involved in numerous wars with its neighbours for control over trade routes along the Usumacinta River. Its major rival was Tonina, located 64 km to the south in the highlands of Chiapas. At this latter site public art commemorat­ing its military successes is prominently displayed.

Another important rivalry in the Usumacinta River region was that between Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras. Carved monuments describe numer­ous conflicts between these two centres spanning from 359 to 808 ce, includ­ing four victories by Piedras Negras and six by Yaxchilan.^[412] The extent of warfare in this region has been further underscored by the discovery of a fortified territorial border dating to the eighth century ce between these two polities, which also supports arguments in favour of material motiva­tions for war.^[413]

In the northern lowlands, the construction of the longest road in Mesoamerica directly connecting Coba with Yaxuna 100 km to its west has been interpreted as infrastructure designed for the purpose of rapid troop deployment and, thus, as evidence of military expansion. This road, which may have been commissioned by Queen Lady K'awiil Ajaw to help Coba gain the upper hand against its ascending Puuc rivals in the north-western part of the peninsula, could have been constructed with the approval of Kaanul allies. However it fell into disuse by 700 ce, as Chichen Itza began its rise to dominance in the region.^[414]

The Tikal-Kaanul rivalry was also felt in the south-east periphery of the Maya region. Copan, in western Honduras, was a long-time ally of Tikal and had established Quirigua as a colony in 426 ce. Hieroglyphic inscriptions at Quirigua, however, record its defeat of Copan, which resulted in the capture and sacrifice of Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, the thirteenth ruler of that site, in 738 ce.^[415] This revolt may have been stimulated by the powerful Kaanul kingdom, based on Quirigua's much smaller size compared to Copan and the fact that it received a lord from Calakmul just two years earlier.