First Tikal–Calakmul War
{{Short description|Military conflict}}
{{citation style|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = First Tikal–Calakmul War
| partof = Tikal–Calakmul wars
| image = Vessel with Battle Scene, 600-900 AD, Mesoamerica, Guatemala, Nebaj region, Maya, ceramic and slip, view 1 - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08798.JPG
| caption = Vase showing a battle scene between tikal and Calakmul
| date = 537–572
| place = Maya Lowlands: Southern Campeche, Chiapas, Northern Petén and Belize
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| territory = Calakmul conquers Yaxchilan and Naranjo
| result = Calakmul victory
| status =
| combatants_header =
| combatant2 = Calakmul-Dzibanche
Caracol
Bonampak
Lakantuum
| combatant3 = Yaxchilan
| commander1 = Wak Chan K’awiil †
| commander2 = Tuun K'ab' Hix
Sky Witness
| commander3 = K'inich Tatb'u Skull II
Knot-eye Jaguar II
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{{Campaignbox
| name =
| title = Tikal–Calakmul wars
| battles = Tikal–Calakmul wars 537–838 First Tikal–Calakmul War 537–572 – Second Tikal–Calakmul War 650–695 – Third Tikal–Calakmul War 720–744
| notes =
}}
The Tikal–Calakmul wars were a series of wars between Tikal and Calakmul. The First Tikal–Calakmul War was the first of these wars. During this and following conflicts in Petén vassal states like Naranjo and Dos Pilas were often used. Though Yaxchilan was in the war it only had a minor presence at the beginning.
Yaxchilan and Calakmul
File:BackpassagelookinBldg19Yaxchilan.JPG
In 537 the Ajaws of Bonampak, Lakamtuun, and Dzibanche (Calakmul) were captured by Yaxchilan.Martin & Grube 2000, p.121. Bonampak and Lakamtuun remained under the control of Yaxchilan but in retaliation Calakmul conquered the latter. This gave the polity a strategic position with territory in both the east and the west of Tikal.
Calakmul was the largest Classic Maya city ever, containing around 6,500 buildings in the initial 30 square kilometre area.Coe, M.D. (2011) The Maya. Thames & Hudson The population density in the urban core may have been 1,000/km2. Greater Calakmul, consisting of around 122 km2, probably had a density of around 420/km2. Together this would count for a total urban population of 50,000 inhabitants. Twenty secondary sites were found within the Calakmul kingdom, raising the population to around 200,000. There appear to have been smaller third- and fourth-level sites. When all populations are summed up, the total population of the Calakmul Kingdom may have been between 1.5 and 1.75 million people. This appears to be a larger population than the kingdom of Tikal.Braswell, G. E., Gunn, J. D., Domínguez Carrasco, M. R., Folan, W. J., Fletcher, L. A., Morales-López, A., & Glascok, M. D. (2004). Defining the terminal classic at Calakmul, Campeche. The terminal Classic in the maya lowlands: Collapse, transition, and transformation, 162-194.
All-out war
By 546 (9.5.11.11.18 on the Maya calendar) Naranjo had been conquered by Calakmul; during this time Aj Wosal was appointed ruler of Naranjo.Martin & Grube 2000, p.104.
In 561 (9.6.6.15.17) the ruler known as Sky Witness was crowned at Los Alcranes.Martin & Grube 2000, p.104. His reign began the Kaan dynasty in Dzibanche.
Sky Witness played a major role in the politics of the Maya. He forged an alliance with Caracol, which had previously been a major ally of Tikal.
In 562 (9.6.7.16.2) Wak Chan K’awiil, Ajaw of Tikal, was captured and sacrificed by soldiers from Caracol during a raid directly into the city of Tikal. His death ended the reign of his dynasty in Tikal.
In 564 (9.6.9.16.12) troops from Tikal had a victory in Caracol, but it was short lived.
File:Calakmul Wall Painting.jpg
In 572 (9.6.18.0.14) the year Sky Witness died Tikal was defeated.
Aftermath
File:Temple of the Great Jaguar.jpg
The political and economic implications of defeat by Calakmul had a major impact on Tikal. South of Tikal city but still in the kingdom was Mutul, Mutul actually prospered slightly from the war. Tikal remained one of the most powerful cities in Peten, even in the world, but having lost much of its importance power partially transferred to Mutul.
In 695 (9.13.2.14.19) 123 years later Tikal would turn the tables in Calakmul.Sharer & Traxler 2006, p.496.