At a Glance
- Kan Bʼalam II
- Reigned 684–702. Built Cross Group temples, ruled 18 years, died childless.
- Kʼan Joy Chitam II
- Reigned 702–c.722. Captured 711 by Toniná king Kʼinich Bʼaaknal Chaak.
- Humiliation
- Shown bound on Toniná Monument 122 — Palenqueʼs gods taken.
- Recovery
- Palenque revived under later kings until c.800 abandonment.
I. Overview
Kan Bʼalam finished the Cross, Sun and Foliated Cross temples praising his father Pakalʼs gods — the finest theology in Maya glyphs. His brother Kʼan Joy Chitam inherited peace but lost a war with highland Toniná. In 711 Tonináʼs warriors seized the holy lord himself and carved him kneeling, wrists bound. Palenque paid ransom or mourned; the dynasty survived but never regained Pakalʼs glory (WHE, Palenque).
II. Timeline
Cross Group
Three temples on one plaza told how gods gave Palenque maize, kingship and war. Tablets of 100+ glyphs each — Palenqueʼs scribes at their peak. Kan Bʼalam danced as gods on their dedication days.
Capture 711
Toniná Monument 122 shows Kʼan Joy Chitam kneeling, arms tied, head bowed. His captor boasts “he chopped the gods.” Palenqueʼs stelae stop for a decade — the city in shock until a new king, Kʼinich Ahkal Moʼ Naab, restored order c.722.
III. Gallery
IV. Watch
V. Sources
Sources
- WHE — Palenque.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Palenque/ - Mesoweb Palenque.
https://www.mesoweb.com/palenque/
One son built, one son bled; Bʼaakal endured.— after Cross Group tablets