Tikal–Calakmul War (c. 562 CE)
562 CE · Tikal (present-day Petén Department, Guatemala) · World · Medieval
Tikal was defeated; its king Wak Chan K'awiil is thought to have been captured and sacrificed (one account), and for about 130 years afterward Tikal erected almost no dated monuments.
Belligerents
Calakmul (Snake dynasty) and its ally Caracol
- Commanders
- Sky Witness (king of Calakmul), Yajaw Te' K'inich II (king of Caracol)
- Strength
- No reliable record
Tikal
- Commanders
- Wak Chan K'awiil
- Strength
- No reliable record
Background
In the 6th century the Snake dynasty made Calakmul its capital and began courting the city-states around Tikal. In 556 CE Tikal punished Caracol for going over to Calakmul, and Caracol's Altar 21 afterward recorded a "star war" against Tikal in 562 CE, the term used in Maya inscriptions for a decisive campaign.
Course of the battle
- Caracol changes sidesCaracol, formerly in Tikal's camp, switched sides with Calakmul's backing.
- Tikal's punishmentIn c. 556 CE Tikal took up arms against Caracol, and relations between the two broke down.
- Star WarIn 562 CE Calakmul and Caracol joined forces to defeat Tikal.
- The HiatusTikal fell into a long period of silence, and some of the city's monuments were defaced.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 562 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Tikal (now Petén, Guatemala) |
| Result | Tikal was defeated; its king Wak Chan K'awiil is thought to have been captured and sacrificed (one account), and for about 130 years afterward Tikal erected almost no dated monuments. |
| Winner | Calakmul and Caracol |
| Casualties | No reliable record |
| Territorial change | Calakmul became the hegemon of the Maya lowlands, encircling Tikal with a network of marriage alliances and vassals; Caracol prospered as a result. |
Impact
This war ushered in the Classic Maya pattern of rivalry between two great powers, and the Snake dynasty dominated lowland politics for more than a century afterward.
See the world in 562 on the map →