Nakabe Revolt
The Nakabe Revolt, also known as the Nakabe Civil War, is an event in Mutulese history that lasted from 370 BC to 300 BC and saw the end of the Paol'lunyu Dynasty as well as the destruction of Kaminyajunlyu. It ended with the defeat of the Ka Dynasty of Nakabe, and the establishment of a new Mutul : the Chaan Dynasty.
The consequences of the Nakabe revolt are numerous, as more than any other events before, it forced to define the role and the powers of the K’uhul Ajaw, and forced the centralization of the various competing Mutals' administrations and military.
Modern historians tend to consider the Nakabe Revolt as the true “birth” of the modern concept of Divine Monarchy, and the Chaan Dynasty that followed as the true start of the Mutul as we know it.
Sources
Informations on the events of the revolt and the civil war that followed are rare and heavily influenced by the propaganda of the winning Chaan Dynasty. The main sources of informations are the records of Sakal Witz and its priesthood, and the many stelae and other monuments erected by the various competing Mutals to commemorate their victories and accomplishments.
Context
By the start of the 4th century BC, the Paol’lunyu Dynasty had lost much of its powers. They only controlled a relatively small strip of land between Kaminyajulyu and Sakal Witz, but the Marches of their Mutul were out of their jurisdiction, as local aristocratic families had taken or retaken their hold on the borderlands and, by extension, on the military.
The Yajawil of Nakabe had been established around 680 BC (Long Count: 6.3.8.4.13) to serve as the Northern March of the Mutul, protecting the wealthy valleys of the Highlands against K’olti or Yakalmek raids. The charge of this new colony was left to the House of Kamat'e. Nakabe grew to become a successful Ajawil and one that quickly became an important player in the political spheres of the Extensive Period. they subjugated the K'ol kingdoms and tribes and obtained tributes from them, while also striking a secret alliance with the Yakalmek Kingdom, allowing the city to develop its economy.
During the Extensive Period, Nakabe wasn’t the only Ajawil acting autonomously from Kaminyajunlyu : Oxwitik, Izapak, and Takalik, had all obtained a great level of independence from the central crown and were now all in competitions against one another, seeking an even greater autonomy and more wealth.
Events
Start of the Revolt
Ek Balam became the Nakabe Ajaw in 376 BC. 6 years later, he refused to pay his tribute to the K’uhul Ajaw, proclaiming his independence. On May 17, 370 BC, Nakabe and Kaminyajunlyu fought in the battle of Xubih. It ended in the complete victory of the rebellious Ajawil, with the capture of the K'uhul Ajaw and of his generals. Monuments erected by victors in their capital city but also on the location of the battle clearly depict the sacrifice of the Divine Lord. Encouraged by this victory, the Nakabeians pushed into the Central Highlands and laid siege to Kaminyajunlyu. During a Star war, they managed to overrun the Paol'lunyu capital, destroy its walls and monuments, loot the royal treasure, and sacrifice the remnants of the royal family. October 31, 370 BC is thus recorded as the end date of the First Dynasty of the Mutul. Following his surprising victory, Ek Balam proclaimed himself as the new K'uhul Ajaw, chosen by the gods.
The Three Dynasties
Following the proclamation of the new dynasty, both Takalik and Izapak declared themselves independent states, also taking the title of K'uhul Ajaw to make sure none could claim to be their superior. Meanwhile, Oxwitik was on the loosing side of a war against the Lenca people, a war that would prove to be the demise of the Eastern Ajawil, and it didn't proclaim a new dynasty of its own. Only three dynasties thus competed either to control the others or to protect their sovereignty : the Ka, Hunal, and Syhij Dynasties, sometime called the Second, Third, and Fourth Divine Dynasties of the Mutul respectively.
Highlands Campaign
The three dynasties will spend the next Tun (360 days) of their rule securing their borders and their network of vassals and dependencies. The Hunal Mutal took direct control over the Southern March and its ressources. It continued trades with the Syhij Mutal, whom had secured the most important farmlands of the region, and even supplied Oxwitik in food and weapons against the Lencas. The Hunal also sent multiple raids against the Highlands, to contest them from Nabak, or just to disturb Ka’s presence in the region.
Meanwhile, the Ka themselves continued their expansion. A second campaign in Tun 6.19.4 allowed them to take control of the jade pits and obsidians pits. Despite constant harassment from the Hunal Mutal, they were able to besiege Nojol Witz. However, it seems Ak’nom Petaj didn’t destroyed the city, and preferred to negociate the disbanding of all troops under Nojol Witz banner, plus the interdiction for the holy city’s elites to raise any soldier.
The first real counter-attack from Takalik Abak happened the following year, when the gathered troops of the Hunal Mutal marched on the Nek’ajal Highlands. It would prove to be successful, managing to plunder and destroy most of the Nakabe fortresses, but was unable to gain any foothold on the region.
This back-and-forth between Nakabe and Takalik Abak lead to a better organization of the military forces, and even the creation of permanent, professional units. These armies would generally be under the control of the K’uhul Ajawob themselves, of loyal friends, or close family members. They weren’t rewarded in lands but with a salary, paid in corn and clothes of cotton in the south, or in corn, obsidian, and various luxury goods in the north. Records of the salaries paid will be written to keep track of them, while the taxes collectors will know deep reforms to allow for an easier and faster perception of the taxes.
One minor exception to this professionalisation of the armies was Izapak. Even if it counted on its population advantage for its defense, the rulers of the city prefered to lead armies of Chi’kinli mercenaries when on the offense. These tribes from the western mountains always had tenses relationship with their neighbors of the lowlands, but the maize and luxury goods, such as obsidian mirrors, was enough to make them temporary allies of the Syhij Dynasty. They would prove to be efficient against both Nakabe, winning important battles against them, and Takalik Abak too, once the alliance with the Hunal Dynasty was broked off. Consequences of this use of mercenaries was the “Mutlisation” of the Chi’kinli tribes, but also the loose in power of the Izapak warrior class, as they more and more reverted to become landlords and long-range merchants, despite the troubled times.
Hunal court plotting
The first change in the statu quo that started to be installed between the three Mutals was the death of Yuknoom Chen, the K’uhul Ajaw of Takalik Abak, in 6.19.11.5.12. Inheriting the throne was the young Yoopat Hix. His young age and inexperience in political and diplomatic matters raised the concerns of his Court, to the point his uncle, Tajoom Ti’ Chan, and warmaster of the late K’uhul Ajaw, was seen as a viable option to replace him.
In 6.19.9.15.7, Tajoom Ti’ Chan marched on Takalik Abak and deposed his nephew, with the help of the royal court. This changed the political map of the Mutals, as Izapak refused to recognize Tajoom Ti’ Chan as the legal successor of Yuknoom Chen, and called for the reinstallment of his son. A diplomatic back-and-forth followed, leading to the sacrifice of Yoopat Hix, and the end of the pact between the two cities.
The year that followed were not easy, as Tajoom Ti’ Chan, distrustful of the courtesans that put him in power, did his best to reduce their influence, and gave more power to the generals and the Army, loyal to him alone. Suspected traitors and plotters were sacrificed, while the dwindling trades with Izapak led to episodes of famines and popular revolts, plus the opening of a second front, dividing the forces of the city, and forcing them to abandon the positions they had taken in the Highlands back to Nakabe. However, Tajoom Ti’ Chan dictatorial policies allowed him to stay in power and to let his son, Tajoom Uk’ab, inherit the title of K’uhul Ajaw, even as the generals became predominant in all aspects of political life to the point of overshadowing the K’uhul Ajaw.
Divisions became more and more apparent in the Hunal Mutal. New monuments or no longer built, except in a few instances, and historians can only guess the decisions made by the K’uhul Ajaw and his advisors during this period, but consequences as obvious as both Izapak and Nakabe multiply the construction of steles and monuments commemorating victories over Takalik Abak.
Takalik Abak’s decay may also have been caused by the return of court plotting among the generals and their families, as some indications let’s us supposed Tajoom Uk’ab wasn’t succeeded by his son, but by one of his generals, himself overthrown by a rival. Double agents from Izapak and Nakabe also seems to have played a role in the politics of this period.
On 7.0.4.6.12 (22 September 349 BC), Nakabe finally managed to tore down the walls of Takalik Abak and to plunder and destroy the city. Most of its generals, courtesans, and its K’uhul Ajaw, were captured and taken back to Nakabe to be sacrificed. Nakabe almost conquered back all of the past Mutul, and only Izapak continued its war against the Ka Dynasty. However, an unforeseen event would change drastically the balance of power : the Revolt of Yux.
The 5th Dynasty
Despite the destruction of their main rival, Nakabe couldn’t maintain its hold over the old Southern March. Cities under Takalik Abak dominion, such as Hunjay, Kakawkab’, and Tazumal, refused to pay tribute to the Ka Dynasty, preferring to ask Izapak for protection. The defeat of the Nakabeians army in 7.0.5.10.9 definitively pushed the Ka Dynasty out of the southern march, but also to show that Nakabe’s march toward the conquest of all the Mutals was not yet won.
However, the war that has been going for 20 years at the time, with almost a military campaign each year, and vassals of Nakabe had grown unruly as a result. One of these city in particular, Yux, built to keep control of the commercial road between the Mutals and the Olmecs cities. The city’s ruling class had many griefs against the Ka dynasty, mostly the growing competition of the Yakalmek, the nominal allies of Nakabe, who had been taking over most of the benefits of trades in the region, without concern from the K’uhul Ajaw who saw it as a way to buy their support. Slowly after the defeat of 7.0.5.10.9, the Yux Yajaw and the Izapak K’uhul Ajaw took contact and started to plot against Nakabe. Mural paintings and monuments of the period represent the Yux Yajaw Sachiaapo having a vision in public of Chaac, the god of rain and thunder, giving him a spear with the appearance of a snake. It seems he interpreted the event as a divine sign to start the revolt against Nakabe.
Another interpretation of the event is that Sachiaapo was famous for being an “holy man” even before his intronisation as a Yajaw, and prones to visions and important prophetic dreams. This and the description given of these transes give some historians the idea that he was an epileptic, and had an episode during the heavy storm that is reported to have hit Yux that day. These two events combined seems to have been enough to decide Sachiaapo to go to war against his master.
The princes of Yux proclaimed that the Ajaw of Nakabe was an imposter, and that Chaac was “no longer their bodies, no longer their blood, no longer their shadow”. Sachiaapo also declared that his visions and his bloodties with the Ka and Paol’lunyu Dynasties meant that Chaac had “chosen” his house to be the next one in which he will incarnate.
Yax position at the start of the war was less than good, with the Yakalmek to the north and the Ka Mutal to the east. The first campaigns of Sachiaapo were against their northern rivals, inflicting minor defeat to the Yak Ajaw, and managing to take some hold over the disputed roads. The armies of Nakabe will be able to plunder and destroy most of Yux’s lands, but couldn’t break the city’s defenses and were forced to abandon the siege. Most of the damages done to Yux food supplies proved to be not enough, as Izapak was able to supply the revolted city. A support that was in fact beneficial to Izapak, as they could once again trade with the Olmecs.
Strong of these relative success, with the development of economic ties between the two Mutals, the possibility of an alliance is in open discussion. During the 7.0.8 Tun, the treaty was signed, even if it was de facto in place since a few years. To conclude the treaty, Sachiaapo marry one of the Izapak K’uhul Ajaw’s daughters, which will give birth in 7.0.10 of an inheritor : Wabak’el Chaac.
Last years
In 7.0.18.5.13, the K’uhul Ajaw of Izapak died of illness, and his son, Chak Tok Ich'aak, took the throne. He would continue the politic of his father, and maintain the alliance with Yux against the Nakabe, while securing the loyalty of the Southern city-states.
The battles changed of locations during that second half of the Civil War. From happening around a North-South axis, mostly in the Highlands and around Takalik Abak. With the betrayal of Yux, the military campaigns took place mostly in the Northern March, on a East (Nakabe)-West(Yux) axis, and with more and more “barbarians” kingdoms or chieftains (Yakalmek, K’ol, Chik’in, Ytze..) joining as allies or mercenaries.
At the battle of Kuhua’leno (LC : 7.1.1.1.7), Chak Tok Ich’aak died. Still young, he had no designed inheritor. While he had uncles and cousins longing for the throne of Izapak, the vast majority of the city’s aristocrats, with the help of the army, refused to recognize them and invited Sachiaapo to become the K’uhul Ajaw of Izapak. Sachiaapo agreed, organized the ritual sacrifices of the other pretenders, and returned to the war with Nakabe, now ruling both the west and the south of the old Mutul. This event is generally considered the end of the Syhij Dynasty.
Conflict continued between Nakabe and Yux. Despite having to consolidate his rule on the Western and Southern Marches, Sachiaapo was able to contain the Ka Dynasty and fix the frontline 250 km to the east of Yux, and fought back two attempts by the Nakabeians to overrun the southern march. The last great campaign done by Sachiaapo in 7.1.5 was the siege and liberation of Nojol Witz. The commemoration of this event is the last stele erected in Yux, before the death of the K’uhul Ajaw.
In 7.1.6.1.0, Wabak’el Chaan became the co-ruler of Yux and Izapak. It seems he was crowned in Izapak, but continued to rule from Yux and left most of the day-to-day gestion of the Mutal to his court, while he lead the multiple military campaigns against Nakabe.
Despite his young age, and with the help of a Ch’ob of veterans warlords and generals, Wabak’el managed to continue what his father started : securing Nojol Witz, and taking over the Chexo Valley, where lied the ruins of Kaminyajunlyu. From there, the rest of the Highlands followed, as proven by the fact Wabak’el Chaan was able to nominate a civil governor to Yaxh’an. Meanwhile, to the west, a successful campaign managed to definitively cut Nakabe from their Yakalmex allies. Their sources of revenues lost, their reserves in manpower depleted, the Ka Dynasty had completely lost the initiative.
In LC 7.1.11.0.5, Wabak’el Chaan started what would be the final campaign against Nakabe. Two armies, one from the west led by his uncle, and another from the south led by himself, attacked the Northern Mutal. After a serie of skirmishes and small battles, the two armies joined under the walls of Nakabe. Despite an attempt by a K’ol army to help the besieged city that was defeated, Nakabe would finally fall in 7.1.11.18.1. Most of the city’s aristocracy and the Ka Dynasty above all. They were shown in the city of Yux during a trumph, along with the stolen treasures of Nakabe, and then sacrificed.
Lone claimant to the title of K’uhul Ajaw still alive, Wabak’el spent the following two years fighting the last remnants of the Nakabeians, and retaking Oxwitik from the Lencas Kingdoms. Once all the borders of the Mutul secured, he gathered all the Yajawob and vassals in Nojol Witz, where he will be officially be crowned K’uhul Ajaw in LC 7.1.13.4.11, a date generally remembered by Mutulese historians as the official end of the Nakabe Civil War. It is also during that ceremony that Wabak’el Chaan would declare the creation of a new Dynasty : the Chaan Dynasty