Yajawil of Oxmal
Yajawil of Oxmal Oxmal Yajawil | |
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Motto: To reach the stars | |
Anthem: Song of the Morning Shore | |
Capital and | Oxmal |
Official languages | Mutli Ot'aan |
Ethnic groups (2016) | Xumanec K'iche Ytze |
Demonym(s) | Oxmaleses |
Government | Absolute monarchy |
• K'aknal Yajaw | Muwal Te Xiu |
Legislature | Malom Holnal |
Sajal Holpop | |
Mam Ch'ob | |
Province of the Mutul | |
Population | |
• 2018 estimate | 5,250,000 |
• 2012 census | 5,110,774 |
the Yajawil of Oxmal, named after its capital of the same name, is a first level administration of the Mutul. It is bordered to the north by Kaniktun, to the east by Kupul, to the south by TBD, and share a maritime border with Kalk'in to the west.
Local legends say that the Yajawil was originally a kingdom founded by the Dwarf King Asuitok somewhere during the early second century AD. Asuitok is credited as the one who brought water to the otherwise desolate savanah and built the main pyramid temple of Oxmal, the Ch'at k'uhnah, in one night. To this day, Asuitok is still worship as the protector divinity of the Yajawil and the Divine Ancestor of the Xiu.
Since the days of Asuitok, the House of Xiu has remained in charge of the city and its dependency, even after it transitioned from an independent kingdom to a vassal state of the Ka Ytze and then a Kuchkabal under the Kawkom Family. It was only granted the status of Yajawil in 885 after the Xiu Revolt where their Patriarch overthrew and massacred the Kawkoms. The Xiu would lose their title of K'aknal Yajaw only once, and only to their cadet house of the Xiu-Tutul, after the Sajal War during which they sided with the Noble Republic against the Divine Throne. They were granted the title once more a generation later, and the Xiu Patriarchs have resumed being enthroned Yajaw of Oxmal by default since then.
Geography and environment
The Province is a relatively flat area of the Mutul with around 230 km of shoreline. Most of the surface is of sedimentary rock, much of which is of marine origin. The areas with the highest elevation are on the border with Kupul as the two Yajawils are separated by the Pok hills.