Hunac Ceel

Hunac Ceel Cauich(fl. late 12th and early 13th centuries) was aMayageneral fromTelchaquillowho conqueredChichen Itzáand founded theCocomdynasty. While the rulers of Chichen Itzá were in part descendants ofToltecoutsiders who might have been disliked for being foreign oppressors or the war a simple one of conquest, the Maya history attributes the cause of the war to the theft of a wife of a powerful ruler by a powerful lord. (On the other hand, rulers of both the attackers and the attacked are labeled Itzá.)

Hunac Ceel Cauich
Sacred Cenoteat Chichén Itzá
Reign	Late 12th century – early 13th century
Born	12th century AD Mayapan
Died	c.1210 AD Mayapan
Dynasty	Cocom
Religion	Maya religion
Occupation	Military leader

According to the history, Hunac Ceel, also known as Cauich, unsuccessfully fought the Itzás, having been taken captive.Ah Mex K'uukthrew him into the sacredcenoteof Chichén Itzá as a sacrifice to the gods. However, he survived an entire night in the water and told a prophecy of the rain godChacabout the year's coming harvest and went on, under the sponsorship of Ah Mex K'uuk, to become lord ofMayapan,a city which, along with Chichen Itzá andUxmal,ruled northernYucatan(Chapter II, "The Rise of Hunac Ceel" inChilam Balam of Chumayel,see translationhere). With the assistance of highland forces, he attacked Chichen Itzá, overthrowing the local ruling elite and establishing Mayapan as the sole ruler of the region. Ralph L. Roys, in his commentary on the Book ofChilam Balam of Chumayelposits the interpretation that someone from Chichen Itzá stole away with the bride ofAh Ulil,the ruler ofIzamal.Hunac Ceel and his Mexican allies used this as pretext or reason to sack the city in Izamal's name and to go on to profoundly re-order the entire political landscape (Appendix C: "The Hunac Ceel Episode" ).

Legacy

Hunac Ceel's actions upset not only the political balance of power in north Yucatan but the demographics of Chichen Itzá and theLake Petén Itzáarea, where the Itzá were still living at the time of European contact.

The feature filmKings of the Sunbegins with Hunac Ceel's forces attacking Chichen Itzá. He is played byLeo Gordon.

In the year 2000, the Mexican folk dance and music group Hunac-Ceel was founded inSan Luis Potosí.

Sources

The main source describing Hunac Ceel's conspiracy and conquest is theBooks of Chilam Balam,especially the Books of Chilam Balam of Mani and of Chumayel, which describe Hunac Ceel as using treachery to driveChac-Xib-Chacout of Chichen Itzá in the year Tun 10 of Katun 8 Ahau, accompanied by the depopulation of the city and of his rise to power resulting from the event at the cenote.