- Cauac Sky
Cauac Sky, or Kawak Sky, also known as K'ahk' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, was the greatest leader of the ancient Maya city-state of
Quiriguá .Cauac Sky founded the Sky Dynasty and ruled the city from 725 to 748 AD. The most significant event of his reign -- and of
Quiriguá 's history -- occurred in A.D. 738 (9.15.6.14.6 on the Mayan calendar), when his forces defeated the city ofCopán . The ruler ofCopán ,Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil , or 18 Rabbit, was captured and was later beheaded.Before Cauac Sky's bold move,
Quiriguá had been a dependency ofCopán . The defeat ofCopán led to its decline but heralded a golden age for its former dependent. For the next 38 years, stonecutters ofQuiriguá createdzoomorph s andstella e celebrating their legendary king.Quiriguá became a fully autonomous city which controlled the main trade route from theCaribbean to the Maya world. Meanwhile, this incident was followed by a 20-year hiatus in inscriptions atCopán , as well as the disappearance of any further mention of 18 Rabbit.Current evidence leads to the conclusion that Cauac Sky died in 748 AD. There remains a stone at
Quiriguá , now identified asZoomorph G, which seems to have served as hisfuneral marker.Several other Sky rulers reigned at
Quiriguá in ensuing years -- Sky Xul for 11 years, and three others, Imx Dog, Scroll Sky, and Jade Sky -- each for about five years. But none reached the heights achieved by their predecessor.
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