The Questionable Emperor of Teotihuacan: Rethinking the Role of Jatz’oom Kuy in Maya History

Abstract

Purpose. This article challenges the identification of an individual named Jatz’oom Kuy (Spearthrower Owl) as the emperor of Teotihuacan that is widely accepted in historiography.

Methods. To ensure a comprehensive analysis of the sources, we employed a range of both general scientific and specialized historical methods. The former includes methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction. Particular emphasis in our study was placed on the iconographic method.

Results. Our new interpretation of the sources has helped to clarify certain obscure passages in Maya inscriptions. We argue that in 378, Jatz’oom Kuy personally participated in the conquest of Tikal as the commander of a Mexican armed forces. In the early fifth century, he likely served as the representative of Teotihuacan in the Maya region of Peten and, as of 435, was residing in Maya area rather than in Central Mexico. We also succeeded in identifying another previously unknown Mexican military leader named Kup … Chʼeen.

Conclusions. The results of our research contradict the prevailing historiographical view that Jatz’oom Kuy was the supreme ruler of Teotihuacan and resided there permanently. Their significance extends far beyond the clarification of isolated historical episodes, as scholars have long attempted to reconstruct the political organization of Teotihuacan based on evidence from Maya written sources. Our study shows that such reconstructions must be approached critically and with caution. Maya, it appears, rarely mentioned the ruler(s) of the distant metropolis on their monuments and showed little interest in the internal affairs of Teotihuacan. Instead, their attention focused primarily on those foreign figures with whom they interacted directly, namely the Mexican representatives stationed in the Peten region.