Chel

The Chel were a priestly Maya lineage associated with Mayapan in northern Yucatán. Their later state of Ah Kin Chel was based at Tecoh near Izamal and included the fishing ports of Dzilam.

According to tradition, Mo-Chel foresaw war between the Cocom and Xiu, left Mayapan and founded his state in 1441. The Chel ruled it until the Spanish arrived. In 1527 its last ruler Namux Chel let Francisco de Montejo's men pass; the peninsula had submitted by 1547.