K'iche'
The K'iche' were a Maya people who built a highland kingdom in Guatemala. Their court moved from Jakawitz to Pismachi'.
Around 1400 Q'uq'umatz founded Q'umarkaj, and under his son K'iq'ab the kingdom reached its height. A revolt in 1470 weakened it. In 1524 Pedro de Alvarado defeated the K'iche' at Xelajú and burned Q'umarkaj after suspecting an ambush; K'iche' scribes later preserved the Popol Vuh under Spanish rule.