Ah K'iche'

Ah Kʼicheʼ meant a lord of the Kʼicheʼ, the Maya people of the Guatemalan highlands, whose dynasty ruled from fortified capitals. Around 1200 their forefathers came from the Gulf coast with the worship of Tohil, conquered the highland valley and settled at Jakawitz.

They moved to Pismachi, where the rulers Kʼoqaib and Kʼonache built a ritual centre. Around 1400 Qʼuqʼumatz founded Qʼumarkaj; under his son Kʼiqʼab the kingdom subdued the Tzʼutujil and Kaqchikel. A rebellion in 1470 drove the Kaqchikel away to found Iximche, and Kʼiqʼab's death in 1475 began a decline.

After accepting Aztec overlordship in 1510, the Kʼicheʼ fell to Pedro de Alvarado in 1524. The war leader Tecún Umán died at Xelajú, captured lords were burned and Qʼumarkaj was razed; Kʼicheʼ history was preserved in the Popol Vuh.