Noj Petén

Nojpetén, "great island" in the Itza language, is a fortified town on an island in Lake Petén Itzá and the capital of the Itza Maya of the Petén basin. Their own histories say the Itza fled south around 1441–1446, after the Xiu overthrew their rule at Mayapan, and settled on the island, dividing the new city into four quarters by lineage. Low walls on the island shore may have been thrown up in haste against Spanish or Maya enemies. The ruler bore the title Aj Kan Ek'.

Cortés, marching to Honduras, crossed Itza country in March 1525 and was received by Kan Ek'; he left behind a lame horse, which the Itza fed flowers and meat and later made a statue of it to worship. The island then went unvisited for nearly a century. Franciscan friars from Yucatán reached it in 1618 and 1619, but the Itza refused to give up their gods, and in 1622 a friar and his Christian Maya companions were seized and sacrificed. Not until 1695 did Spanish roads again approach Nojpetén. On 13 March 1697 Martín de Ursúa's troops and attack boat stormed the island, the Itza swam to the shore, and the last independent Maya kingdom fell.

The later city of Flores lies here.