Palenque’s Alliances with Tortuguero and Uxte’ K’uh

The Role of Interdynastic Marriages and Alliances in Late Classic Power Struggles and Local Conflicts

Abstract

This paper attempts to contribute to the research of interdynastic marriage and alliance strategies in the (Late) Classic Maya Lowlands and their purpose in a landscape of growing regional conflict. For this purpose, the power dynamics and interactions between the polities of Palenque, Tortuguero and Uxte’ K’uh will be analyzed. Relevant hieroglyphic inscriptions will be presented, temporally framing the start of such alliances and relating them to socio-political events.