Editing Tikal (section)

====Tikal and Copán====
In the 5th century, the power of the city reached as far south as [[Copán]], whose founder [[Kʼinich Yax Kʼukʼ Mo']] was clearly connected with Tikal.<ref name=w192>Webster 2002, p.192.</ref> Copán itself was not in an ethnically Maya region and the founding of the Copán dynasty probably involved the direct intervention of Tikal.<ref name=af407>Wyllys Andrews & Fash 2005, p.407.</ref> Kʼinich Yax Kukʼ Moʼ arrived in Copán in December 426, and bone analysis of his remains shows that he passed his childhood and youth at Tikal.<ref name=faf26>Fash & Agurcia Fasquelle 2005, p.26.</ref> An individual known as [[Ajaw]] Kʼukʼ Mo' (lord Kʼukʼ Moʼ) is referred to in an early text at Tikal and may well be the same person.<ref>Looper 2003, p.37.</ref> His tomb had Teotihuacan characteristics and he was depicted in later portraits dressed in the warrior garb of Teotihuacan. Hieroglyphic texts refer to him as "Lord of the West", much like Siyaj Kʼakʼ.<ref name=faf26/> At the same time, in late 426, Copán founded the nearby site of [[Quiriguá]], possibly sponsored by Tikal itself.<ref name=af407/> The founding of these two centers may have been part of an effort to impose Tikal's authority upon the southeastern portion of the Maya region.<ref>Looper 2003, p.38.</ref> The interaction between these sites and Tikal was intense over the next three centuries.<ref>Looper 1999, p.263.</ref>

A long-running rivalry between Tikal and Calakmul began in the 6th century, with each of the two cities forming its own network of mutually hostile alliances arrayed against each other in what has been likened to [[Tikal–Calakmul wars|a long-running war]] between two Maya superpowers. The kings of these two capitals adopted the title ''kaloomteʼ'', a term that has not been precisely translated but that implies something akin to "[[high king]]".<ref>Webster 2002, pp.168-9.</ref>

The early 6th century saw another queen ruling the city, known only as the "[[Lady of Tikal]]", who was very likely a daughter of Chak Tok Ichʼaak II. She seems never to have ruled in her own right, rather being partnered with male co-rulers. The first of these was Kaloomteʼ Bʼalam, who seems to have had a long career as a general at Tikal before becoming co-ruler and 19th in the dynastic sequence. The Lady of Tikal herself seems not have been counted in the dynastic numbering. It appears she was later paired with lord "Bird Claw", who is presumed to be the otherwise unknown 20th ruler.<ref name=mg38-9/>