Dos Pilas

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Dos Pilas is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization located in what is now Peten, Guatemala. It was founded as a subservient site to the great city of Tikal in 629. The king of Tikal installed his brother on the throne of the new city, and the two were quickly allied. Dos Pilas and a nearby city, Aguateca, were the twin capitals of a single ruling dynasty.

Dos Pilas was later sacked by invaders from the rival city state of Kalakmul, who reinstalled the king as a puppet ruler. It appears that the king then began a protracted war against Tikal, eventually sacking the city.

Following a campaign of conquest, Dos Pilas became a major power. Ongoing conflict in the region soon destabilised the power following the defeat of their Kalakmul allies and in 760 the city was abandoned.