Cauac Sky

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Cauac Sky, or Kawak Sky, also known as K'ahk' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, was the greatest leader of the ancient Maya city-state of Quiriguá.

Cauac Sky founded the Sky Dynasty and ruled the city from 725 to 748 AD. The most significant event of his reign -- and of Quiriguá's history -- occurred in A.D. 738 (9.15.6.14.6 on the Mayan calendar), when his forces defeated the city of Copán. The ruler of Copán, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, or 18 Rabbit, was captured and was later beheaded.

Before Cauac Sky's bold move, Quiriguá had been a dependency of Copán. The defeat of Copán led to its decline but heralded a golden age for its former dependent. For the next 38 years, stonecutters of Quiriguá created zoomorphs and stellae celebrating their legendary king. Quiriguá became a fully autonomous city which controlled the main trade route from the Caribbean to the Maya world. Meanwhile, this incident was followed by a 20-year hiatus in inscriptions at Copán, as well as the disappearance of any further mention of 18 Rabbit.

Current evidence leads to the conclusion that Cauac Sky died in 748 AD. There remains a stone at Quiriguá, now identified as Zoomorph G, which seems to have served as his funeral marker.

Several other Sky rulers reigned at Quiriguá in ensuing years -- Sky Xul for 11 years, and three others, Imx Dog, Scroll Sky, and Jade Sky -- each for about five years. But none reached the heights achieved by their predecessor.