Kayb'il B'alam (alternatively written Kaibil Balam) was a 16th-century leader of the Mam people Maya kingdom in the western highlands of Guatemala.[1] During the time of the Spanish invasion, the Mam population was mainly situated in Xinabahul (Now modern-day Huehuetenango). However, due to the Spanish conquest, the people returned to the stone fortifications of Zaculeu for protection.
The city was attacked in 1525 by conquistador Gonzalo de Alvarado y Chávez, cousin of Pedro de Alvarado.[2] Kayb'il B'alam and his warriors successfully repelled the attempted siege by the Spanish forces for several months until being forced to surrender after being reduced to the verge of starvation.[3]
In 1975, the Guatemalan Army created a special operations force, the Kaibiles, named after Kayb'il B'alam. The group is centered out of Huehuetenango ("Land of the Old") some 5km from the original stand off site at Zaculeu.