Qualla: The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj en-us © 2026 Bendyline Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:09 GMT Qualla serial false Qualla support@bendyline.com yes https://qualla.com/_res/siteimages/rsslogo.png Qualla: The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom: Introduction https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj/ The Popol Vuh, one of the most extraordinary documents to survive the European conquest of the Americas, tells the story of the K'iche' Maya in layered registers -- mythological creation narratives, genealogies of ruling lineages, and the political history of a kingdom that dominated the Guatemalan highlands for three centuries. At the center of that kingdom sat Q'umarkaj, a fortified city near what is now Santa Cruz del Quiche. Its name in K'iche' meant "place of the rotten cane." In Nahuatl, it was called Utatlan. Whatever the language, the city at its peak sheltered some 15,000 people and served as the capital of a state that stretched from highland Guatemala into Mexico, subduing the Tz'utujil, Kaqchikel, Mam, and Pipil peoples. By 1524, it was ashes.

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]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/f/x/j/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj-wp/9fxj-the-place-of-the-rotten-cane-rise-and-fall-of-the--intro.mp3 0:06 1 full The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom: Strangers from the Gulf Coast https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj/ The K'iche' people had lived in the Guatemalan highlands since roughly 600 BCE, but the kingdom that bears their name began around 1200 CE, when outsiders arrived from the Mexican Gulf coast via the Pasion River. These newcomers -- seven tribes including the three K'iche' lineage...

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]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/f/x/j/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj-wp/9fxj-the-place-of-the-rotten-cane-rise-and-fall-of-the--strangers-from-the-gulf-coast.mp3 0:06 2 full The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom: The Nagual Lord and the Murdered Bride https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj/ The kingdom's expansion gathered force under Quq'kumatz, who settled the Nima K'iche' lineage at Q'umarkaj and became known as the greatest "nagual" lord -- a shape-shifter said to transform into snakes, eagles, jaguars, and even blood, able to fly into the sky or descend to Xiba...

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]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/f/x/j/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj-wp/9fxj-the-place-of-the-rotten-cane-rise-and-fall-of-the--the-nagual-lord-and-the-murdered-bride.mp3 0:06 3 full The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom: Aztec Shadows and Spanish Steel https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj/ After K'iq'ab's death, the weakened K'iche' fought constantly against former allies and vassals. From around 1495, the Aztec empire began asserting influence on the Pacific coast and into the Guatemalan highlands. Under the tlatoani Ahuitzotl, the Aztecs conquered Soconusco provi...

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]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/f/x/j/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj-wp/9fxj-the-place-of-the-rotten-cane-rise-and-fall-of-the--aztec-shadows-and-spanish-steel.mp3 0:06 4 full The Place of the Rotten Cane: Rise and Fall of the K'iche' Kingdom: Burned Alive at the Place of Rotten Cane https://qualla.com/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj/ The K'iche' chose Tecun Uman, a lord from Totonicapan, as their war commander, and he was ritually prepared for battle. He and 8,400 warriors met the Spanish-led army outside Pinal, south of Quetzaltenango. They were defeated. After several more losses, the K'iche' rulers offered...

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]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://qualla.com/_m/9/f/x/j/k-iche-kingdom-of-q-umarkaj-wp/9fxj-the-place-of-the-rotten-cane-rise-and-fall-of-the--burned-alive-at-the-place-of-rotten-cane.mp3 0:06 5 full