Kayb'il B'alam
Encyclopedia
Kayb'il B'alam was a 16th-century leader of the Mam people
Maya kingdom in the western highlands of Guatemala
. 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
. 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.
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.
Mam people
The Mam are a Native American people in the western highlands of Guatemala and in south-western Mexico.Most Mam live in Guatemala, in the departments of Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango...
Maya kingdom in the western highlands of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. During the time of the Spanish invasion, the Mam population was mainly situated in Xinabahul (Now modern-day Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango is a city and a municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. The municipality's population was over 81,000 people in 2002...
). However, due to the Spanish conquest, the people returned to the stone fortifications of Zaculeu
Zaculeu
Zaculeu or Saqulew is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the highlands of western Guatemala, about outside of the modern city of Huehuetenango. Occupation at the site dates back as far as the Early Classic period of Mesoamerican history...
for protection.
The city was attacked in 1525 by conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
Gonzalo de Alvarado y Chávez
Gonzalo de Alvarado
Gonzalo de Alvarado was the name of two Spanish conquistadors, both related to Pedro de Alvarado and participating in the conquest of Mexico and Central America...
, cousin of Pedro de Alvarado
Pedro de Alvarado
Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala. He participated in the conquest of Cuba, in Juan de Grijalva's exploration of the coasts of Yucatan and the Gulf of Mexico, and in the conquest of Mexico led by Hernan Cortes...
. Kayb'il B'alam and his warriors successfully repelled the attempted siege by the Spanish
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
forces for several months until being forced to surrender after being reduced to the verge of starvation.
In 1975, the Guatemalan Army created a special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
force, the Kaibiles
Kaibiles
The Kaibiles are a special operations force of the Military of Guatemala. They specialize in jungle warfare tactics and counter-insurgency operations....
, named after Kayb'il B'alam. The group is centered out of Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango is a city and a municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. The municipality's population was over 81,000 people in 2002...
("Land of the Old") some 5km from the original stand off site at Zaculeu.