Ix Uhu'l Chan Lem, previously nicknamed Lady Eveningstar or Lady Ikʼ Skull (704-751), was a Maya queen and possible regent, wife of Itzam Kokaaj Bʼalam III, a Maya king of Yaxchilan. Their son, Yaxun Bʼalam IV, also known as "Bird Jaguar", succeeded his father as king. She was possibly a regent between 742 and 751.
Biography Ix Uhu'l Chan Lem came to Yaxchilan from Dzibanche (because she was a "Kalo'mte' of the East", like K'ahk' Ti' Chich, king of the Kaan dynasty in Dzibanche). She was a secondary wife to Shield Jaguar the Great (Itzam Kokaaj Bʼalam III).Martin & Grube 2000:122. Note that in Martin and Grube's 2nd (revised) edition of this work (2008), Itzamnaaj Bahlam's position in the dynastic sequence has changed from that given in the original edition, along with a modification to the orthography for his name (Martin & Grube 2008:122).
Although a secondary wife, Lady Ikʼ Skull may have ruled for a short time in Yaxchilan's history until her son Yaxun Bʼalam IV was old enough to take the throne.Josserand 2007 A review of the dynastic history of Yaxchilan during Itzamnaaj Bahlam's reign indicates that he had three wives: his aunt K'ab'al Xook, Lady Sak Bʼiyaan and Lady Ix Uhu'l Chan Lem, with K'ab'al Xook as the primary wife.Martin & Grube 2008:126 Upon the death of Itzam Kokaaj Bahlam III, the right to the throne would traditionally go to his heir through Lady Xoc's line; however, this is not what happened and nearly ten years after his death it is his son from Lady Ikʼ Skull that took the throne.Josserand 2007:299.
There is a great deal of speculation as to why the son of a secondary wife took the throne and did so after the king had been dead for ten years. The current thinking is that the rightful heir through Lady Xook's lineage may have been her son, or perhaps a nephew or brother,As is suggested by Martin and Grube (2008:127). but that this individual was captured during a conflict with Dos Pilas in 745.Josserand 2007:307. Information regarding this "interregnum" period tends to be conflicting. In their second revised edition, Martin and Grube note that at Piedras Negras there is mention of a new king at Yaxchilan, Yopaat Bahlam II, who may have ruled for part or all of this period. However, supporting evidence for this is unknown from Yaxchilan. On the other hand, Josserand notes that Lady Ikʼ Skull ruled as regent during this time and that it was not until her death that Bird Jaguar IV took the throne.
A monument which refers to Ix Uhu't Chan Lem is stela 35.Kelly (2001), pág. 344.
References
Gustafson, Lowell. (1999). Gender Relations and Political Legitimacy: Replacing Patrilineal with Ancestral Inheritance of Power in Ancient Mayan Society. Schele, Linda, & David Freidel. (1990). A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. New York, New York: William Morrow and Company Inc.