[June 9] Spearthrower Owl, king of Teotihuacán

Spouse: Thought to be a daughter of a Tikal lord

Reign: 374 – 439

Summary: Not much is known about the man known to historians as "Spearthrower Owl", a term related to his description rather than his true name. It is possible that his real name was Atlatl Cauac, though nothing is certain. It is thought that was the king of Teotihuacán and invaded the Mayan world, where he introduced them to a higher standard of fashion and weaponry than they had previously known. He ascended to the throne of Teotihuacán on 4 May 374. The king sent his lieutenant, Siyah K'ak', to the west and he arrived in Tikal, the traditional Mayan capital, in 379. The previous ruler, Jaguar Paw, had just died of apparently unrelated reasons and the new king, Chak Tok Ich'aak I, was quickly dispatched by the Teotihuacano conquerors. Spearthrower installed his son, Yax Nuun Ayiin I, as the vassal king of Tikal. Yax remained in Tikal and his son succeeded him. While very little is known about Spearthrower's actual rule outside of him installing his son, it is thought by many historians that he was the catalyst that began the Mayan's golden age in the fifth century. Teotihuacán was the bright jewel of the Americas and all of the Mayan world soon replicated it. 

Date of Death: 9 June 439

Other Monarch Deaths:

Nero, emperor of Rome (68)

Shahrbaraz, king of Persia (630)

Jeanne III, queen of Navarre (1572)

Rama VIII, king of Thailand (1946)