K'otuja (gen. 4)

La cuarta generación de los Kaweq está constituida de K’otuja e Istayul, quienes, según Falla (2013: 170) “gobernaron en la montaña Chi Ismachí (al Sur de Utatlán).” Falla (2013: 170) continúa, explicando que, durante esta época, existían solamente tres Casas Grandes, no nueve; estas eran, “’la de los Kaweq, la de los Nija’ib y la de los Ajaw K’iche’ (Sam [Colop] 2011: 173-4).” Durante su reinado, “los de Ilokab se rebelaron contra ellos e hicieron guerra para matar a K’otuja” (Falla 2013: 170). Según Colop (2011: 175), el objetivo principal de los de Ilokab era desaparecer a los K’iche’ para siempre. Como detalla el Título de Totonicapán, los de Illokab intentaron engañar a ambos gobernantes: “Decían al señor Qotuhá [K’otuja]: ‘El príncipe Iztayul te ofende: dice que eres un miserable y que te sustentas solo de espuma de chiquirines y de otras frioleras no correspondientes a un señor.’ Por otra parte, decían a Iztayul: ‘El príncipe Qotuhá [K’otuja] te ofende: dice que eres un hombre inútil y que te sustentas de estiércol, de nervios y de moscas, y que, al contrario, su mesa se compone de buenos pescados frescos, mojarras y otras cosas dignas de un príncipe.’ Estas cosas ofendieron tanto a Qotuhá y a Iztayul, que ya trataban de tomar las armas” (Recinos and Goetz: 184-185). Sin embargo, los de Illokab fallaron en sus intentos. En general, el reinado de K’otuja e Istayul, “fueron tiempos de muchos ‘levantamientos... tumultos y... guerra’. Como consecuencia de la derrota, los de Ilokab fueron capturados y hechos prisioneros y sacrificados ante las deidades” (Falla 2013: 170).

El lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 190n319) afirma que K'otuja e Istayul forman la cuarta generación de los líderes del linaje Kaweq. Cita el autor guatemalteco Adrián Recinos (1953: 225) quien afirma que Istayul es el hijo de Balam K'onache.

The fourth generation of the Kaweqs is constituted of K’otuja and Istayul, who, according to Falla (2013: 170) “ruled in the mountain Chi Ismanchi (South of Utatlan).” Falla (2013: 170) cotinues, explaining that, during this time, only three Great Houses, not nine: these were, “that of the Kaweq, that of the Nija’ib, and that of the Ajaw K’iche’’ (Sam [Colop] 2011: 173-4).” During this reign, “that of the Ilokab rebelled against them and made way to kill K’otuja” (Falla 2013: 170). According to Colop (2011: 175), the principal objective of the Ilokab was to disappear the K’iche’ forever. As the Title of Totonicapán details, that of the Ilokab tried to deceive both rulers: “They told Lord K’otuja: ‘The prince Iztayul offends you: he says that you are a miserable and that you sustain yourself with spit of sea crickets and other trifles not corresponding to a lord.’ On the other side they would tell Iztayul: ‘The prince K’otuja offends you: he says that you are a useless and that you sustain yourself with manure, nerves, and flies, and that, on the contrary, his table is composed of good, fresh fish, tilapias, and other things worthy of a prince.’ These things offended K’otuja and Istayul so much that they were already trying to take up arms” (Recinos and Goetz: 184-185). However, those from Illokab failed in their attempts. In general, K’otuja and Istayul’s reign “were  times of many ‘uprisings… turmoil and…war.’ As a consequence of the defeat, those from llokab were captured and made prisoners and sacrificed before the gods” (Falla 2013: 170).

Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson further confirms the events reported above, (2007: 262-3n719) reporting that "According to other highland Maya documents, the rise of the Nima Quichés under the leadership of Co Tuha aroused the envy of the Ilocab at Chi Izmachi. At first they tried to create tension between Co Tuha and Iztayul, the Ah Pop of the Reception House. When this plan did not succeed, the Ilocab ambushed a group of Quiché lords and warriors as they bathed in a canyon. The Ilocab were eventually defeated and the survivors taken back to Chi Izmachi to be sacrificed, but Co Tuha subsequently disappears from the records and apparently died in the revolt. The records say that this was the beginning of regular human sacrifice at Chi Izmachi which caused all the people of the region to fear them greatly (Carmack and Mondloch 1983, 194). Soon after this incident the old alliance broke up and the Nima Quichés abandoned Chi Izmachi."