, Guatemala City. The history of Naranjo includes several major disturbances in the dynastic rule when allegiances and identities of local kings were subject to change. Texts at the site record a mythical founding of the city by its patron god. Not much is known about the site before the ruler Ah Wosaaj Chan Kʼinich who came to power in 546 AD. The sites of La Sufricaya and Holmul to the north of Naranjo were involved in the establishment of the new political order in Peten after the arrival of Sihyaj K’ahk' in AD 378. It is plausible to assume that Naranjo might also be under the sway of Sihyaj Kʼahk's hegemony and later Tikal rulers. If there were any monuments from that time, they were destroyed and/or cached. In 546 AD Naranjo came under the control of
Calakmul whose ruler Tuun Kab Hix appointed Ah Wosaaj Chan Kʼinich. This was a deliberate move by Calakmul to take allies away from
Tikal. Ah Wosaaj was involved in infrastructure improvements to the city such as the paving of a road in July 559, according to Altar 2. In 626 two attacks were made on Naranjo by
Caracol. Naranjo was then retaken by Calakmul in 631. During the administration of
K'ahk' Xiiw Chan Chaahk, Naranjo defeated Caracol in a "
star war" sending Caracol into a hiatus period, but by 680 Caracol had apparently recovered and eliminated K'ahk' Xiiw. In 682 AD, Calakmul sent
Wak Chanil Ajaw (Lady Six Sky}, possibly Ix Wak Chan Jalam Lem in ancient Maya, to reestablish the Naranjo dynasty. Her arrival is written on Stela 24 found in front of Structure C-7. Lady Six Sky was the daughter of the
Dos Pilas ruler
Bʼalaj Chan Kʼawiil. While never officially made a ruler, Lady Six Sky performed as a ruler, possibly as regent for her son
Kʼakʼ Tiliw Chan Chaak who acceded in 693 AD at the age of five. This relationship is made explicit on Naranjo Stela 46. Between 693 and 698 AD Naranjo carried out a series of at least eight attacks, likely under the auspices of Lady Six Sky, defeating Tikal in 695 AD and
Ucanal in 698 AD. K'ak' Tiliw Chan Chaak began another series of attacks in 706 AD including the defeat of
Yaxha in 710 AD. Lady Six Sky died in 741 AD. She is depicted on stelae including 3, 18, 24, 29, and 31. Naranjo was defeated by Tikal in 744 AD and the ruler,
Yax Mayuy Chan Chaak, was taken captive and likely sacrificed during Tikal's victory celebrations. However, this wasn't the end of the city's written history. Later kings include Itzamnaaj? K'awiil, who fought against Yaxha and, in 790, repaved the road established by Ah Wosaaj, according to Altar 2. Naranjo's final abandonment may have been the result of political turmoil and a severe drought dated to 810 AD. ==Known rulers==