Quiriguá was a small city in the south of the Maya area, which slowly grew to house 16,000 people. The city had long been a vassal of the larger Copán. In 724 (9.14.12.4.10),
Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, Ajaw of Copán, installed
K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat as regional ruler of Quiriguá. In 734 at Altar M in Quiriguá, K’ak Tiliw Chan Yopaat gave himself the title k’uhul ajaw, thus declaring Quiriguá’s independence from Copán. This led to a four-year revolutionary war. During this, in 736 (9.15.4.7.13),
Wamaw K'awiil and several ambassadors from Calakmul met with K’ak Tiliw Chan Yopaat. On April 27, 738, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil was captured by K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat. Due to there having been no major battles around copán or Quiriguá it has been concluded that he was probably not captured in battle. On 3 May, 738 (9.15.6.14.6), after a public trial and during a ritual, Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil was decapitated by an axe, recorded as an "axe event". ==After Quiriguá's revolution==