Ethnicity Maya Place of origin Mayapan / Tecoh | Current region Ah Kin Chel Distinctions Rulers of Ah Kin Chel | |
Members Mo-Chel, Namox Chel, Namux Chel Connected families Pech family, Cocom family, Xiu family, Canul family | ||
The Chels, Cheles, or Che'els (From Yucatec Che'el Staff / rod of justice or Chel arch sky / rainbow )(in Maya glyphs) were the ruling family of the Maya Kuchkabal Ah Kin Chel.
The Chels originally hailed from Mayapan, one of the three capitals of the League of Mayapan and the name would imply that Mayapan was the capital, but both Uxmal and Chichen Itza were much more powerful, there they traditionally were priests and nobles.
Mo-Chel was the first ruler of Ah Kin Chel. He originally was a nobleman, the son-in-law of one of the principal priests at Mayapan. Another priest Ah Xupan Nauat married his daughter Namox Chel to Mo.
Mo-Chel is said to have foreseen the destruction of the League of Mayapan in 1441 and he fled with some followers to Tecoh near Izamal, where he established an independent state.
He named the nation Ah Kin (high priest, literally it means is from the sun). His last name, Chel, is from a naming tradition used by many Kuchkabal.
The Chel family remained in rule until the end of Ah Kin Chel. Namux Chel was the last ruler, he was in power in 1527 when Francisco de Montejo visited. To avoid conflict he allowed the Spaniards passage through Namux's territory. The Spaniards later made camp in the ruins of Chichen Itza.