Itzam Kʼan Ahk II (, November 18, 701November 26, 757), also known as Ruler 4, was an ajaw of Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya settlement in Guatemala. He ruled during the Late Classic Period, from 729 to 757 AD. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II ascended to the throne following the death of Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II may have fathered the following three kings of Piedras Negras: Yoʼnal Ahk III, Haʼ Kʼin Xook, and Kʼinich Yat Ahk II. Following Itzam Kʼan Ahk II's demise, he was succeeded by Yoʼnal Ahk III in 757 AD. Itzam Kʼan Ahk II left behind several monuments, including stelae at Piedras Negras and a large mortuary temple now known as Pyramid O-13. In addition, the details of his life and his Kʼatun-jubilee were commemorated on Panel 3, raised by Kʼinich Yat Ahk II several years following Itzam Kʼan Ahk II's death. Biography Lineage Itzam Kʼan Ahk II, also known as Ruler 4, was born on November 18, 701 AD (9.13.9.14.15 7 Men 18 Kʼankʼin in the Long Count). Of the three extant references to Itzam Kʼan Ahk's birth, not a single one mentions his line of descent, suggesting that Itzam Kʼan Ahk was not Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II's son. With this said, Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube note that in one carving, the ajaw is shown with a turtle ornament on his belt, suggesting that one of his ancestors had the word auk ("turtle") in their name and was thus of royal blood. Additionally, Stela 40 shows what could be Itzam Kʼan Ahk's mother in Teotihuacano garb, suggesting that Itzam Kʼan Ahk was emphasizing maternal connections to Teotihuacan. Martin and Grube also note that this stela was erected exactly 83 Tzolkʼin, or about 59 years, following the death of Itzam Kʼan Ahk I (a former ajaw of Piedras Negras whose Itzam Kʼan Ahk II appropriated), which could suggest the existence of some "special link" between the two. Reign Itzam Kʼan Ahk II ascended to power on November 9, 729 AD (9.14.18.3.13 7 Ben 16 Kʼankʼin). In 749 AD, the ajaw celebrated his one Kʼatun, an event that was attended by many dignitaries, including a bʼaah sajal ("first ruler") named Kʼan Moʼ Teʼ who had served Kʼinich Yoʼnal Ahk II. The events of this banquet were later recorded by the final ajaw of Piedras Negras, Kʼinich Yat Ahk II on Panel 3; this artifact