The conundrum revolved around the fact that his predecessor is known to have been captured by the rival kingdom of Tonina. Here is K'inich K'an Joy Chitam II, thirteenth ruler of Palenque, depicted as a prisoner on a Tonina monument. If Tonina ritually murdered its captive (as some still consider likely) and he died without a son to follow him on the throne, then there might have been a sidestep in the line of dynastic descent.