Aztec army
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The forces of the Aztec army consisted of multiple structured battalions with designated leaders, usually members of the Aztec nobility who were considered skilled enough to hold military rank. Each battalion typically consisted of several hundred Eagle warriors backed up by contingents of Jaguar warriors. These soldiers were well-trained warriors, and the elite Jaguars were often from privileged backgrounds, who could pay for their own equipment.
The Eagle warriors wore tough cotton armour soaked in salt water and helmets decorated with painted feathers and embroidered eagle eyes, which it was believed gave them enhanced speed and vision. Trained to move quickly and fight well alone, Eagles were the Aztec army's basic infantry forces, fighting mostly as spearmen, swordsmen and archers. In most of the Aztec cities - notably Tenochtitlan - the Eagle forces were allocated special barracks and were funded by the city taxes, much like modern military forces.
Jaguar warriors were the other branch of the army and were distinguished by their jaguar-pattern armour and helmets shaped like jaguar heads. Primarily used as scouts and sappers, their job was to discover the weak points of an enemy fortress or fortified city, and then launch a combined attack with supporting units of Eagle warriors. Once the Eagles had breached the defences, Jaguars would swiftly move in to kill defenders and capture the main parts of the fortification.
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The Eagle and Jaguar warriors were the mainstays of the Aztec army, but they were normally supported by the citizens' militia, a large force of non-professional soldiers drafted from the general populace. These soldiers were sent into battle in great numbers to support the knight cadres, and their numbers and charge momentum in battle made up for their lack of proper military training.
[edit] Weaponry
Atlatl: Long range weapon used by Aztec soldiers. Soldiers were able to shoot darts or small spears with this weapon, and sometimes even used the venom of various reptiles for increased lethality. Originally, the atlatl was an invention of earlier South American natives.
Quauhololli: One of the most feared weapons used by the Aztecs, the quauololli was a mace made out of heavy stone, and was most effective when used to smash the skull of an enemy, causing instant death or severe brain damage.
Maquahuitl: "Hungry wood", essentially a wooden sword with sharp obsidian blades embedded into its sides. This was the standard armament of the elite knight cadres. Also known as "macana", a deadly blow from such a sword was reputedly capable of cutting a horse's head off.
Xiuhichimalli: Shield worn by Moquiuix when he fought Axayacatl, Aztec Tlatoani in the war of Tlatelolco. A wicker framework with tough leather and animal-skin surfaces, it could absorb even heavy blows quite easily.
Tepoztopilli: Wooden lance with sharp obsidian stones in the top. The tepoztopilli could be thrown with great accuracy by trained Eagle knights, and could penetrate flesh and bone with great lethality at a range of 150 yards.
Micomitl: Aztec arrow quiver.
Yaomitl: A lance, shorter than the average ones used by the Aztec army. It was short because it was meant to be used along with the atlatl, and had a bone, obsidian or stone tip for close-range stabbing.
[edit] See also
[edit] Popular culture
- Eagle warriors were used in the video game Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion, in its next edition, Age of Empires III, and in Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs.
- The athletics teams of San Diego State University are known as the Aztecs, and their mascot is the Aztec Warrior.
