AZTEC MILITARY
Aztec society was a stratified system in which each social class had a role designed to support the Aztec military or what they used to call, Aztec warriors. The Aztec society had a strong central government which was supported by the military. This the reason why the military were one of the top classes on the social ladder, they came after the emperor and the religious priests.
Aztec army was a well organized and well structured army in terms of ranks, discipline and commands. Since the Aztec army was well organized, they separated their army in two big groups. The common warriors or even the beginners were part of the Aztec Regular unit, performing straight and simple tasks and using common military weapons and armor. There were many common warriors so the regular unit was really large in number. The second group was the Elite Aztec Warriors. They were usually composed of highly experienced veterans or naturally talented and even knowledgeable warriors. They had extraordinary skills on the battlefield and they were not as high in number compared to regular unit. They used top weaponry and armor to perform dangerous tasks and risky events. The Regular unit can be compared to as the U.S. military. The Elite Aztec Warriors can be related to as the Seal Team Six. Aztec warriors were ranked based on their achievements on the battlefield.
The common warriors were formed into companies called Calpulli. Each Calpulli was then further divided into fourths and led by nobles in the particular region to the base where Aztecs were recruited. The Regular Units had up to 800 warriors which meant there over 20 groups of Calpulli that were stationed into the Capitol that were either controlled by the Emperor, Tenochtitlan, or they were led by noble officers. The regular units usually had a successor that was designated by the generals. The reason behind this is when successors were killed they could immediately be replaced. Aztec armies were also accompanied by priests who carried out effigies to their gods alongside the army. Young boys were accompanied by the army to serve as porters who carry weapons and other supplies that were crucial during battle. Even though the Regular Unit was big in number the most feared aspect of the Aztec force were the specialized elite professional warriors. The elite warriors were formed of elite veterans and also sons of nobles. Regular unit soldiers could enter the elite class if they excelled in warfare and progress through each of their ranks. The elite warriors typically received the right to wear top and fine armor, body paints, and weaponry. They were highly respected in the Aztec society and were usually treated as royalty when not on duty. Their work was kept a secret so it is not known how and what battles they fought in.
Aztec warriors generally wore cotton quilted armor that was at least 2 layers thick for protection, it usually protects harm from swords, arrows and different weapons. Aztecs also had different sets of armor for different climate. In hot weather they used light armor for mobility and also used shields that were made of wood and fibers. The shields not only were for protection but also were a form of art and contained different designs. There were many ways regulars could improve and rank up. One way was earning achievements. An example of earning an achievement is if a warrior captured six prisoners they would be awarded a carved hardwood helmet. They could also be used as designs of different symbols or animals carved out in the helmet.
The Aztecs did not know how to handle metal so instead they made weapons out of wood, that were usually two sided. Different ranked soldiers acquired different kinds of weapons. Usually a regular unit warrior would have a one sided sword with a pouch of some arrows with a bow. An elite warrior would have a two sided sword with heavily damaging arrows and a elastic bow. Another ancient weapon the warriors used was called the tepoztopilli that was a pole- arm roughly the height of a man. The weapon was used for slashing and stabbing and also could be used as protection. One of the signature weapons the elite warriors used were Altali that was just a improved version of the Tepoztopilli.
When a warrior had captured or killed four men he was given the title tequina who. This would make him a commander of his rank and ultimately awarded him nice weaponry and other useful armor.
Additional Aztec Facts
Aztec army was a well organized and well structured army in terms of ranks, discipline and commands. Since the Aztec army was well organized, they separated their army in two big groups. The common warriors or even the beginners were part of the Aztec Regular unit, performing straight and simple tasks and using common military weapons and armor. There were many common warriors so the regular unit was really large in number. The second group was the Elite Aztec Warriors. They were usually composed of highly experienced veterans or naturally talented and even knowledgeable warriors. They had extraordinary skills on the battlefield and they were not as high in number compared to regular unit. They used top weaponry and armor to perform dangerous tasks and risky events. The Regular unit can be compared to as the U.S. military. The Elite Aztec Warriors can be related to as the Seal Team Six. Aztec warriors were ranked based on their achievements on the battlefield.
The common warriors were formed into companies called Calpulli. Each Calpulli was then further divided into fourths and led by nobles in the particular region to the base where Aztecs were recruited. The Regular Units had up to 800 warriors which meant there over 20 groups of Calpulli that were stationed into the Capitol that were either controlled by the Emperor, Tenochtitlan, or they were led by noble officers. The regular units usually had a successor that was designated by the generals. The reason behind this is when successors were killed they could immediately be replaced. Aztec armies were also accompanied by priests who carried out effigies to their gods alongside the army. Young boys were accompanied by the army to serve as porters who carry weapons and other supplies that were crucial during battle. Even though the Regular Unit was big in number the most feared aspect of the Aztec force were the specialized elite professional warriors. The elite warriors were formed of elite veterans and also sons of nobles. Regular unit soldiers could enter the elite class if they excelled in warfare and progress through each of their ranks. The elite warriors typically received the right to wear top and fine armor, body paints, and weaponry. They were highly respected in the Aztec society and were usually treated as royalty when not on duty. Their work was kept a secret so it is not known how and what battles they fought in.
Aztec warriors generally wore cotton quilted armor that was at least 2 layers thick for protection, it usually protects harm from swords, arrows and different weapons. Aztecs also had different sets of armor for different climate. In hot weather they used light armor for mobility and also used shields that were made of wood and fibers. The shields not only were for protection but also were a form of art and contained different designs. There were many ways regulars could improve and rank up. One way was earning achievements. An example of earning an achievement is if a warrior captured six prisoners they would be awarded a carved hardwood helmet. They could also be used as designs of different symbols or animals carved out in the helmet.
The Aztecs did not know how to handle metal so instead they made weapons out of wood, that were usually two sided. Different ranked soldiers acquired different kinds of weapons. Usually a regular unit warrior would have a one sided sword with a pouch of some arrows with a bow. An elite warrior would have a two sided sword with heavily damaging arrows and a elastic bow. Another ancient weapon the warriors used was called the tepoztopilli that was a pole- arm roughly the height of a man. The weapon was used for slashing and stabbing and also could be used as protection. One of the signature weapons the elite warriors used were Altali that was just a improved version of the Tepoztopilli.
When a warrior had captured or killed four men he was given the title tequina who. This would make him a commander of his rank and ultimately awarded him nice weaponry and other useful armor.
Additional Aztec Facts
- Capturing prisoners was key for a warrior to rise in ranks.
- The higher the rank, the more elaborate the costume
- Higher classes usually had armor which represented a symbol like a jaguar or an eagle.
- benefits of becoming a warrior were: Free land where warriors could start a family and the land as tax free and reserved for the warrior. Access to unlimited food. Better education like the studies of astronomy, Rhetoric poetry, history, religion, and practice on the battlefield.
- Military had huge impact on society, they offered protection from enemies, they created a strong central government because of their feared elite class, and they had a huge influence on young boys who studied and learned about battle plans and tactics and when reached the age of 17, boys would head to battlefield, manhood was achieved by capturing first prisoner.
- Aztecs fought with spears, slings, bows, and arrows. Costumes were meant to frighten enemies and identify ranks. They wore close-fitting breastplates and used wooden shields. There was leather strips for protection of legs. Their armor was padded cotton made into suits that fitted into the body.
- They fought to occupy more land and also for more supplies to help support their growing population.
- Objective was to disable enemy by slashing his legs so he could be taken as prisoner.
- Aztecs sacrificed all prisoners in honor of the gods.
AZTEC FAMOUS BATTLES
Aztec Flower War
The war all started with the emperor of the Aztec empire, Tlacaelel. Tlacaelel was rewriting the history books by expanding his civilization to the whole area of Mexico and he created one of the strongest military at the point in time. The Aztecs soon encountered the Tlaxcalans who were an arising civilization and were inching closer to gaining as much power the Aztecs had. The two civilizations were really close in terms of religion and culture. The war is very interesting, instead of taking land and killing people, the two civilizations agreed to start a war based on capturing prisoners for sacrifice. Soon the flower wars became a traditional culture and they went at each other for decades. The prisoners captured often did not scream and were not pleading for help, they went willingly to be sacrificed and thought of it as a religious part in culture. Later, the war began to backfire for the Aztecs, they kept losing too many people each time, the military and the population was decreasing heavily. Soon the 2 civilizations ended the flower wars because of the spanish trying to invade Mexico. The Tlaxcalans soon joined the spanish and fought against the Aztecs.
The Fall of Tenochtitlan
The Fall of tenochtitlan was a major victory for the Spaniards who planned on conquering the land of Mexico. The Spaniards outsmarted the Aztecs in this situation. The Spaniards arrived and acted as if they were friendly toward the Aztecs. The Aztecs invited them into their city and greeted them with gifts like gold and other precious metals. The Spaniards gave them in return some other things as a sign of thanks. The Aztec leader Moctezuma II thought of it as acts of kindness and lowered his precaution on security and protection during the time the Spaniards stayed in the city. The Spaniards waited for all civilians to clear out and then held Moctezuma II captive. This strategy only worked for a brief period because word got around very quickly that the Aztec leader went missing. Soon the Aztecs revolted and blocked all the exits from the city. The Spaniards then released a disease they had with them called smallpox and that distracted the warriors. This distraction gave enough time for all the Spaniards to surround the city from outside,outnumbering the Aztec military. The Aztec military had no choice but to surrender which led them to give up their land and ultimately putting an end to the Aztec empire.