The flower wars, called xochiyaoyotl in Nahuatl, were a unique form of ritualized warfare that was practiced by the Mexica and their neighbors for the purpose of capturing prisoners for sacrifice. Two rival states would agree in advance on the dates, the location, and the rules of the conflict, and the object was not to kill but to capture, with the most successful warrior being the one who brought back the most prisoners.
The Nature of the Flower Wars
The flower wars were a form of ritualized warfare that was unique to Mesoamerica, and they were closely tied to Mexica religion. The wars were arranged in advance between two rival states, and the dates, the location, and the rules of the conflict were agreed upon by the two parties. The wars were typically fought in a designated area, often a neutral ground between the two states, and the warriors would meet in this area at the appointed time.
The flower wars were fought by small numbers of warriors, perhaps a few hundred on each side, and they would last for a few hours or a few days. The object of the wars was to capture the enemy, and the warriors would attempt to disable the enemy without killing him. The most common method of capture was to knock the enemy unconscious with a blow to the head, and then to bind him and carry him away. The warriors used a variety of techniques for this purpose, including the use of the flat of the macuahuitl, the use of the atlatl, and the use of the sling.
The Religious Significance
The flower wars were closely tied to Mexica religion, and they were seen to providing the gods with the sacrifice they required. The Mexica believed that the gods needed human blood to sustain them, and that without constant sacrifice, the cosmos would come to an end. The flower wars were a way of ensuring a steady supply of victims for sacrifice, and they shaped the Mexica religious system.
The flower wars were particularly important before the major religious festivals, particularly the dedication of the Templo Mayor and the monthly festivals of the veintenas. A reliable flow of prisoners was a religious necessity, and the flower wars provided a regular, predictable supply of victims. The Mexica fought the flower wars with several rival states, including the Tlaxcalans, the Huexotzincas, the Cholulans, and the Yopitzincas.
The Capture and the Sacrifice
The capture of prisoners was the principal object of the flower wars, and the warriors were trained to disable the enemy without killing him. The captured warriors were then taken to Tenochtitlan, where they were prepared for sacrifice. The preparation typically involved a period of time at the temple, during which the captive was treated with respect and was given a wife from among the temple women.
The captive was also given a series of honors, including the right to wear the insignia of the warrior, the right to drink chocolate, and the right to address the Tlatoani directly. The sacrifice was performed at the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, and it was a public event. The captive was taken to the top of the temple, where he was held down on a stone block and his heart was cut out with an obsidian knife. The heart was offered to the sun, and the body was thrown down the steps of the temple. The head was placed on the tzompantli, the great skull rack.
The Decline of the Flower Wars
The flower wars declined in the years after the Spanish conquest. The Spanish made the practice of sacrifice illegal, and they imposed severe penalties on those who continued to practice the old rituals. Yet the memory of the flower wars survived, and the practice was occasionally revived in secret for several decades after the conquest.
The Spanish chroniclers, who were horrified by the practice, used the flower wars to justify the conquest, and they described the Mexica in the most lurid terms as a people of bloodthirsty barbarians. Modern scholars, working with indigenous sources, have argued that the flower wars were a coherent part of Mexica religious belief, and that they should be understood in their own cultural context rather than judged by the standards of other cultures. The flower wars are now recognized as a unique form of ritualized warfare that was central to Mexica religion and Mexica political life.
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