The Mexica military was organized into a hierarchy of military orders, with the Eagle Warriors and the Jaguar Warriors at the top. The path from recruit to elite warrior was long and demanding, and it required years of training and a series of tests of courage and skill. The most successful warriors could rise to the highest levels of the military hierarchy, and they were honored with special privileges, including the right to wear distinctive insignia, the right to eat in special dining halls, and the right to live in special houses. The military was also a major avenue of social mobility, and successful warriors could rise to the highest levels of Mexica society.
The Path to Warriorhood
The Mexica had a formal system for the training of warriors, and the path to warriorhood began in childhood. All young Mexica men were trained in the telpochcalli, the school for the sons of the commoners, where they learned the basics of military life, including the use of weapons, the tactics of warfare, and the physical endurance tests. The telpochcalli was a demanding institution, and only the most capable students were able to complete its curriculum.
The first major test in the path to warriorhood was the capture of a prisoner in battle. The Mexica believed that a warrior was not fully a warrior until he had captured his first prisoner, and the capture of a prisoner was the principal test of a warrior’s skill and courage. The warrior who captured a prisoner was honored with a series of privileges, including the right to wear the insignia of the warrior, the right to eat in the special dining halls, and the right to address the Tlatoani directly.
The warriors who had captured their first prisoners were called iyac, and they formed the basic rank of the Mexica army. The iyac were assigned to the various military units, and they served in the campaigns under the command of the senior warriors. The iyac were required to continue to capture prisoners, and they could rise in rank by capturing additional prisoners and by performing acts of valor in battle.
The Military Orders
The Mexica had a number of military orders, each with its own insignia, its own privileges, and its own rituals. The most important of these orders were the Eagle Warriors, the Jaguar Warriors, the Shorn Ones, the Otomi Warriors, and the Cuachic Warriors. Each order had its own history, its own mythology, and its own role in the Mexica military system.
The Eagle Warriors were the most prestigious of the Mexica military orders, and they were associated with the sun and with the eagle. The Eagle Warriors wore feathered suits that resembled the wings of an eagle, and they were known for their bravery and their skill in battle. The Eagle Warriors were the elite of the Mexica army, and they were reserved for the most important missions and the most dangerous battles.
The Jaguar Warriors were the second most prestigious of the Mexica military orders, and they were associated with the night and with the jaguar. The Jaguar Warriors wore suits of jaguar pelt, with the head of the jaguar worn as a helmet, and they were known for their ferocity and their skill in close combat. The Jaguar Warriors were the shock troops of the Mexica army, and they were used to break the enemy’s lines and to lead the assault.
The Shorn Ones, the Otomi, and the Cuachic
The Shorn Ones, called cuachicqueh in Nahuatl, were an elite military order that was associated with the cult of Huitzilopochtli. The Shorn Ones had their heads shaved, except for a long tuft of hair at the back, and they were known for their discipline and their religious devotion. The Shorn Ones were the most feared of the Mexica warriors, and they were used for the most dangerous missions, including the flower wars and the most important religious ceremonies.
The Otomi Warriors, called otontin in Nahuatl, were a military order that was modeled on the Otomi people of the northern frontier. The Otomi Warriors wore distinctive clothing, including a long white cloak and a particular style of helmet, and they were known for their bravery and their ferocity. The Otomi Warriors were the vanguard of the Mexica army, and they were used to lead the assault and to draw the enemy’s fire.
The Cuachic Warriors, called cuachicqueh, were an elite military order that was similar to the Shorn Ones but with a more specific set of religious obligations. The Cuachic Warriors were dedicated to the cult of Huitzilopochtli, and they were required to undergo a series of rigorous religious and physical tests, including fasting, bloodletting, and the capture of prisoners. The Cuachic Warriors were among the most feared of the Mexica warriors, and they were used for the most important missions.
The Eagle Warriors in Detail
The Eagle Warriors were the most prestigious of the Mexica military orders, and they were associated with the sun and with the eagle. The Eagle Warriors wore elaborate suits of feathers, designed to resemble the wings and the head of an eagle. The suits were made of thousands of feathers, carefully arranged to create a realistic representation of the eagle, and they were decorated with gold and jade ornaments. The Eagle Warriors also wore helmets that resembled the head of an eagle, and they carried shields decorated with the insignia of the eagle.
The Eagle Warriors were organized into a hierarchy of ranks, with the most senior warriors being the leaders of the order. The most senior Eagle Warriors were members of the Mexica ruling family, and they held the highest ranks in the military. The Eagle Warriors were required to be brave, skilled, and disciplined, and they were expected to lead the Mexica army in the most important battles. The Eagle Warriors were also required to maintain the highest standards of physical fitness, and they underwent regular training to maintain their skills.
The Eagle Warriors shaped the Mexica state religion, and they were involved in the most important religious ceremonies. The Eagle Warriors participated in the New Fire Ceremony, the dedication of the major temples, and the monthly festivals of the veintenas. The Eagle Warriors also served as the personal guard of the Tlatoani, and they were responsible for the protection of the imperial court.
The Jaguar Warriors in Detail
The Jaguar Warriors were the second most prestigious of the Mexica military orders, and they were associated with the night and with the jaguar. The Jaguar Warriors wore suits of jaguar pelt, with the head of the jaguar worn as a helmet, and they were known for their ferocity and their skill in close combat. The Jaguar Warriors were the shock troops of the Mexica army, and they were used to break the enemy’s lines and to lead the assault.
The Jaguar Warriors were organized into a hierarchy of ranks, with the most senior warriors being the leaders of the order. The most senior Jaguar Warriors were members of the Mexica nobility, and they held high ranks in the military. The Jaguar Warriors were required to be brave, skilled, and ferocious, and they were expected to lead the Mexica army in the most dangerous battles. The Jaguar Warriors were also required to maintain the highest standards of physical fitness, and they underwent regular training to maintain their skills.
The Jaguar Warriors played an important role in the Mexica state religion, and they were involved in the most important religious ceremonies. The Jaguar Warriors participated in the dedication of the major temples, the monthly festivals of the veintenas, and the human sacrifice rituals. The Jaguar Warriors also served as the personal guard of the Tlatoani, and they were responsible for the protection of the imperial court.
The Social Significance of Military Rank
Military rank was one of the most important sources of social status in Mexica society, and the successful warrior could rise to the highest levels of the social hierarchy. The warriors who had captured the most prisoners were honored with the highest ranks, and they were given the most prestigious positions in the state. The most successful warriors could become members of the ruling family, and they could rise to the highest offices of state, including the Cihuacoatl and even the Tlatoani itself.
The military was also a major avenue of social mobility, and the successful commoner could rise to the highest levels of the Mexica state. The Mexica had a clear sense of the value of military service, and they made it possible for the successful warrior to rise in social rank, regardless of his birth. The Mexica warrior elite was an unusually open elite groups in the pre-Columbian Americas, and it shaped the Mexica system of social organization.
The military was also a major source of wealth, and the successful warrior could accumulate considerable wealth through the capture of prisoners and the receipt of tribute. The Mexica rewarded their successful warriors with gifts of land, of slaves, and of luxury items, and the most successful warriors could accumulate large estates. The military elite was one of the wealthiest groups in Mexica society, and it played a major role in the economic life of the state.
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See also:
- How did young Aztecs become warriors? — the path to warriorhood
- What were the elite military orders in Aztec society? — the orders
- How did soldiers advance in rank in the Aztec military? — the rank system
- Aztec Weapons, Armor, and Military Technology — the equipment
- The Flower Wars and Ritual Conflict — the ritual warfare
- Aztec Warfare and Conquest — the broader context