The path to warriorhood in Mexica society began in childhood, and the training of the young warriors was a major preoccupation of the Mexica state. 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 gave them a thorough grounding in arms, in civic duties, and in the everyday skills of Mexica life.
The Training in the Telpochcalli
The training of the young Mexica warriors began in childhood, and it was carried out in the telpochcalli, the school for the sons of the commoners. The telpochcalli provided training in the martial arts, in civic responsibilities, and in the basic skills of Mexica life. The students learned the use of weapons, including the macuahuitl, the spear, and the bow. They also learned the tactics of warfare, including the formation of battle lines, the assault of fortified cities, and the conduct of flower wars.
The telpochcalli also provided a grounding in Mexica religion and values. The young warriors learned the myths of the creation, the rituals of the religious year, and the duties of the citizen. They were taught to value obedience, discipline, and service to the state above all.
The First Capture
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 first capture was a major event in the life of the young warrior, and it was the occasion for public celebration. The young warrior was honored by his family, his calpulli, and his military unit, and he was given a series of gifts, including clothing, ornaments, and land. The first capture was also the beginning of the warrior’s career in the Mexica military, and it was the foundation on which his future promotions would be built.
The Privileges of the Warrior
The Mexica warrior who had captured his first prisoner was honored with a series of privileges that were not available to the common people. The warrior was given the right to wear the insignia of the warrior, including the long hair that was a sign of the warrior’s status. The warrior was also given the right to eat in the special dining halls, where the warriors were served the best food and drink.
The Mexica warrior was also given the right to address the Tlatoani directly, and the warrior was allowed to participate in the major religious and political ceremonies. The warrior was also given the right to marry, and the warrior was often given a share of the tribute from the subject provinces.
The Social Significance of Warriorhood
The path to warriorhood was also a path to social mobility, and the successful warrior could rise to the highest levels of Mexica society. The Mexica believed that military service was a key to social advancement, 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 path to warriorhood was also a path to honor and prestige, and the successful warrior was one of the most respected figures in Mexica society. The warrior was honored for his bravery, his skill, and his service to the state, and the warrior was a role model for the young men of the calpulli.
The Survival of the Warrior Tradition
The Mexica warrior tradition has had a lasting influence on the Mexican military tradition, and the modern Mexican military has drawn on the Mexica tradition for inspiration. The Mexica warrior elite, the Eagle Warriors and the Jaguar Warriors, are still celebrated in Mexican popular culture, and they are an important symbol of the Mexican national identity.
The Mexican military has also preserved many of the Mexica military traditions, including the use of the eagle as a symbol of the military, the use of the macuahuitl in some ceremonial contexts, and the tradition of the warrior’s privileges. The persistence of the Mexica military tradition in the face of the Spanish conquest and the colonial period ranks among the great survivals of Mexican culture.
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