Military

The Aztec military was made up of a large number of commoners who posessed only basic military training, and a smaller number of nobility, who were organized into different warrior societies based on their rank and acievements.

The Aztecs needed a strong military because their entire empire was based on conquering their neighbouring cities and forcing them to pay tribute (taxes) to support the Aztec economy, military and religion.

Every Aztec male received basic military training.  The only way for advancement in Aztec society was through military achievements, like taking captives in battle.  The use of captured enemies was a vital part of sustaining the Aztec economy (slaves) and for religious purposes (sacrifices).

Aztec Warriors

An Aztec warrior usually carried spears made of wood, with an obsidian edged blade, and a wooden maquahuitl (war club) which was about 76cm (30in) long. The maquahuitl had grooved sides set with sharp obsidian blades. Warriors also carried stabbing javelins and round shields with feather fringes. Flint and obsidian knives were also used and woollen slings to fire stones at their enemies.

Aztec Warfare

Political - subjugate enemy states in order to collect tribute and expand Aztec dominance.

Religious - capturing their enemies for religious sacrifices. 

These dual objectives also influenced the kind of warfare practiced by the Aztecs. Most warfare was primarily political and was driven by the expectations of the Aztec nobility for the Tlatoani (emperor/king) to provide economic growth through expansion and the expectation of the commoners to have a chance of moving up in society through successful warfare, as well as to provide abundant captives for his coronation ceremony.  A failed coronation campaign was seen as an extremely bad omen for the rule of a Tlatoani and could lead to rebellions of city states subjected by earlier rulers and to the Aztec nobility distrusting his ability to rule - this was the case for Tizoc who was poisoned by the Aztec nobles after several failed military campaigns.

Flower War

During the Great Mesoamerican famine of 1450 - 1454, Moctezuma I designed a method of warfare where the Aztec fought other city-states in a pre-arranged battle called a Flower War.

These wars were fought with a small number of men from each side with the purpose of taking captives for religious sacrifices.

Flower Wars benefitted the Aztecs because;

- they had a bigger army, so a few soldiers was no big deal.

- it allowed them to tire their enemies through attrition until they could be conquered more easily.

- it allowed them to focus on things other than war.

- it served as propoganda against other city-states, while ensuring a steady influx of captives to keep their people happy.

Warrior Societies

Commoners excelling in warfare could be promoted to the noble class and could enter some of the warrior societies (at least the Eagles and Jaguars). Sons of nobles were expected to enter into one of the warrior societies as they progressed through the ranks. Warriors could shift from one society and into another when they became sufficiently proficient; exactly how this happened is uncertain. Each society had different styles of dress and equipment as well as styles of body paint and adornments.

Eagle and Jaguar warriors

The largest warrior societies were the Eagles and the Jaguars. 

They dressed as the animal they took their name from, covering themselves in pelts and feathers.

The headquarters and training centres of the Eagles and Jaguars was in the Quauhcalli (The Eagle House), located in the ceremonial precinct of Tenochtitlan.

Otomies

Another warrior society who took their name from the Otomi people, who were renowned for their fierce fighting.

In the historical sources it is often difficult to discern whether the word otomitl "Otomi" refers to members of the Aztec warrior society, or members of the ethnic group who also often joined the Aztec armies as mercenaries or allies.

The Shorn Ones

The "Shorn Ones" was the most prestigious warrior society - their heads were shaved apart from a long braid over the left ear.

Their bald heads and faces were painted one half blue and another half red or yellow.

They had sworn not to take a step backwards during a battle on pain of death at the hands of their comrades.

Aztec Armies

The size of the Aztec army varied considerably from small contingents of a few thousand warriors to large armies with tens to hundreds of thousands of warriors. 

In the war against Coixtlahuacan the Aztec army numbered 200,000 warriors and 100,000 porters. Other sources mention Aztec armies of up to 700,000 men.

Combat

Battles usually started at dawn - smoke signals were used to show that a battle was beginning and to coordinate attacks between different divisions of the army. The signal to attack was given by musical instruments such as drums and the conch shell trumpet (the Tlapitzalli). Usually the battle began with projectile fire - the bulk of the army was composed of commoners often armed with bows or slings.

Then the warriors advanced into melee combat and during this phase, before the actual melee, the atlatl was used - this missile weapon was effective over shorter distances than slings and bows and much more lethal.

The first warriors to enter into melee were the most distinguished warriors, the Shorn Ones and Otomi societies; then came the Eagles and Jaguars; and lastly the commoners and unpracticed youths.

Youths participating in battle for the first time would usually not be allowed to fight before the Aztec victory was ensured, after which they would try to capture prisoners from the fleeing enemy.  It is said that, particularly during flower wars, Aztec warriors would try to capture rather than kill their foes, sometimes striving to cut a hamstring or otherwise incapacitate their opponents.