DBA Armies

This list covers the Mesoamerican lowland Maya army of the Late Classic (600-900) and Post-Classic periods, from which nearly all evidence of Mayan warfare derives. There was usually no single Maya state, only rival cities which fought among themselves. At the end of the Classic period, soil erosion and deforestation had crippled the Maya and forced the abandonment of many cities. When their civilisation revived, its centre had moved from the hillier Peten area to the flat and nearly river-less forests of the Yucatan peninsula. Until 987, the Maya fought only each other. They were then conquered by the Toltecs, who were replaced by the Itza after 1224. The Maya defeated a Spanish invasion from 1528-1535, but fell to another in 1542 and the rebellion of 1546 failed. Mayan warriors were described as ugly, tattooed, wearing a loin cloth and armed with a short spear, a club and a rectangular shield that rolled-up like a window blind. Leaders of Mayan descent added jaguar hide or quilted cotton armour and wooden or hide helmets with elaborate feather crests. Toltec and Itza leaders and Ah Camul mercenaries also wore cotton armour, but fought with an obsidian bladed maquahuitl, javelins thrown with an atlatl and a small round shield. References: Annies of the 16th Century Vol 2. 1. Heath, Slingshot 107.