DBA Armies

The Toltecs started as one of the early waves of Chichimec “Dog People” immigrants into Mexico from the north and their leader Mixcoatl “Cloud Serpent” established a capital at Culhuacan in 930. His son Quetzalcoatl “Plumed Serpent” moved to Tula around 968 and made it the capital of a large empire, but was forced out by his rival Tezcatlipoca and according to legend sailed across the Atlantic to “Red land”. However, the leader of the Toltec immigrants that imposed their rule on the Maya was called Kukulcan, which also means “Plumed Serpent”. Tula was destroyed in either 1156 or 1168 and the empire fell to another wave of immigrants. Toltec art is obsessed with depictions of ugly-looking warriors with pillbox hats, wooden swords edged with obsidian volcanic glass called maquahuitl, atlatl dart-throwers and small shields; and scenes of human sacrifice. There is no evidence of skirmishers, but the usual peasant slingers of the area cannot be discounted. Reference: War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica R. Hassig,.