DBA Armies

“Aztec” is the usual name for a people also called “Tenocha” and “Colhua Mexica”. They originated as Chichimecs that immigrated into Mexico from the north, absorbed culture from the Toltecs, Mixtecs and Zapotecs and founded the lake island city of Tenochtitlan in 1325. In 1428, this federated with the 2 lake side cities of Texcoco and Tlacopan to form a unitary Aztec state. This expanded aggressively under Motecuhzoma I, but was conquered by Cortez” Spaniards and his Tlaxcalan allies 1519-1521. Warriors were organized in numerical units, maintaining loose formation on the march and in battle. The army’s strength lay in its huge numbers, dense showers of missiles (usually javelins thrown by atlatl) and a terrifying cacophony of hideous yells, whistles, conches and drums; but order was quickly lost when group standard- bearers fell, disrupting the command chain. The primary weapon was the maquahuitl wooden sword edged with razor- sharp obsidian volcanic glass. Taking prisoners for sacrifice was preferred to killing, but battlefields were still carpeted with dead. Military orders are jaguar and a few eagle knights, wearing distinctive suits. Macehualtin “clan warriors” wore white cotton, sometimes as quilted armour. The option chosen for them rests on whether you think rushing about or taking prisoners should be emphasized, but 5Hd produces excellent historical games enjoyed by Aztec players and challenges opponents. Macehualtin who took 5 or more prisoners became Ontontin or Cuachic “shorn ones” or “those that hurl themselves to death”. References: Armies of the 16th Century Vol 2 1. Heath, Aztec Warfare R. Hassig, The True History of the Conquest of New Spain B. Diaz (an eye-witness account), Aztec G. Jennings (novel).