“Macquauhmachtia” (Maquahuitl)
Macquauhmachtia is the Nahuatl (Aztec) word meaning “to teach someone to fence”.
General terms mentioned in class:
Ichcahuipilli.- The Aztec “armor”, made of cotton and Maguey (a type of cactus) fibers. About 2
fingers thick. The Ichcahuipilli was a short sleeve shirt type of armor
Tlhuizli.- The full body armor, only the Elite warrior could wear this
Tzompantli.- A museum of skulls
Tlacatecutli.- War chief
Yaomana.- To declare war on
Yaoana.- To make someone a prisoner
Xochiyaoyotl.- Flower battle
Tepoztopilli.- A lance/spear weapon made of a long shaft with an obsidian blade at the end
Cuauhololli.- The Aztec equivalent of a ‘mandoble’, this weapon was 130 cm long with a 50 cm
blade with two rows of obsidian blades
Maquahuitl (ma-ka-uee-tl).- The weapon that gave the Mexicas (Aztecs) control over most of
central Mexico. The Maquahuitl was a feared weapon, having been described by the Spanish
Conquistadors as being able to severe the head off a horse.
Like in Sparta, the Aztecs were trained as warriors from a young age, they began martial
training at the age of 15 and participated in ‘Yaoyotl’ (war) at the age of 20. During the firsts
campaigns, novice warriors didn’t participate actively in combat, but were still required to assist
the experienced warriors, in groups of 5 novice warriors, they would campaign assisting the
older warriors to prove their worth and courage, depending on their results in battle and
depending on their courage, the body of a captured enemy, after being sacrificed would be
divided amongst the five novices (the right thigh and torso going to the braves, the left thigh to
the second bravest the right arm to the next and so forth) to be taken back to their families to
be eaten.
The ‘Flower battles’ were organized battles declared by Aztecs on their surrounding villages in
order to capture prisoners to be sacrificed to Huitzilopoxtli, the sun God, to feed said God the
beating hearts of the prisoners to give him strength for his daily battle with the night, so he may
rise the next day. To die in battle was one of the highest honors not only for the Aztecs, but for
the neighboring tribes such as the Tlaxcaltecas, followed by the honor of being sacrificed to the
gods
Ranks were awarded depending on the amount of prisoners captured in battle. These ranks are:
Iyac.- One captive
Cuextecatl.- Two captives
Papalotl.- Three captives. Having captured three prisoners entitled the warrior to wear a cape
known as “Ehehcailatzcoycatl” as a symbol of his prowess
Tequihuah.- Four captives. This ‘Great Warrior’ became eligible to join the elite ranks of the
Eagle and Jaguar Knights
Otomitl.- Five captives
Cuachic.- Six or more captives
Gladiatorial combat:
Some captives were sacrificed to Tezcatlipoca in ritual gladiatorial combat (as was the case of the famous
warrior Tlalhuicole). The victim was tethered in place to a large carved circular "stone" and given a mock
weapon. The captive was supposed to die fighting against up to four or seven fully armed jaguar and
eagle knights, whereupon falling he would be promtly disemboweled by a priest, but if the captive
survived he was granted freedom.