Latin American Indigenous Warfare

Pre Colonial Indigenous Warfare Explored in Latin America

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The Maya

Originally thought to be a mostly peaceful society, recent developments in interpretations have shown the Maya to be a fierce warmongering society, often fighting within their empire. The Maya were made up of various city-states, and as a vast empire, these smaller cities often went to war with each other for prisoners, domination of territory, honor etc. These warriors carried spears, clubs, knives, and small shields. Warfare was a heavily religious activity, the battle only beginning after a ceremony. Mayan society was highly hierarchical, as such warriors were either peasants or elites. Sacrifice was a common goal if an officer was captured, regular enemy soldiers were often made to be slaves. In the culture, if a general or noble warrior was captured during battle, he would be brought back and be humiliated in a ball court game. The Mayans were a thriving society who warred for material, political, and religious reasons.

Sources consulted: Worlds, Ancient. "The Mayan Class Structure." The Mayan Class Structure. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/427711>.

Minster, Christopher. "The Ancient Maya - War and Warfare." Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/Maya/p/The-Ancient-Maya-War-And-Warfare.htm>.

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Mayan Warrior ranks The Mayan Warriors were a different society in contrast with Aztec or Incan systems. Because the empire was split of up various cities and provinces, warriors were often from other professions first. The cities had a head 'war captain' who governed and made tactical decisions like the general pictured above (1). From their, most warriors were actually militias of men, paid to fight for the battle, and then returning to their homes and trades. The royalty often had a small number of year round guards, but for the most part, warriors were seasonal. The warriors seen here are holding bone spears, and obsidian laced spear, and a sling. The Maya had various weapons that covered the broad range of terrain and battle necessities.

Sources consulted: Minster, Christopher. "The Ancient Maya - War and Warfare." About Education. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/Maya/p/The-Ancient-Maya-War-And-Warfare.htm>.

Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_society#Warfare>.

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Common Mayan Warrior Build A modern depiction of the Mayan Warrior. Often dressed in flamboyant colors, feathers, and gold piercings, the Maya were a sight on the battlefield. Here the warrior brandishes a spear of sharpened bone or stone. The Maya, were known for their ability and accuracy with spear throwing. 

Sources Consulted:

Singh, Baj. "Mayan Warrior." The Art of Baj Singh. 12 May 2012. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <https://bajsingh.wordpress.com/mayan-warrior/>.

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Introducing a Conquistador's worst nightmare. . . The Aztecs

Among Latin American Warfare, no society stands out more in reputation and ability as the Aztecs. The Aztec society was innately linked to war, it was their way of life. They produced the most feared warriors during this time, and engaged in warfare with other civilizations, often dominating the region. Pictured above, a Spaniard come face to face with an elite Aztec Eagle Warrior. Even with their superior weapon technology, the Spanish found a formidable enemy in the Aztecs. From a society that raised warriors from the age of 10 on, the culture and society of the Aztecs was one of war and combat.

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The Elite Aztec Warrior class - The Eagle Warrior

The Eagle warrior was one of two top elite classes in the Aztec Military. Alongside the Jaguar Warrior, they were the most feared and respected class throughout the empire. These warriors were of noble birth (though not exclusively) and often the bravest on the battlefield. The Eagle Warriors were used as scouts for the infantry, becoming eyes and ears to plan an attack. The process to becoming an Eagle Warrior involved taking many enemies prisoner. After four enemies, depending on bravery, a young man would have the potential to advance to Eagle or Jaguar Warrior. Interestingly, the Aztecs are the only society during this time who did not restrict the roles of military elite to those of noble birth, a commoner could in fact become a great warrior through bravery or great deeds. Once one was an Eagle Warrior, you were considered an elite of society. The Eagle Warrior used an eagle's head as his headdress, complete with a beak and many feathers for adornment. It was meant to personify bravery and strength.

Sources Consulted Wikipedia. "Eagle Warrior." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_warrior>.

Chronicles, Legends. "Aztec Warriors." Aztec Warriors. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://www.legendsandchronicles.com/ancient-warriors/aztec-warriors/>.

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Jaguar Warrior depiction. Below, Diego Rivera's famous representation of an Aztec Jaguar Warrior Among the Aztec Military, the Jaguar Warriors were regarded as one of the most fierce and top warriors of their day. Even among other nations, they were known and feared. These Warriors were among the elite of a nation known and characterized for war. Brutal in combat, when they went into battle the went all out, with full commitment. Jaguars were known for their courage and bravery in battle, these are the men that would be full time warriors in this society. This was their profession in the empire. Wearing the very skin of Jaguars over their body, their face would appear out of the mouth of the animal skin. Typically young men in the Aztec empire would become part of the military at 17. After which, they could move up in rank by capturing enemies. After a young man had taken his first prisoner, he would be considered a man in warrior status. To gain Jaguar status, one needed to capture four enemies. Capturing enemies for sacrificial purposes was the key element to advancing rank.

Sources consulted: Warrior Inc, Deadliest. "Aztec Jaguar." Deadliest Warrior Wiki. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Aztec_Jaguar>.

Deadliest Warrior S02E04 Aztec Jaguar Warrior... by ronando-bowden

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The basic Aztec Warrior and his weapons

The Aztec foot soldier with his weaponry. The Aztecs had a very rank ordered militarized society. In a society known for their fierce warfare, they became very skilled with their weaponry. Pictured here are various spears, clubs, axes, and bow and arrows. Obsidion played a crucial part in the Aztecs armory, primarily seen in the Macuahuitl, an obsidian laced bat used by many during this time period. The Macuahuitl was often engraved, and around the sides and front of wood lay prismatic spikes of obsidian. They were known in Spanish accounts for being able on several occasions to cut open horses, and easily decapitate men. The bows and arrows were made from the flexible wood of the rainforests, while the heavier axes and clubs were used at close range to break bones and armor. The Aztec would have ceremonially decorated shields as well as his Macuahuitl. the small round shields made mobility easy, however proved difficult at fending off large Spanish swords.

Sources Consulted:

Wikipedia. "Macuahuitl." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macuahuitl>.

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Warrior Codex - The Aztecs.

This image is from the Florentine Codex which was used to help translate the history and culture of the Aztecs. This particular segment was titled the 'Warrior Codex'. It depicts the top two elite warriors of the Aztec Army, the Eagle Warrior, and the Jaguar Warrior. Both these roles required immense testing and rituals, and as such were seen as high ranks and the most fearsome of combatants. The figures can be seen brandishing bats made of Obsidian called maquahuitl. The hard wooden bats were laced with prismatic spikes of obsidian, which when applied is strong enough to cut through surgical steel.

Sources Consulted Florentine Codex, Vol. 2, Folia 21L

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Weapons of the Inca The Inca garnered a massive empire. Because of the diversity and scape of their empire, it demanded different type of warfare and thus different warriors and weaponry. The Inca seen above represent a small segment of weaponry from across the empire. Inca were known for their ability in spear throwing, having specialized spears that would often have a rifling effect as they flew through the air. The spears were often tipped with copper, obsidion, or sharpened bone. In contrast, the Incas who inhabited rainforests were known as excellent marksmen with bows and arrows. The Incan warriors were also big users of slings. They were very accurate and could lob stones up to 100 some feet. In contrast, Incans used a variety of skilled close range weapons. The chonta or wooden swords, and bronze and stone clubs were used to break bones when in proximity. For Armor, the Incas usually carried two shields, one tough one protecting the back that was worn around the neck, and a shorter one used for combat defense. Head protection was very common, and for body armor they often wore cotton vests stuffed with rock salt. Sources consulted:

Chaddha, Rima. "Outfitting for Inca Battles." PBS. PBS, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/battle-gear.html>.

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Cahuide the Incan War Hero

Cahuide otherwise known as "Titu Cusi Huallpa (according to Cronista Pedro Pizarro )" was a famous Incan Warrior. He gained this honorary status and role in the 'Batalla de Sacsayhuamán' against the Spaniards.  He was a ruthless warrior, defeating every Spaniard in his path. However, during the battle, due to superior weaponry and numbers, defeat seemed imminent. Cahuide was sent to one of three towers of Sacsayhuamán called Muyucmarca to defend it at all costs from the invading forces. Upon seeing that the greater battle was lost, Cahuide jumped from the top of the tower of Muyucmarca into the crowd of Spaniards, weapons swinging, in order to sacrifice himself for his people by taking out a greater number of soldiers. The Spanirads were so shocked by this amazing warrior and display of courage that sources say some commented that Cahuide could have certainly been written about by the Romans in their epics and tales of ancient greek warriors like the Spartans.

Sources Consulted: Etymology, My. "Cahuide - SpeedyLook Encyclopedia." Cahuide - SpeedyLook Encyclopedia. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://www.myetymology.com/encyclopedia/Cahuide.html>.

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Kuélap fortress of the Chachapoya.

The Incan empire conquered much of Latin America, however they met great resistance upon encountering a fierce warrior people from the forests high in the mountains, the Chachapoya. These warriors were very fair skinned people, with supposed blonde hair, who dwelt at high altitudes above the clouds in the forests. Pictured above is the fortress of Kuélap, which sat at 3,000 meters or roughly (9,480ft) above sea level. With a narrow corridor as the only entrance in, only one man could enter at a time. It was built to sustain attacks as a defensive home. Even though they were eventually conquered by the Inca, the Chachapoya put up such a fierce resistance that they were noted in the history books. After assimilation into the empire however, much of their culture and customs faded. According to the Nephites, "Kuelap has over four hundred buildings inside 3 levels of walls, it is roughly 20 m hight, 600 meters in length and 110 meters in width and is known as the largest stone structure in the Americas."

Sources Consulted:

NephiCode, The. "NephiCode: The Fortress, Archaeology and Anthropology – Part II." NephiCode: The Fortress, Archaeology and Anthropology – Part II. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://nephicode.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-fortress-archaeology-and_23.html>.