Aztec Jaguar Warriors and Their Role in the Aztec Empire
In less than a century, the city of Tenochtitlan went from newly-founded backwater to the capital of the Aztec Empire, the most dominant force in central Mexico. Fueling this growth was the formidable Aztec army, comprised of several bands of elite warriors; perhaps none more fearsome than the Aztec jaguar warriors.
In this article, we’ll explore who the jaguar warriors were, as well their role was in Aztec culture and society.
Aztec Warrior Societies
Upon graduating from the telpochcalli, Aztec warriors seamlessly integrated into the ranks of the Aztec military, presenting an opportunity to distinguish themselves through acts of valor on the battlefield.
Remarkably, even individuals of common birth who demonstrated exceptional courage and skill could ascend the social hierarchy within Aztec society. The key to triumph, both in warfare and social advancement, lay in the practice of capturing, rather than killing, enemy combatants.
In the context of Aztec warfare, the primary objective was the capture of foes, although battlefield casualties inevitably occurred. Many of these captured adversaries later faced sacrifice, as the Aztecs believed that offering the blood of captives to the god Huitzilopochtli was crucial for the preservation of their world.
Aztec warriors harbored aspirations of achieving various ranks in their careers. Foremost among these prestigious titles were the:
- Aztec Eagle Warriors
- Aztec Jaguar Warriors
- Otomies
- Shorn Ones
Who Were the Aztec Jaguar Warriors?
In the Aztec military hierarchy, standing shoulder to shoulder with the eagle warriors were the formidable Aztec jaguar warriors, renowned for their prowess on the battlefield.
Chronicling the post-Spanish conquest era in Mexico City, Diego Durán documented insights gained from the elderly Mexica residents about this warrior society:
“They [the jaguar warriors] were the men whom the sovereigns most loved and esteemed, the men who obtained most privileges and prerogatives. To them the kings granted most generous favors, adorning them with brilliant, splendid weapons and insignias… When one of these knights performed a great feat in war, capturing or slaying, he obtained these distinctions. As soon as the warrior returned to the court, the king was informed of the brave deed of the knight, who was brought before him. After manifesting his appreciation, the king dubbed him a knight and gave him his honor… The hair on the top of his head was parted in two, and a red cord wrapped around it; in the same cord was attached an ornament of green, blue and red feathers… and a red tassel.”
Elevated to a status comparable to that of eagle warriors, aspiring jaguar warriors, hailing from the peasant class, sought entry into the ranks of these elite warriors. Once achieved, these seasoned, successful warriors enjoyed exclusive privileges, including:
- Grant of land from the empire
- Permission to partake in the consumption of Mesoamerican pulque
- Fine dining at the imperial palace
- Possession of multiple concubines
- Adornment with lavish jewelry denied to the common peasants
Becoming an Aztec jaguar warrior symbolized a pinnacle of achievement, signifying one’s ascent to the highest echelons of Aztec military society.
Aztec Jaguar Warriors’ Uniform
Contrary to popular belief, jaguar warriors never actually wore jaguar skins, fur, or pelts. Instead, these warriors adorned themselves with feathers, akin to the eagle warriors.
The uniforms of jaguar warriors featured intricate feather work, skillfully crafted to emulate the appearance of a jaguar.
Weapons Used by the Jaguar Warriors
The macuahuitl, the favored weapon of elite Aztec jaguar warriors, was an extraordinary force to be reckoned with.
Despite its appearance, seemingly less robust than the iron swords of the Old World, Spanish conquistadors consistently marveled at the macuahuitl’s ability to decapitate a horse with a single powerful blow. Crafted from wood and obsidian, these Aztec swords boasted a superiority over their European counterparts.
The macuahuitl existed in two variants: one-handed and two-handed. The smaller version, measuring approximately 3 to 4 inches in width and just over 3 feet in length, was complemented by a larger two-handed counterpart, boasting a width of about 4 inches and towering to the height of a man. The skill required to wield the latter was truly remarkable.
To fashion these formidable weapons, Aztec artisans constructed the sword’s body from sturdy wood, typically oak, and meticulously carved grooves along the outer edge. Within these grooves, razor-sharp obsidian blades were embedded.
In some instances, the obsidian blades were closely arranged, creating a smooth and consistent cutting surface. Alternatively, craftsmen left gaps between the blades, imparting an almost serrated quality. To secure these obsidian blades, artisans employed bitumen and turtle dung glue as adhesives.
The effectiveness of the macuahuitl in battle was so profound that even Spanish conquistadors conceded its superiority over European swords. Remarkably, attempts by the Spaniards to break the obsidian blades proved futile, prompting an unusual acknowledgment of inferiority — a rarity among conquistadors.
Aztec Jaguar Warriors and Human Sacrifice
One of the most well-known and most misunderstood facts about the Aztec Empire is there use of human sacrifice. Yes, they did practice human sacrifice, but the numbers that Spanish observers reported were certainly inflated. And, unlike the Spanish version of events, those being sacrificed often went willingly, as it was a highly important religious ritual.
Within their cosmology, human sacrifice was used to appease the Aztec gods, most notably Huitzilopotchli (one of the main Aztec deities) and Tezcatlipoca (the patron god of warriors and kings).
So, where do jaguar warriors figure into all of this? These elite warriors played two important roles in Aztec human sacrifice.
First, most of those sacrificed were enemy soldiers captured during military campaigns. The main objective of Aztec warfare was not to kill as many of the enemy as possible until they surrendered, but rather to capture as many of the enemy as possible. Some of these captured combatants were then sacrificed in rituals. As one of the elite forces within the Aztec military, jaguar warriors played an important role in capturing those bound for the sacrificial altar.
Second, jaguar warriors participated in gladiatorial sacrifices. In these events, captured enemies were sacrificed in faux combat. The sacrificial soldier was given only a loincloth to wear, plus four cudgels a macuahuitl with the obsidian removed and replaced by feathers. Prior to combat, this soldier was given the alcoholic Aztec drink, pulque, and tied in place by a rope around his waist. With these meager weapons and limited mobility, he then did battle against jaguar warriors and eagle warriors. This sacrificial soldier fought until he was felled. Once dead, he had his heart removed and offered to the gods.
Sources on Aztec Jaguar Warriors
- David Carrasco and Scott Sessions, Daily Life of the Aztecs: People of the Sun and Earth (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998): 146.
- “The Aztec Warrior: Rank and Warrior Societies,” historyonthenet.com
- Ian Mursell, “Mexica jaguar warriors did NOT wear jaguar skins,” mexicolore.co.uk
- Ross Hassig, Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1988): 83.
- Hassig, Aztec Warfare, 83.
- Hassig, Aztec Warfare, 83-85.
- Dave Roos, “Human Sacrifice: Why the Aztecs Practiced This Gory Ritual,” history.com
- Inga Clindinnen, The Cost of Courage in Aztec Society: Essays on Mesoamerican Society and Culture (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010), 31.
- Hassig, Aztec Warfare, 121.
