The capture of prisoners was the principal object of the flower wars, and the Mexica warriors were trained to disable the enemy without killing him. The Mexica used a variety of techniques to capture prisoners, and the warriors were required to master these techniques as part of their training. The most common method of capture was to knock the enemy unconscious with a blow to the head, and then to bind him and carry him away. The Mexica warriors used a variety of weapons and tactics to accomplish this, and the techniques of capture shaped the Mexica military training.
The Techniques of Capture
The Mexica warriors were trained to use a variety of techniques to capture prisoners, and the most common was to use the flat of the macuahuitl to knock the enemy unconscious. The Mexica warriors were skilled in the use of the macuahuitl, and they were able to deliver a precise blow that would disable the enemy without killing him.
The Mexica warriors also used a variety of other techniques to capture prisoners, including the use of the atlatl, the sling, and the bow. The Mexica warriors were trained to aim for the head or the legs, where the blow would disable the enemy without killing him. The Mexica warriors were also trained to use the terrain to their advantage, and they would often lure the enemy into a trap or a confined space where he could be more easily captured.
The Use of the Lariat
The Mexica warriors also used the lariat to capture prisoners, particularly when the enemy was on horseback or on a chariot. The lariat was a length of rope with a loop at one end, and it was used to lasso the enemy and to pull him from his mount. The Mexica warriors were skilled in the use of the lariat, and they were able to use it effectively in a variety of situations.
The lariat was particularly useful in the flower wars, where the Mexica warriors were trying to capture the enemy without killing him. The lariat allowed the Mexica warriors to disable the enemy quickly and to bring him to the ground, where he could be bound and carried away.
The Binding of the Prisoners
Once the prisoners had been captured, they were bound and carried back to the Mexica camp. The binding was typically done with ropes, and the prisoners were tied so that prevented them from escaping but that did not cause them serious injury. The Mexica warriors were careful in the binding, since the prisoners were valuable for the sacrifice and they needed to be in good condition.
The Mexica warriors also used a system of guards to prevent the prisoners from being rescued by their own side. The Mexica warriors would typically assign a small group of warriors to guard each prisoner, and the warriors would be responsible for the safe transport of the prisoner to Tenochtitlan.
The Role of the Captor
The Mexica warrior who captured a prisoner was honored with special privileges, and the captor played an important role in the subsequent fate of the prisoner. The captor was often given a share of the prisoner’s belongings, and the captor was honored with special titles and with the right to wear special insignia.
The captor was also responsible for the safe conduct of the prisoner to Tenochtitlan, and the captor was required to deliver the prisoner to the priests for the sacrifice. The captor was often given a special role in the sacrificial ceremony, and the captor was honored for the role he had played in providing the gods with the sacrifice they required.
The Legacy of the Capture Techniques
The techniques of the Mexica capture have been the subject of much scholarly analysis, and they are now recognized as some of the most sophisticated techniques of any pre-modern military system. The Mexica were able to capture large numbers of prisoners in the flower wars, and the techniques they developed shaped the Mexica military system.
The techniques of the Mexica capture have also been compared to similar techniques in other cultures, including the techniques used by the Romans and the Greeks. The Mexica techniques are particularly notable for their emphasis on disabling the enemy without killing him, and they have been cited as an example of a sophisticated system of warfare in a pre-modern state.
Related Articles
- The Flower Wars and Ritual Conflict — the broader context
- What was the purpose of the flower wars? — the religious logic
- Which cities did the Aztecs fight flower wars with? — the opponents
- Human Sacrifice in Aztec Religion — the fate of the prisoners
- Aztec Weapons, Armor, and Military Technology — the weapons
- Aztec Warfare and Conquest — the broader context