The Mexica military was organized into a hierarchy of ranks, with the Tlatoani and the Cihuacoatl at the top. The path from commoner to elite warrior was long and demanding, and it required years of training and a series of tests of courage and skill. The most successful warriors could rise to the highest levels of the military hierarchy, and they were honored with special privileges, including the right to wear distinctive insignia, the right to eat in special dining halls, and the right to live in special houses.
The Basic Ranks of the Mexica Army
The basic ranks of the Mexica army were the iyac, the warriors who had captured their first prisoner, and the iyac tlatoa, the senior warriors who had captured many prisoners. The iyac were assigned to the various military units, and they served in the campaigns under the command of the senior warriors. The iyac were required to continue to capture prisoners, and they could rise in rank by capturing additional prisoners and by performing acts of valor in battle.
Above the iyac were the senior warriors, who had distinguished themselves in battle and had risen to positions of command. The senior warriors were the leaders of the military units, and they were responsible for the training of the junior warriors and the conduct of the campaigns. The senior warriors were honored with special privileges, and they were among the most respected figures in Mexica society.
The Military Orders as a Path to Higher Rank
The Mexica military orders were a key part of the path to higher rank, and the warriors who had distinguished themselves in battle could apply to join the elite orders. The most prestigious of the orders were the Eagle Warriors and the Jaguar Warriors, and the warriors who were admitted to these orders were honored with special privileges and were given access to the highest levels of the military hierarchy.
The military orders had their own hierarchy of ranks, with the most senior warriors being the leaders of the orders. The leaders of the orders were often members of the Mexica nobility, and they held the highest positions in the military. The leaders of the orders were also often given important positions in the Mexica government, and they were among the most powerful figures in Mexica society.
The Captures of Prisoners as a Measure of Rank
The number of prisoners captured by a warrior was a key measure of his rank, and the Mexica kept careful records of the captures. The Mexica warrior who had captured the most prisoners was honored with the highest ranks, and the warrior who had captured the fewest prisoners was assigned to the lower ranks.
The Mexica also used the captures of prisoners as a way of determining the order of precedence in the military hierarchy. The Mexica warrior who had captured the most prisoners in a particular campaign was given the place of honor, and the other warriors were arranged in order of their captures. The Mexica also used the captures of prisoners as a way of determining the rewards that the warriors received, and the warriors who had captured the most prisoners were given the largest shares of the tribute and the most prestigious positions in the state.
The Promotion to the Highest Ranks
The promotion to the highest ranks of the Mexica military was reserved for the most successful warriors, and the warriors who had distinguished themselves in battle could rise to the highest levels of the military hierarchy. The most successful warriors could become members of the Mexica nobility, and they could be appointed to the highest positions in the military and in the government.
The most successful warriors could also become members of the Mexica ruling family, and they could be appointed as the Tlatoani or the Cihuacoatl. The Mexica had a clear sense of the value of military service, and they made it possible for the successful warrior to rise to the highest levels of the state.
The Legacy of the Mexica Military Hierarchy
The Mexica military hierarchy has been the subject of much scholarly analysis, and it is now recognized as one of the most sophisticated military systems of any pre-modern culture. The Mexica system has been compared to similar systems in other cultures, including the Roman military system and the Japanese samurai system. The Mexica system is particularly notable for its openness and for its emphasis on merit, and it has been cited as an example of a sophisticated system of military organization in a pre-modern state.
The Mexica military hierarchy has also had a lasting influence on the Mexican military tradition, and the modern Mexican military has drawn on the Mexica tradition for inspiration. The Mexica warrior elite, the Eagle Warriors and the Jaguar Warriors, are still celebrated in Mexican popular culture, and they are an important symbol of the Mexican national identity.
Related Articles
- Military Ranks, Orders, and Eagle Warriors — the broader context
- How did young Aztecs become warriors? — the path to warriorhood
- What were the elite military orders in Aztec society? — the orders
- Aztec Weapons, Armor, and Military Technology — the equipment
- The Flower Wars and Ritual Conflict — the ritual warfare
- Aztec Warfare and Conquest — the broader context