preface

Across all the world military structures and traditions vary depending on the cultural and geographic context of the people, but a basic rundown of the main military structures for the five regions can be showcased as follows.

the children of sun and moon

The Nahua


Nahua people put a special emphasis on the capture of live subjects for ritual sacrifice and violent expansion of territory. They are ruthless conquerors and subjugators with fearsome battle skill developed through the ideals of expansion, tribute control, ritual legitimization and braveness.

Structure


From the age of 10, boys will be trained in either tepochcalli or calmecac schools depending on their social status. Nahua peoples have a very small standing army consisting only of guards and elite warriors, but almost every man in Nahua society is an able bodied soldier, ready to be drafted if they are needed by their gods, their tlatoani, or their calpulli.

A calpulli is the nahua social unit. Its like a mix between the household, community and family. Members of the calpulli stand for each other, work together as a community and defend their interests with blood if it is needed.

The lowest ranked soldiers are tlamemeh, whose only role is to carry equipment, then come the youth soldiers of the tepochcalli barracks, led by their sarjeants, the telpochyahqueh. Then the commoners or yaoquizqueh, and higher than them the tlamanih, yaoquizqueh who had taken prisoners in battle.

Once one captured more than one person in battle, they would reach nobility status (if they had not have it before) and further ranks were defined by the amount of prisoners captured in battle and heroic feats. The Nahuas will sometimes through bargaining, capture or alliance, add magical creatures and the spawn of the gods to their roster, but only soldiers of the highest rankings are allowed to fight alongside them. The nahuas pride themselves in often having their Tlatoani (leader), Tlacochcalcatl (field marshall) and Tlacateccatl (general), amongst them, leading the armies into the fight.

The merchants or pochteca, are an extremely important part of nahua warfare, they are the ones who would rely the most intelligence to military councils. Pochteca are incredibly respected by nahua societies due to the importance of their role in assesing dangerous incursions, succesful invasions and rich alliances. To the nahua, the killing of a merchant is a declaration of war.

To rely information, the nahua also sometimes use stationed messengers that act as an impressive information network that allows for swift retaliation, support and decision making regarding military events.

Tactics


Strengths


Weaknesses


Troops

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Tlamemeh

Equipment
The tlamemeh had no weapons available, only the basket used to carry goods.

Role
They were not soldiers, considered the lowest in the social pyramid, the Tlamemeh's only job was to carry military equipment for the rest of the army.

Yaoquizqueh

Equipment
Tepoztopilli, tematlatl, macahuitl, tlahhuitolli, chimalli. Ichcahuipilli, normal sandals.

Role
Most of the macehualtin (commonfolk) and youth from the telpochcalli were Yaoquizqueh, the lowest of military ranks among the nahua peoples. Some of the Yaoquizqueh were designated for ranged volleys using tlahhuitolli (aztec bow) and some others were infantry, who used a wide array of melee and short range weapons.

Tlamanih

Equipment
Tlaximaltepoztli, huitzauhqi, macahuitzoctli, chimalli. Ichcahuapilli, ehuatl.

Role
After capturing an enemy, normal soldiers would start rising through ranks, Tlamanih being the basic one. Their equipment allows them to capture oponents if they find the chance, but lethal damage for protection is also available.

Cuextecatl

Equipment
Quauhololli, Cuahuitl, chimalli. Ichcahuapilli, red and black tlahuiztli, ehuatl, conical hat.

Role
The rank evolved since the military campaign against the huastec by tlatoani Ahuizotl. Their aspect is reminiscent of the brave huastecs, or cuextecatl, who proved to be a worthy oponent to the nahuas. Rank given to people who have captured 2 prisoners in battle. Their armament, more blunt than deadly, proves their improved skill in capturing rather than killing.

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Papalomeh

Equipment
Macahuitl, tematlatl, tlaximaltepoztli, tecpatl, tlahhuitolli. Ichcahuapilli, ehuatl, tlahuiztli, cuacalatli, pamitl.

Role
The final step towards the higher end of the military pyramid, soldiers who captured 3 prisoners were papalotl, or butterfly knights. They wear butterfly banners on their back and often have expertise in a wide array of basic weapons.

Cuauhocelotl

Equipment
Any weapons and shields preferred by the warrior, atlatl. Ichcahuipilli, ehuatl, tlahuiztli, tiger or eagle shaped cuacalatli, pamitl. They can wear luxurious jewelry and adornments according to their veteran status.

Role
When a nahua warrior demonstrates battle prowess through their feats and capture count, they finally achieve noble status if they did not have it before and they join the military orders of Cuauhtin (eagle) or Ocelomeh (jaguar) warriors. These elite warriors demonstrate incredible expertise in their preferred weapon, and only them and people higher in the military hierarchy have the possibility of using the deadly atlatl (nahua dart thrower).

Cuachicqueh

Equipment
Any weapons and shields, their desired armor but no cuacalatli, pamitl.

Role
The highest rank for infantry troops in Anahuac. These fearsome warriors were used as shock troops and special forces only deployed when specific tasks needed to be carried in the battlefield. The deadliest warriors at the service of nahua interests, they wear yellow armor pieces, their heads are shaved except for a long braid over the left ear and they wear half blue and half red or yellow body paint. To be a cuachiqueh implied the warrior refsed captaincies to remain constant battlefield combatants and sworn to the gods to never take a step backward in battle even when in the worst of pains.

Quimitchin

Equipment
Context dependant in order to blend in, but always carrying a tecpatl.

Role
Quimitchin means rat. This is how nahuas call their spies, who infiltrate the enemy and often perform sabotage or obtain special intelligence and information. They are often people capable of fighting who are trained in the art of disguise, deception and sneak. Since the steaks of the job are extremely high with them risking capture, torture and the assasination of their loved ones, Quimitchin are well rewarded by their patrons in multiple ways.

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Tlacateccatl

Equipment
Anything they desired. Lots of jewelry and ornaments.

Role
General of a nahua army. More than 6 captures and a bunch of battle feats required to reach this rank. They are the second in command to the tlatoani and tlacochcalcatl. They are the masterminds of nahua battles, the planning and outcome rely on their judgment and skills. When in times of peace, the tlacateccatl oversee military complexes around Anahuac.

Tlacochcalcatl

Equipment
Anything they desired. Lots of jewelry and ornaments.

Role
The high general of a nahua faction. They oversee the entire military operation of the altepetl, and their command can only be overruled by the tlatoani, or supreme leader of an altepetl. They are often the deadliest warriors in the entire land. The sea of blood and piles and piles of captured soldiers on their back are a testament to the monstrosities commited by the person holding this title. In times of great war and conflict, they will not hesitate in the least to march with their armies and unleash horror into the battlefield.

Tlatoani

Equipment
Anything they desired. Ceremonial garbs including precious jewelry, ornaments and ahpanehcayotl. The best of armor.

Role
The supreme leader of an altepetl, or nahua city state. While they might not be the best warrior in the entire realm, they are often gifted with superb battle skills, they lead their people into war in the most dire and decisive battles, often carrying the favor and will of the gods themselves along with them.