Jaguar Warriors : Heavy Infantry of Aztec Empire

Jaguar warriors were the heavy infantry of Aztec Empire. They were the most fierce warriors of the empire along with the Eagle warriors. They wore jaguar skulls and skins because they believed that way the strength of that animal will be transferred to them. They were mainly shock troops and like jaguars, the apex predator of South America.

Jaguar Warrior

Origin : The Aztecs first started flourished around 1300 AD. They were warlike people and always needed slaves for sacrifice to their gods. So, soon they conquered most of the middle and southern mexico and formed an empire. The jaguar warriors were one of their main infantry unit and were specialized in capturing than killing (I will discuss about this unique feature later in the article). So, from the start of their expansion these warriors played a crucial role.

Training : The Aztecs had a specialized schooling system for children. There were two types of schools in Aztec system, Telpochacalli and Calmecac. Teclpochacalli was the school of common people and Calmecac was for nobles. The commoners school was military school. Here Aztec boys were taught about military discipline, drills, leadership etc. These schools made the soldiers for empire. Jaguar warriors were the product of these schools. But not everybody could get that status. They had to capture twelve enemies in two battles to get the status of Jaguar warrior. These warriors were respected in the society and treated as nobles. So, any common boy could get that high status through this process of selection. 

Macuahuitl

Equipment : Jaguar warriors were melee soldiers and used wooden clubs edged with obsidian blades called "Macuahuitl". They didn't have the access to iron so obsidian were their main material for slashing. These clubs could easily decapitate enemies. They also carried wooden shields decorated with their insignia. For armors they used cotton cloths and also the jaguar skins and skulls as costume.

Uniqueness : The jaguar warriors were unique because of their skill in capturing the enemy rather than killing them. This had a religious purpose. They needed humans for sacrifice to their gods. So, they believed capturing enemy was better way to honor gods than killing them. The warrior, who killed enemy, was considered as unskilled. 

Jaguar Warrior

The Fall : After the encounter with Spanish conquistadors many unfortunate events happened to the Aztecs. They totally misunderstood the conquistadors as god at first. When they understood the true intention of the Spanish, it was too late. Their emperor was dead and capital was taken by Hernan Cortes, the leader of the conquistadors. Though they managed to retake their city and drove the Spanish away but weakened by plague which the Spanish brought with them in new world. Hernan Cortes returned and besieged Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. They fought bravely but ultimately fall on August 13, 1521. 

Jaguar Warrior

Conclusion : The Jaguar warriors were considered as one of the deadliest infantry of Mesoamerican culture. They lost the war because of their misunderstanding and technologically superior weapons used by the Spanish. They are still remembered as the elite warriors of Aztec empire.