11. The Eagle and Jaguar Warriors were the military elite of the Aztec Empire, with only the bravest able to win a place in the bloodthirsty units
In the Aztec Empire, there was not one but two elite military units; the Eagle Warriors and the Jaguar Warriors were made up of the most skilled and experienced fighters. Their lives were dedicated to fighting, as well as to ritual. There were rules to be followed both on and off the field of battle, and a strict code of honor to abide by. All of this helped add to the mystique of both the Eagle Warrior and the Jaguar Warrior units, with their members feared both by other tribes and then, in later years, by Spanish soldiers and explorers.
In the Aztec Empire, all boys were required to undertake military training at the age of 17. They were taught how to fight using a wide range of weapons, while those from noble families were also trained in religion and politics. Once they had undertaken their military training, young men would go back into civilian life and only take up arms when necessary. If they then excelled on the field of battle, they might be eligible to join the elite Eagle and Jaguar units. To be considered for either, a young man needed to capture between 12 and 20 enemy fighters. Unlike in some other empires, being a commoner was no barrier to entry to the elite. All that mattered was bravery and honor.
The elite units were the only full-time soldiers in the Aztec Empire. They were blessed with higher social standing, allowed to dine in the temples or royal palace, and permitted to take concubines. When the time came to fight, they did so with spears and daggers, as well as with slingshots that fired Firestone. These were designed to stun an enemy so that he could be captured – and then sacrificed – rather than killed outright. Eagle Warriors would sport brightly-colored shields decorated with feathers. They might also wear eagle headdresses. Similarly, Jaguar Warriors wore special costumes and sported make-up to honor their sacred animal.
Alongside their duties on the frontline, Eagle and Jaguar Warriors also had important responsibilities in Aztec society. Younger members of the elite special forces were required to carry out human sacrifices, often killing men they had captured in battle. At the same time, Eagle and Jaguar Warriors were also the Empire’s police force and would often use lethal force, for example to punish anyone caught drinking alcohol.