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The best and most experienced warriors initiated the clash between opposing armies in the hope of delivering a decisive blow. Particularly valorous kings sometimes led in battle, but usually the military orders preceded everyone. Of these, the cuahchic warriors advanced first. The cuahchicqueh fought in pairs and were sworn not to flee even in the face of overwhelming opposition. But they were not organized into offensive combat units, nor did they command troops; rather, they were superior individual fighters and were used largely as shock troops. They also acted as a rear guard if the army was forced to retreat
37 and as reinforcements for anyone in difficulty. Such was the reputation of the cuahchiqueh that, reputedly, two or three were deemed capable of routing an entire army. Once a cuahchic's foot was set in place, it was said, a hundred of the enemy could not budge him.38 |
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After the cuahchicqueh came the otontin, followed by the veteran warriors, tequihuahqueh,39 who led the first organized units. The leaders entered battle at the head of their respective units, which were composed of intermixed veteran and novice warriors so the veterans could support, teach, and watch over the youths in combat. The king usually entered the battle with his entourage of generals. This order of battle was essentially duplicated by each city as they advanced in separate units, with the Aztecs leading.40 |
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Order was rigidly maintained in battle.41 Anyone who broke ranks or caused confusion was beaten or slain, as was anyone who committed any hostility without the order of his leader.42 Whenever warriors were killed or disabled, the rest closed ranks.43 |
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The Aztecs placed considerable stress on orderly movements into and out of battle. Forward elements that advanced too rapidly could lose their cohesive front and intermingle with the enemy troops, presenting an opportunity for a devastating counterblow. If the army was forced back and its withdrawal turned into a rout, the resultant collision with the advancing support troops allowed an organized attacker to wreak havoc on the routed troops penned in by their own reinforcements.44 |
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Combat units operated together to maintain a solid front so that the enemy could not penetrate and disrupt them. This tactic protected the other soldiers in the unit and reduced their immediate concern to fighting along the battle front rather than on all sides. Since only the soldiers directly facing an adversary could fight effec- |
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