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tively, the units probably expanded along their front rather than forming blocks and remained only deep enough to prevent the breakthrough of enemy elements. Once the army had closed with the enemy and formed a broad front, skirmishing occurred by units as wholes,
45 but given the weapons employed, actual combat was inevitably an individual affair. If the unit's front broke, a rout was likely. It is doubtful that soldiers would remain on the battlefield in the face of sure extinction, especially not the commoners, who had the least to gain. |
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Battlefield tactics varied according to local conditions, opponents, and so forth, but the Aztec army generally tried to surround the enemy and assail it from all sides.46 Attacking the flank while engaged in a frontal assault was practiced,47 as were other formations.48 The battle occurred largely between the warriors at the front of their respective armies, as only these could bring their weapons to bear. Thus, it was to the Aztecs' benefit to extend the front as much as possible, to take advantage of their usual numerical superiority, and thereby envelop the enemy troops and cut them off from reinforcements and resupply. |
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There are no accounts of battles from the individual soldier's view. But among the Indians taken to Spain was a young warrior who reenacted a battle scene that was described by Peter Martyr d'Anghera: |
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In his right hand he carried a simple wooden sword, without the stones which ordinarily decorate this weapon, for the battle swords have their two edges hollowed out and filled with sharp stones fastened in with solid bitumen, so that these swords are almost as stout in battle as our own.... In his other hand he carried a native shield, made of stout reeds covered with gold. The lower extremity of this shield is decorated with a feather fringe, a cubit long. The shield was lined with tiger skin, and the centre of the exterior had colored feathers resembling our raw silk. Armed with his sword the slave advanced. He wore a robe of woven feathers, half blue and half red, and cotton trousers; a handkerchief was suspended between his hips and his leggins were fastened to his garments like a cuirass which is taken off without undoing the strings that fasten the leggins. He wore beautiful sandals. He then gave an exhibition of a battle; first hurling himself upon his enemies, then retreating; then he engaged another slave who served with him and was trained to these exercises. He seized him by the hair, as they do their enemies whom they capture with weapons in their hands, dragging them off to be sacrificed. After throwing the slave on the ground, he feigned to cut open his breast above the heart, with a knife. After tearing out the heart, he |
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