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Ambushes were among the most successful and skillfully executed of the Aztec tactical maneuvers. They included simple attacks at physically disabling times and locations, such as at narrow mountain passes, where the advantage lay overwhelmingly with the attacker, or from seemingly deserted houses.
51 The most spectacular ambushes, however, were executed in battle and involved use of a feint in which the Aztec forces retreated as if the enemy were winning the struggle. If the feint was executed convincingly, the enemy advanced to press home its advantage. Once the enemy forces had been drawn into a compromised position, the Aztecs turned on them with additional troops, attacked them from behind, or used these troops to cut them off from tactical and logistical support.52 |
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One feint described many times in the historical accounts involved the use of foxholes and cover.53 During the war with Tecuantepec, King Axayacatl advanced at the front of his army. When the opponents attacked, he fell back to a place where his soldiers were hidden by straw, whereupon they attacked and won.54 In the war against the Huaxtecs, King Moteuczomah Ilhuicamina formed his units and attacked, before feigning a retreat. This drew the Huaxtecs forward until two thousand armed cuahchicqueh and otontin warriors, camouflaged with grass, arose and destroyed them.55 The same basic tactic was used in many other wars. In the war against Tolocan (Toluca), King Axayacatl and eight of his generals concealed themselves in straw-covered holes in the ground. When the Aztec army retreated past their location, they leaped out, killed the Toloca lords, and routed the army.56 |
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Although disobedient rulers were sometimes killed, political assassination before battle was not a significant factor in Mesoamerican warfare. But in battle the ruler was a legitimate target, since his death could shorten the battle and the war.57 |
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Reinforcements and Withdrawal |
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Replacing units in battle is dangerous and may open the army to renewed attack. Nevertheless, this operation is crucial, since both arms and the combatants' stamina are limited. The Aztecs were adept at both tactical reinforcement (adding men and units on the |
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