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battlefield) and strategic reinforcement (adding men and units in a war). They commonly committed only some of their troops in a given battle and held the remainder in reserve,
58 although the best warriors were usually sent into battle first. The Aztecs could thus assess the enemy's strength and commit an appropriate force.59 |
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The practice of holding troops in reserve until needed was common throughout Mesoamerica.60 And if a Mayan example can be legitimately extended to other areas of Mesoamerica, reinforcements brought with them food and drink for the combatants as well as a resupply of projectiles and other arms.61 |
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The Aztecs' open formation probably eased the maneuver, as new troops could easily approach the combatants from the rear and move up through the widely spaced fighting troops. Fresh troops probably moved forward on the allied combatants' right side, which offered them a better view than the shielded left side. Once at the front, the relief soldier could engage the enemy and allow his predecessor to fall back on the left. |
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How often new units relieved those currently fighting is uncertain.62 One source put it at every quarter of an hour. While the precise length of combat for each unit probably depended on a variety of factors, including the ferocity of the fighting, nature of the terrain, and access to supplies,63 reliefs suggest both regularity and relatively brief periods of combat, probably because of arms and ammunition limitations. |
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Stone blades shatter when they strike other weapons, but they usually do not when they strike cotton armor, flesh, or shields. Nevertheless, the breakage during combat must have been significant. While weapons with shattered blades can still be used effectively as clubs, their effectiveness is impaired. Thus the periodic withdrawal of troops during combat served not only to rest the men but also to allow them to trade weapons. Overnight or after battles, blades were probably replaced, and other arms were repaired. |
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Occasionally the opposition was too strong to continue hand-to-hand combat, so the army would fall back just enough to allow the archers, slingers, and atlatl wielders to use projectiles.64 The same tactic also supported orderly withdrawals in the face of superior forces. When the entire unit or army was forced back, it moved in the direction of its camp, where additional projectiles could be retrieved to turn the tide against opponents who did not have a fresh supply.65 The ability to conduct an orderly withdrawal was also nec- |
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