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lord), huitznahuacatl (person from Huitznahuac), and itzcoatecatl (person from Itzcoatlan).
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There were also military orders composed of seasoned warriors. These orders are conventionally referred to as eagles (cuacuauhtin) and jaguars (ocelomeh).97 Conceptually, there appears to be no distinction between these types of warriors, and, indeed, other, less common terms were used to denote them, including cuauhtlocelotl (eagle-jaguar).98 These variant terms probably signified differences in the attire of the individual warriors rather than internal distinctions drawn by the orders themseles. Only noble tequihuahqueh could be admitted to the military orders, but they did not have to come exclusively from the calmecac; telpochcalli-trained warriors were also admitted to the military orders.99 |
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The military orders were not an officer corps, although they were composed largely of members of the nobility. However, noble background alone was insufficient to qualify a man; entry depended upon military prowess and demonstrated ability in the form of captives taken in battlemore than four. Because of the emphasis on military skill, common warriors could gain admittance by being elevated to the cuauhpipiltin. But given the superior training available to noble youths, the positions of their fathers, and their attachment to veteran warriors, success in battle and entry into the military orders was heavily skewed in favor of hereditary nobles. |
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Meritocratic nobles were admitted to the eagle and jaguar orders, and the king granted them the rights owed to members. These included the right to wear otherwise proscribed jewelry and daily military attire, dress in cotton and wear sandals in the royal palace, eat human flesh and drink octli in public, keep concubines, and dine in the royal palaces. Nevertheless, they were held in less esteem than the hereditary noble members.100 And their war suit (tlahuiztli suit) was made of animal skins, not of feathers, as was that worn by the pipiltin.101 Nevertheless, once a commoner became a cuauhpilli, his sons were eligible for noble treatment, including warrior training in the calmecac. |
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Above the eagle and jaguar military orders were two other orders or societiesthe otontin (otomies; sing. otomitl) and the cuahchicqueh (shorn ones; sing. cuahchic or cuahchiqui). For taking five or six captives a valiant warrior might be named an otomitl warrior and given a tlahuizmatlatopilli, or "net device staff." In addition to his macuahuitl (sword), the otomitl carried a shield with the four |
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