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Chapter 4
Declaration, Preparation, and Mobilization |
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In theory, not all provocations were serious enough to prompt an Aztec declaration of war. The king might call for a war for minor offenses (such as the killing of an emissary), but the basic decision rested with his councilors and the people, who required a just cause if they were to accept going to war.
1 They could counsel against war, but if the king persisted, calling them back two or three times to ask for war, they relented, and war was declared; but it was not considered a just war, and the responsibility was the king's alone. When merchants were killed, however, there was no question of sufficient cause, and the appeal to the councilors and to the people was unnecessary.2 |
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The ideal was to announce the declaration of war both to the Aztec people and to the new enemies, but this was not always done.3 The Aztecs rarely initiated war against a major opponent without cause (from their perspective), but they rarely provided formal advance warning, although targets usually knew the Aztecs were coming. |
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A high official announced the decision to wage war to the people. During the reign of Moteuczomah Ilhuicamina the cihuacoatl performed this act, notifying all the wards (calpolli) and the telpochcalli schools, where many warriors were trained.4 At other times war leaders alerted the people and told them to begin preparing supplies.5 And at still other times the four main war leadersthe tlacateccatl, the tlacochcalcatl, the cuauhnochteuctli, and the tlillancalquitold the captains and valiant warriors of the decision.6 The declaration of war was announced in the plaza, usually for five days.7 |
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