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Chapter 5
The March and the Encampment |
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Ensuring the efficient passage of the marshaled troops to their target and providing them with logistical support required considerable planning and organization by the Aztecs. |
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The army units left their respective cities with a variable amount of foodstuffs. In some cases supplies for long journeys are specified, including double rations.
1 One indication of the amount carried was Moteuczomah Xocoyotl's demand that Tlatelolco prepare a three-day supply of cacao as part of its obligatory war supplies.2 In addition to their weapons, the soldiers probably carried light condiments rather than heavy staples, although each soldier carried as much of his own food as he could to supplement the amounts he received from the army's supplies.3 |
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Nobles had more equipment, apparently ate better food, and were better housed than common soldiers, so they had more goods. Adding to the problem of portage was the nobles' practice of marching to war clad in fine mantles, which meant that their arms, armor, and insignia had to be carried. Youths from the telpochcalli who were still too young to fight accompanied the army and carried a limited amount of the supplies and arms,4 but the most important logistical functionaries of the army were the porters (tlamemehqueh; sing. tlamemeh) who accompanied them.5 |
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Weapons, armor, and shelter were necessary for a major campaign, but food (yaoihtacatl, war victuals) was the greatest logistical barrier on distant and lengthy campaigns. The records are silent on the actual quantities of food consumed on a campaign, but reason- |
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