Aztec Warrior Societies

Timeline

1. 1502Tenochtitlan · Aztec EmpireAfter succeeding as the 'Great Speaker' in 1502, Montezuma II strengthened the core position of warrior societies in the imperial military system; elite members of the Eagle and Jaguar orders garrisoned temples and the palace, and commanded ordinary levied warriors in tribute wars against subject city-states.
2. 1504–1510Texcoco · TlaxcalaFrom 1504 to 1510, the empire and city-states such as Tlaxcala continuously fought ritualistic 'flower wars'; warrior society fighters aimed to capture enemy captives for sacrifice rather than annihilate enemy forces, and combat merit determined promotion in society rank and distribution of privileges, forming a unique military culture tightly combining martial valor with religious sacrifice.