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 The Aztec military formed the backbone of the empire. Although headquartered on the fringes of the temple district at the capital city of Tenochtitlan, the military was constantly on the move, extending the empire's reach by conquering and managing outlying regions for the rulers.
Aztec rulers made war with three goals in mind: to claim more territories from which to collect tribute, to establish trade routes and open new markets for Aztec products, and to secure enemy combatants for religious sacrifice. The Aztecs viewed this last duty as vital to maintaining order in the universe.
Warrior Ranks
On and off the battlefield, warriors of all social ranks—from commoners to elites—helped maintain the power of the imperial government. Groups of warriors identified themselves by insignias, usually associated with different kinds of animals.
Sacred animal regalia worn into battle imbued warriors with the supernatural powers of their spirit guides. Eagle and jaguar warriors were the two most prominent military corps: eagles represented the forces of daytime, light, and sky associated with male energy, while jaguars represented the forces of night, darkness, and the underworld associated with female energy.
 Women Warriors
The Aztecs compared childbirth to military combat, and pregnant women were considered the female counterparts of male warriors. Successfully giving birth was like taking a captive in battle—dying in childbirth was like dying in combat.
The Aztecs called women who died in childbirth Cihuateteo [see-WHAH-tay-tay-o]. Their spirits lived in the western sky and accompanied the sun on its afternoon journey towards the sunset. In this role, the Cihuateteo were the female counterparts of dead warriors who accompanied the sun on its morning journey towards the noon sky.
Continue through Warriors: Religion. >>
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