Flower war facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flower War |
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| Mexica Empire | Tlaxcala | Cholula | Huejotzingo | Atlixco | ||||||
A flower war or flowery war (Nahuatl languages: xōchiyāōyōtl, Spanish: guerra florida) was a special kind of ritual war. It was fought on and off between the powerful Aztec Triple Alliance and its rivals. These wars took place from the mid-1450s until the Spanish arrived in 1519.
The main enemies were the city-states of Tlaxcala, Huejotzingo, and Cholula. These cities were located in the Tlaxcala-Pueblan Valley in central Mexico. In flower wars, fighters followed specific rules and traditions.
During the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, Tlaxcala joined forces with the Spaniards. They were eager to defeat their long-time flower war enemies, the Aztecs.
Contents
Why Did Flower Wars Begin?
Historians have different ideas about how flower wars started. One important account comes from a nobleman named Ixtlilxochitl from Texcoco. He said that from 1450 to 1454, the Aztecs faced big problems. There was a severe drought and crops failed. This led to a terrible famine and many people died in central Mexico.
Ixtlilxochitl reported that the flower war began as a way to deal with this famine. The priests of Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital) believed the gods were angry. To make the gods happy, they said many people needed to be offered regularly. So, Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlaxcala, Cholula, and Huejotzingo agreed to fight flower wars. The main goal was to capture people for religious offerings to the gods.
However, some experts, like Frederic Hicks, don't fully agree with this story. Ixtlilxochitl's writings don't specifically use the term "flower war." Also, he is the only known source to describe these events in this way.
How Were Flower Wars Fought?
Flower wars were very different from regular wars of conquest. They had special rules and customs.
Meeting on the Battlefield
In a flower war, the armies would agree on a specific date and place to fight. These locations became sacred and were called cuauhtlalli or yaotlalli. To start the battle, a large fire was lit between the armies. They would burn paper and incense as a signal.
Weapons and Tactics
The way battles were fought also changed. In typical wars, Aztecs used long-range weapons. These included atlatl darts and stones to weaken enemies from far away. But in flower wars, they mostly avoided these. Instead, they used weapons like the macuahuitl. This was a wooden club with sharp obsidian blades. These weapons needed skill and close combat. This allowed Aztec warriors to show off their individual fighting abilities. This was a very important part of the flower war.
Soldiers and Timing
Flower wars involved fewer soldiers than typical Aztec wars. A larger number of noble warriors would take part. This meant flower wars could happen at any time of the year. Regular wars, which were much larger, could only be fought from late autumn to early spring. This was because Aztec citizens were needed for farming during the rest of the year.
Another difference was that flower wars always had an equal number of soldiers on each side. This was also linked to the Aztecs wanting to show their military strength and skill.
Dangers of Flower Wars
Generally, flower wars were less deadly than regular wars. However, a long-lasting flower war could become more dangerous over time. For example, in a long war between the Aztecs and the Chalcas, few people died at first. Later, captured commoners started to be killed. But captured nobles were often set free. Offering captives was not always their fate.
However, as time went on, both captured nobles and commoners were killed. This made the flower war much more costly for both sides. The Aztecs believed that dying in a flower war was more honorable than dying in a typical war. The word for a flower war death was xochimiquiztli. This means "flowery death, blissful death, fortunate death." Aztecs thought those who died in a flower war would go to the heaven where Huitzilopochtli lived. He was their supreme god of the sun, fire, and war.
What Was the Purpose of Flower Wars?
Historians believe there were several reasons why the Aztecs fought flower wars.
Training and Offerings
Many historians think flower wars were for combat training. They also believe it was a way to capture people for religious offerings. One of Cortez's captains, Andres de Tapia, once asked Moctezuma II why the powerful Aztec Empire hadn't conquered Tlaxcala. Moctezuma II replied that they could have, but they chose not to. He said war with Tlaxcala was a good way to get offerings and train their soldiers.
However, some scholars, like Frederic Hicks, question if the main goal was just to get offerings. A Tlaxcalan historian, Muñoz Camargo, noted that Aztecs often surrounded Tlaxcalan towns. They would cut off trade, which was not typical for a flower war. Because of this, some believe the Aztecs did want to conquer Tlaxcala but couldn't for some reason.
Despite these doubts, Hicks suggests Moctezuma II's reasons were logical. The Aztecs valued both offerings and military skill greatly. Fighting in real battles was a required part of training for noble warriors. It was also strongly encouraged for lower-class warriors. So, Moctezuma II's reasons may have been genuine.
Weakening Enemies and Showing Power
Some scholars suggest flower wars had other purposes too. For example, Hassig states that flower wars were a way to continue a conflict that was too expensive to finish quickly. So, one goal was to wear down the enemy's fighting force. By having equal numbers of soldiers, the battle seemed fair at first. But the side with fewer total troops suffered more. Their losses made up a larger percentage of their whole army. This way, the Aztecs used flower wars to weaken their opponents.
Also, fewer soldiers fought in flower wars compared to traditional wars. This allowed the Aztecs to keep a potential threat busy. At the same time, they could focus most of their forces elsewhere.
Another purpose, according to Hassig, was to show how strong Aztec troops were. This was another reason for using equal numbers of soldiers. If the Aztecs used more soldiers, their enemy might use defensive tactics. The Aztecs had trouble fighting against these. With equal numbers, the enemy would fight in the open. This gave individual soldiers a better chance to show their fighting skills.
Finally, Hassig believes that "propaganda was perhaps the most significant purpose of flower wars." By fighting their opponents in flower wars, the Aztecs constantly showed their strength. This warned other city-states about their power. If the Aztecs showed enough force, it could even encourage their enemies' allies to switch sides.
See also
In Spanish: Xochiyáoyotl para niños
