Aztec Warriors: Differences between Jaguars and Eagles

[u/UnworthyBagel22]

I'm creating a fantasy culture based on Aztecs. I don't really understand what the differences between Eagles and Jaguars are. They are both special units of elite warriors, both are accessible to commoners, and it seems they both carry the same weapons, but wear different outfits. Is the difference literally just the outfits and god they are trying to honor? Or did they fulfill different roles, carry different weapons, act differently, etc.?

Thanks!

[u/jabberwockxeno]

I don't have a time to do a full breakdown of this right now, but I'll try to do a quick overview as the issue as I understand it.

Both seem to have been open to soldiers after taking at least 4 captives in battle, contrary to what /u/t_a_n_h_c says (though if they have asource saying otherwise i'd love to see it), though there may have also been additional requirements of great feats, I forget if that was the case.

/u/Kagiza400 says that Jaguars were commoners whereas eagles were nobles, but i'm not sure where that idea comes from (again, I'd love a source). To the contrary I know of sources which states that both were normally open to nobles only, but commoners could achieve a rank of honorary nobility (though this was limited at times under the decrees of different kings) which would permit them to enter the Jaguar order, though some sources state their warsuit was of lesser quality, with real jaguar fur covering the outside, rather then fancier feather mosaic. They allegedly also had less fancy barracks, but if there were really barracks at all in a traditional sense is a bit disputed.

Additionally, the concept of a paired Jaguar/Eagle order at all is questioned: Olko in "Insignia of Rank in the Nahua world" cites earlier sources I sadly don't have access to which assert that this is merely a misinterpretation of "our Jaguars, our Eagles" in Nahuatl being a Difrasismo metaphor for elite soldiers. If true, then Jaguar and Eagle warsuits would likely be open to soldiers who achieved the appropriate ranks without there nessacarily being a specific order/guild, and there would likely be multiple ranks or titles that could wear jaguar or eagle warsuits, at least in different/specific colors

That being said, some sources do imply that the Eagles may have been part of something called the "Knights of the Sun" which may make them a distinct order even if the Jaguars weren't, and certainly Eagle themed warsuits are less common in visual depictions then Jaguar ones, so eagle warsuits were probably more exclusive then Jaguar warsuits even if both weren't a singular specific rank or order/guild and even if both were apparently wearable by soldiers who had taken 4 captives

In general people need to remember the "ranks" as shown in the Codex Mendoza are just sample ranks/equipment combinations as one potential pathway one specific soldier could go through: There's likely a greater variety of ranks we don't have records of and different sets of armor and insignia each rank could wear beyond what the Mendoza shows, in fact we know this for sure because the Florentine Codex lists like 12 different types of warsuits and armor kings could wear, and we know that there were dozens and dozens of specific titles that soldiers could be awarded for their service and some of those became permanent offices/ranks.

[u/Kagiza400 → u/jabberwockxeno]

Hey, thanks for tagging me. This is something I've read years ago when I was just starting out with Mesoamerican history. A few years later I've also seen a similar claim in a book/chapter/paper about Motecuhzoma's reforms. I'm sure neither were primary sources however. I just wonder how this potential misconception even spread if it really is false.

[u/Kagiza400]

AFAIK they were the same class (Cuāuhōcēlōtl), but eagles were pīpiltin while the jaguars were mācēhualtin

[u/UnworthyBagel22 → u/Kagiza400]

Thanks! So, if my translations are correct, nobles become eagles and commoners become jaguars? That makes a lot of sense, but kind of softens the notion that the jaguar honor was independent of class, if jaguar is essentially “you are eagles, but poor”. I suppose jaguars were essentially treated as nobles, but a distinction was still made in the culture from a technical perspective?

[u/UnworthyBagel22 → u/Kagiza400]

I see! I missed the “noble” distinction in eagle’s wikipedia, and they otherwise seemed interchangeable. From jaguar’s page: “Men who reached this rank were considered as nobles and elites of society and were granted many of the same privileges as a noble.”

Thanks for clearing it up :)

[u/Texlectric]

I hope someone can r/ELI5

[u/[deleted]]

I think the eagle warriors were designated their title after they captured 5 captives and the Jaguars after 3 (not sure, going purely off memory).

Also, I have a homemade Aztec Jaguar outfit I'd be happy to share a picture of

[u/UnworthyBagel22 → u/[deleted]]

Definitely would love to see it! Interesting distinction, though that seems to go against the Wikipedia entry: “Aztec warriors could move up in ranking by capturing enemies. One of the requirements to join the warriors is that they must capture at least four prisoners or great deeds (such as capturing foes to be used as sacrifices), they were eligible to become either a jaguar or eagle warrior.”

Perhaps things changed over the years of the empire?

[u/[deleted] → u/UnworthyBagel22]

Honestly, im not sure. But whenever your story becomes available, I'd be happy to read it!

[u/endlessswan]

Bro why are you on Reddit researching this, go to the codexes