The history of the Mayan army is just beginning to be investigated by scientists. Better analyzed the period of the New Kingdom (X - mid. XVI centuries), when the institution of the Mayan army received a new impetus for its development. In this era, the rulers of the cities henceforth became military leaders, who acted simultaneously in the role of priests. It was they who pushed the priesthood into the background in the leadership of the state.
The main support of the rulers-military leaders was the guard of the famous warriors - members of little-studied religious and military orders - "warriors-jaguars" and "warriors-eagles". The first was dedicated to the deities of the night, and its members wore jaguar costumes, while the members of the other, dedicated to the sun, appeared in clothes resembling the plumage of an eagle.
The fact is that wars played a very important role in Mayan society. However, their art did not reach the heights of the Old World, being interrupted by the Spanish conquest. The Mayan city-states themselves (just like in ancient Greece) were constantly at war with each other. For example, between Tikal and Naranjo there was a long-term massacre (693-698 AD), called the First Peten War.
Meanwhile, the wars were not protracted and were more like predatory raids, with the aim of capturing prisoners. The fate of the prisoners was deplorable - they were often turned into slaves, forced to work on construction sites in cities and on plantations of the nobility. They were used to destroy the enemy's crops, plunder caravans of porters carrying tribute to hostile cities. This was done in order not to risk their army.
But the Maya tried to seize land only in the border areas. By the way, the capture of cities was not welcomed - it was almost impossible to break the resistance of the enemy who had taken refuge on the pyramids. In addition, due to the lack of draft animals, the Mayan military detachments could not conduct long-term hostilities - their timing was determined by food supplies taken with them in shoulder bags (usually rations were calculated for 5-7 days of travel). The main purpose of the war was to undermine the economy of the enemy, luxury goods and valuable jade products were considered valuable booty.
It should be noted, and a rather dark side of the technology of increasing discipline in the Mayan army. So, before the start of the war, the Maya, like the atzecs, "sent messengers to the gods" - they made human sacrifices so that the campaign would be successful.
Now, in order, about the course of hostilities. Professional soldiers from the garrison of the city and the ruler's guard took part in the campaigns. But there were also kholkans - mercenaries. At the head of the army was a commander from the aristocracy. In principle, the Mayan ruler himself was considered the supreme commander-in-chief, but in fact he actually commanded the military forces. This, for example, was a relative of the ruler of the city of Tikal T'isyah Mosh, who was defeated and taken prisoner in a battle with the army of the city of Naranjo at K'anul in 695 AD. Such a nakom was usually chosen for 3-4 years, during which he had to lead a rather ascetic lifestyle: not to have sexual relations and not to eat meat.
Unfortunately, over the centuries of Maya history, their weapons have not undergone significant evolution towards improvement. This was hindered by the low level of development of the productive forces. Therefore, the art of war was improved more than weapons.
In battle, the Maya fought with spears of various lengths. Some were larger than human growth and resembled the sarissa of Alexander the Great. There were also those similar to Roman darts. There were heavy wooden "swords" seated on either side with tightly set obsidian blades with razor-sharp edges.
Later, the Maya had battle axes made of metal (an alloy of copper and gold) and a bow with arrows, borrowed from the Atzecs. Plump quilted cotton shells acted as the protection of ordinary soldiers. The Mayan nobility wore armor, woven from flexible branches, and defended themselves with willow (less often - from the shell of a turtle) large and small shields of a round or square shape. A relatively small shield (the size of a fist!) Was used as a strike weapon. Even the Mayan hieroglyph taakh, as the researcher Ya. N. Nersesov, translated as "knock down with a fist."
Before the battle, Mayan warriors dyed their hair red as a sign of their readiness to die but win. In order to intimidate the enemy, Mayan warriors put on the same helmets in the form of muzzles with open jaguar jaws, less often a caiman.
The Mayan attack usually took place suddenly, at dawn, when the vigilance of the sentries was dulled. Warriors rushed into the sleepy camp of the enemy with frightening screams, fighting with a chilling cruelty, as noted by the Spanish chroniclers.
After the victory, the Maya carried out a kind of triumph, like among the Romans - the military leader, adorned with magnificent plumes, was solemnly brought into the city on his shoulders. He was followed by warriors with the trophy heads of enemies behind their backs and musicians. Successful battles were immortalized in the visual arts.
