#azteceagle

The Elite Aztec Warrior class - The Eagle Warrior

The Eagle warrior was one of two top elite classes in the Aztec Military. Alongside the Jaguar Warrior, they were the most feared and respected class throughout the empire. These warriors were of noble birth (though not exclusively) and often the bravest on the battlefield. The Eagle Warriors were used as scouts for the infantry, becoming eyes and ears to plan an attack. The process to becoming an Eagle Warrior involved taking many enemies prisoner. After four enemies, depending on bravery, a young man would have the potential to advance to Eagle or Jaguar Warrior. Interestingly, the Aztecs are the only society during this time who did not restrict the roles of military elite to those of noble birth, a commoner could in fact become a great warrior through bravery or great deeds. Once one was an Eagle Warrior, you were considered an elite of society. The Eagle Warrior used an eagle's head as his headdress, complete with a beak and many feathers for adornment. It was meant to personify bravery and strength.

Sources Consulted Wikipedia. "Eagle Warrior." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_warrior>.