Maya Warfare Stephen Smith

What was once thought to be a peaceful, utopian society is now largely known to have been a violent, politically volatile culture.  Motivated by spiritual and political differences as well as a desire to obtain slaves, it is likely that separate Maya groups fought for the entirety of their existence.  These disputes, coupled with clashes over natural resources aided in the decline of a once great civilization.

With the exception of professional guards serving year round, Classic Era Mayas had no standing armies. Instead they utilized local militias led by nobility.  The ruler of a particular city-state was the War Captain.  Leading the warriors into battle was the Nacom, a hereditary war chief.

The Classic Maya’s arsenal would be considered vast even by today’s standards.  The use of the bow and arrow, spear, dagger and war club was common.  The dagger and war club were close range “shock weapons” designed for maximum damage.  It is believed that these were used sparingly to enable Mayas to capture enemy slaves meant for labor and eventual sacrifice.  The famous, Atlatl was a remarkable improvement of the spear. Using a leather strap notched into the spear it allowed the thrower to catapult the spear aiding in accuracy and distance.  These warriors would likely have worn armor made of light cotton and carried shields of pulled animal hide.  Wooden helmets were employed and in certain cases even stone helmets.  Tactically, use of guerilla warfare was not uncommon.  Thorny entanglements, deadfalls, and wooden palisades were all employed by small bands of soldiers.  What were more impressive were their methods of command and control, using small wooden drums and whistles to dictate battlefield movement.  This was the ancient precursor to the battlefield radio communication of modern armies.

The warfare of Classic Mayas was typically a series of small engagements by raiding parties on rival city-states.  However, there are recorded events of all-out wars in the written record, typically ending with the capture of the King of a rival city-state. Known as “star wars”, these clashes were set to coincide with astronomical events; more specifically the arrival of the “Morning Star”, Venus.  The Mayas considered this the ideal time to wage war.  These wars were recorded in stone and depict fallen kings and bloody battles.  Perhaps the most known of these “star wars” took place between rival city-states Tikal and Caracol around 562 AD.  Tikal was once known as the center of the Maya civilization and a powerful city. In 556 AD, Tikal attacked Caracol in an “axe war”, meant to destroy, but not timed with astronomical events. However, with the help of the Tikal’s bitter rival, Calkmul, the Caracol returned six years later and decimated the Tikal, sending them into a crushing 130 year silence. This silence is known in the record as the “Hiatus.”

As recent discoveries have shown, the Mayas, specifically in the Classic Era, were in a constant state flux. Constantly engaging in smaller battles and the occasional war were among many factors that lead to their ultimate decline.  Whether for spiritual, political or simple personal motivations, we now know that violence personified Classic Maya culture as much as the famed Maya Calendar.  

(photo)http://www.objectlessons.org.uk/default.asp?Document=200.0050.0020&SearchPref=s&SearchParam=hunting&Image=AUS881XE4858

(sources)

The Lords of Tikal- Rulers of Ancient Maya- by Peter D. Harrison https://bl2prd0103.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=3815d117c0ba422ca726ebe65e560ff2&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mayarealm.com%2fstarwars.html

The Mayans, Climate Change, and Conflict. by Mathew Markowitz https://bl2prd0103.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=3815d117c0ba422ca726ebe65e560ff2&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww1.american.edu%2fted%2fice%2fmaya.htm

Classic Maya Warfare and Settlement Archaeology at Caracol, Belize-by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase