Otomi (warrior caste)

The Otomí were probably aristocratic warriors who, together with the Cuachicqueh, formed the elite in the Aztec army.

They fought primarily with the intention of increasing their already considerable fame. Their enormous idealism is reflected in their self-imposed obligation to always seek confrontation with the enemy in battles. An otomitl (singular of otomí) became a warrior by providing at least nine prisoners of war for the sacrificial rituals. As part of the elite of the Aztec warriors, the men of this warrior alliance had to occupy the most dangerous and strategically important positions on the battlefield. In groups of two, depending on their strategy, they fought in the front row, mixed with less experienced comrades or as the last reserve. The Otomí had a bad reputation in Aztec society, as did the Cuachicqueh . They were considered high-handed and rude. These negative traits and other similarities with a neighboring people of the same name most likely earned the Otomí their name.

literature

• Ursula Dyckerhoff : Adler, Jaguar, Otomí - Aztec warrior leagues. In: Männerbünde - Men's Gangs. Volume 2, 1990.