thelastdiadoch:

MACUAHUITL

This is an except from my post: CUĀUHOCĒLŌTL – PART 2: CUĀUHTLI, “EAGLE
WARRIOR”.

The
famed wooden sword was studded with obsidian blades, giving it an added saw
like component. When intended for less lethal use, the flat wooden sides would
be used like a club or bat to pummel and incapacitate the enemy long enough to
tie them up and take them captive. An average length of 1.06 m. (3.47 ft.) with
others being long enough to warrant the use of two hands.

^
I made this gif from the video: Weapons
and Rituals of the Ancient Aztecs.

There
are accounts of the use of the Macuahuitl during the Spanish Conquest of
Mesoamerica:

“-an Indian fighting against a mounted man, and the Indian gave the horse of his
antagonist, such a blow in the breast that he opened it to the entrails, and it
fell dead on the spot. And the same day I saw another Indian give another horse
a blow to the neck that stretched it out dead at his feet.” 

^
I made this gif from: Deadliest Warrior: S2 E4 – Aztec Jaguar vs. Zande
Warrior.

In ‘The
Conquest of New Spain’ narrative it is stated that:

“While
we were at grips with this great army and their dreadful broadswords [maquahuitl], many of
the most powerful among the enemy seem to have decided to capture a horse. They
began with a furious attack, and laid hands on a good mare well trained both
for sport and battle.

Her
rider, Pedro de Moron, was a fine horseman; and as he charged with three other
horsemen into the enemy ranks–they had been instructed to charge together for
mutual support–some of them seized his lance so he could not use it, and others
slashed at him with their broadswords [maquahuitl], wounding him severely. Then
they slashed at his mare, cutting her head at the neck so that it only hung by
the skin. The mare fell dead, and if his mounted comrades had not come to
Moron’s rescue, he would probably have been killed also.”

^
I made this gif from: Deadliest Warrior: S2 E4 – Aztec Jaguar vs. Zande
Warrior.

If there are any errors please privately inbox me so I can update it. As always, if you’d like to read or learn about any specific historical subjects just let me know what they are and I will take note of them.

See
Also:

• For background information on the
  education of Aztec youths and their military training, read my post: AZTEC EDUCATION AND MILITARY TRAINING.
• For information on the Aztec Jaguar
  Warriors, the Feast of the Flaying of Men, the warrior attire and helmets worn
  by the Eagle and Jaguar Warriors, read my post: CUĀUHOCĒLŌTL – PART 1:  OCELOTL, “JAGUAR WARRIOR”.
• For information on the Aztec Eagle
  Warriors, the Chimalli (shield) and the
  Cuauhcalli (“house of eagles”), read my post: CUĀUHOCĒLŌTL – PART 2: CUĀUHTLI, “EAGLE
  WARRIOR”.
• For information on their military elite
  warriors including the brave ‘Otomi’, Berserker ‘Shorn Ones’, the commanding
  general “man-cutter”, the second in command ‘Tlacochcalcatl’, the
  spear throwing Atlatl and the obsidian-bladed spear: AZTEC WARRIORS: OTOMI AND THE SHORN ONES.