The Flower Wars Begin
Beginning around 1450, the Aztec Triple Alliance formalized a unique form of ritualized conflict known as xochiyaoyotl, or the Flower Wars, waged primarily against the confederation of Tlaxcala, Huexotzinco, and Cholula to the east of the Valley of Mexico. Unlike conventional warfare aimed at territorial conquest and tribute extraction, the Flower Wars were ostensibly conducted to provide a steady supply of living captives for sacrifice at Tenochtitlan's temples. Scholars debate the precise nature and motivations behind the Flower Wars. Some argue they were genuinely cosmologically motivated — the Aztec state's way of managing its perceived obligation to maintain the cosmos. Others, including Ross Hassig, have argued that the wars also served strategic purposes: keeping the military trained, testing new warriors, and applying sustained economic pressure on rival polities without the costs of full annexation. The Tlaxcalans maintained their independence throughout the entire Aztec imperial period. When Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519, the Tlaxcalans recognized the Spanish as potential allies against their long-standing Aztec oppressors. Their decision to join Cortés with tens of thousands of warriors was arguably the decisive factor in the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan.
- Year: 1450 CE
- Category: Military
