30th August 2004

Introduction

Here's a break down of the warrior suits listed in the Codex Mendoza tribute lists. I know this page is very graphic intensive, but I could find no good way to display the data in a useful way without putting the images directly into the text.

Disclaimer: Note that this is a wargamer's guide to Aztec suits. These are currently based upon Codex Mendoza and a few other images I have been able to scrape together from other Codexes. My source material has not been exhaustive or complete. I live in outback Australia, so I am very distantly removed from any access to good source material. I seem to note that some of those in the heart of Aztec land seem content to snipe at other efforts, but not take the time to put together something themselves. Perhaps we can but hope they will progress the information on their own culture in their own good time, or submit some comment to me so I can make any suitable correctiosn here.

Some of the suits illustrated below have minor variants of style within Codex Mendoza which I felt were not significant enough to consume my time sorting out. An example of this is the lip ornament which was applied to some of the Cuextecatl suits, but not all. Also, every umbrella banner for the Quaxalotl suit had a different dog head and feather bundle arrangement. As generally we will only have one of these figures to buy from a particular range of models, I did not get hung up on trying to illustrate each one. Some things I felt however were worth illustrating, such as the Cuextecatl suits with flat top hats, which we can file down to make from existing pointy hat models.

If you have comments, questions or new information relavent to this page, contact me here - chronofus at chronofus dot net

Summary of Suit types (665 listed):

• Coyote 63 (9.47%)
• Cuecalpatzactli 100 (15.04%) (warrior version of elite Quetzalpatzactli)
• Cuextecatl 252 (37.89%)
• Green Bird (Quetzal banner) 1 (0.15%)
• Momoyactli 121 (18.20%)
• Ocelotl 29 (4.36%)
• Papalotl 41 (6.17%)
• Quaxolotl/Tlacatecatl 12 (1.80%)
• Quetzalpatzactli 9 (1.35%) (what appears to be the elite version of the Cuecalpatzactli)
• Toxicocolli 1 (0.15%)
• Tzitzimitl 13 (1.95%)
• Xopoli/Otomi 23 (3.46%)

However, there is quite a few costume types missing. It is also interesting some of the tribute uniforms don't appear in the warrior/priest type lists. For example Quachic, two captive priests, three captive priest, four captive priest, Huiznahuatl and Ticocyahuactatl uniforms are missing. It's also interesting the number of warrior priest uniforms is significantly larger than the warrior uniforms.

• Coyote 63 vs Quachic 0
• Momoyactli 121 vs Otomi 23
• Four Captive 0 vs Ocelotl 29
• Three captive 0 vs Papalotl 41
• Two Captive 0 vs Cuextecatl 252

Not in warrior/priest type lists

• Cuecalpatzactli
• Green Bird (Quetzal banner)
• Quaxolotl/Tlacatecatl
• Quetzalpatzactli
• Toxicocolli
• Tzitzimitl/Tlacochcalcatl

The tributes by type then province.

Note on shield xicalcoliuhqui shield, there are many versions with the central design rotated 90, 180 or 270 degrees compared to my example, though in the Codex they are merely mirror images about the vertical axis which I have noted this in the text. Wherever the magenta colour appears in an illustration, take it as being the general suit colour mentioned.

Province Suit type Colour Number Shield type Notes

Coyote Costumes

• Acolhuacan Coyote yellow 20 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhnahuac Coyote yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
  
• Huaxtepec Coyote yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhtitlan Coyote yellow 20 cuexyo
• 
  
• Axocopan Coyote yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Hueypuchtla Coyote yellow 20 xicalcoliuhqui variant with centre field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 

Cuecalpatzactli

• These are common warrior suits, elite versions are called Quetzalpatzactli and are listed under that description
• Acolhuacan Cuecalpatzactli red 20 cuexyo
• 
• Huaxtepec Cuecalpatzactli red 20 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhtitlan Cuecalpatzactli with what could be a rosette to the front of the hat, being yellow centre, then blue band then red band. red suit 20 cuexyo
• 
• Atotonilco (de Pedraza) Cuecalpatzactli red 20 cuexyo except the central field is mirrored about the vertical axis,
• 
• Quahuacan Cuecalpatzactli yellow & green 20 cuexyo has skirt rather than pants
• 

Cuextecatl

• Tlatelolco Cuextecatl white 40 cuexyo variant with a white rim rather than yellow as this example, shield has white rim rather than yellow as shown
• 

• Tlatelolco Cuextecatl yellow 40 xicalcoliuhqui (hat for suit is flat topped rather than pointed)
• 
• Petlacalco Cuextecatl blue 1 cuexyo variant (hat does not have the dangly bits to the front of the hat as shown and does not have hawk scratches)
• 
• Petlacalco Cuextecatl red 20 cuexyo
• 
• Acolhuacan Cuextecatl blue 20 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhnahuac Cuextecatl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Huaxtepec Cuextecatl blue 1 Cuextecatl shield is in blue not red as example
• 
• Axocopan Cuextecatl blue 20 cuexyo
• 
• Atotonilco (de Pedraza) Cuextecatl blue 20 cuexyo
• 
• Hueypuchtla Cuextecatl white 20 curxyo
• 
• Atotonilco (el Grande) Cuextecatl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Xilotepec Cuextecatl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quahuacan Cuextecatl green 1 cuexyo
• 
• Tuluca Cuextecatl red 20 cuexyo
• 
• Ocuilan Cuextecatl blue 20 Cuextecatl shield in blue, not red as shown
• 
• Tlachco Cuextecatl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tepequacuilco Cuextecatl red 20 Cuextecatl
• 
• Tlapan Cuextecatl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quiauhteopan Cuextecatl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Chalco Cuextecatl red 1 cuexyo with hawk scratches
• 
• Tlapacoyan Cuextecatl yellow 1 cuexyo with hawk scratches. The hat is further decorated with a feather ball to the hat top, and long trailing feather bundle probably similar to normal banner tops.
• 
• Tlatlauhqitepec Cuextecatl yellow 1 cuexyo with hawk scratches
• 

Green Bird Backbanner

• Tochtepec Green bird yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with centre field mirrored about vertical axis. back banner is great green bird, red breast & yellow bill
• 
  

Momoyactli

• Petlacalco Momoyactli red 20 cuexyo with the long yellow shield fringe feathers instead of yellow in red
• 
• Quauhnahuac Momoyactli red 1 cuexyo
• 
• Huaxtepec Momoyactli red & white 20 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhtitlan Momoyactli red & white 20 cuexyo
• 
• Axocopan Momoyactli red 20 cuexyo
• 
• Atotonilco (de Pedraza) Momoyactli red & white 20 cuexyo
• 
• Quahuacan Momoyactli red & white 20 cuexyo
• 

Ocelotl (Jaguar)

• Petlacalco Ocelotl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Acolhuacan Ocelotl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhnahuac Ocelotl yellow 1 cuexyo with the rim banded in red and yellow rather than red & green as shown
• 
• Huaxtepec Ocelotl white 1 cuexyo
• 
• Hueypuchtla Ocelotl blue 20 cuexyo
• 
• Xilotepec Ocelotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tepequacuilco Ocelotl blue 1 cuexyo with only one top band, so either red or blue, my version is not in colour soI can't tell
• 
• Tlapan Ocelotl red no spots shown but probably should have them or else it's a coyote suit which are never red. 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with centre field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tlatlauhqitepec Ocelotl blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the centre field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tzicoac Ocelotl red 1 cuexyo
• 

Papalotl

• Petlacalco Papalotl blue 20 Eagle claw
• 
• Acolhuacan Papalotl red & white 20 Eagle claw
• 
• Quauhnahuac Papalotl green & red 1 Eagle claw except the centre claw is facing the reversed direction, the white bands on the rim are yellow
• 

Quaxolotl - Umbrella Banner

The loin cloth is shown as either white or the suit colour. The image to the umbrella top is given in several different styles of face and colouring

• Petlacalco Quaxolotl blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui, white loin cloth
• 
• Acolhuacan Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Quauhnahuac Quaxolotl green 1 cuexyo variant
• 
• Huaxtepec Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui except centre image is reversed about vertical axis
• 
• Quauhtitlan Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Atotonilco (de Pedraza) Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Hueypuchtla Quaxolotl green 1 xicalcoliuhqui xcept the central field is mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Atotonilco (el Grande) Quaxolotl blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the centre field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tuluca Quaxolotl green 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tlalcocauhtitlan Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Cuetlaxtlan Quaxolotl tellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Tuchpa Quaxolotl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 

Quetzalpatzactli

• I am not sure why these are differentiated from the Cuecalpatzactli, except these are made with finer feathers and hence officer material
• Atotonilco (el Grande) quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Ocuilan quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tepequacuilco quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Yoaltepec quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Coayxtlahuacan quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Tlachquiavco quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Cuetlaxtlan quetzalpatzactli not given but probably yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Tuchpa quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Tzicoac quetzalpatzactli yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 

Toxicocolli

• Coayxtlahuacan Toxicocolli yellow 1 cuexyo
• 

Tzitzimitl

• Petlacalco Tzitzimitl white 1 cuexyo red striped cuffs to suit
• 
• Acolhuacan Tzitzimitl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhnahuac Tzitzimitl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Huaxtepec Tzitzimitl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Quauhtitlan Tzitzimitl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Axocopan Tzitzimitl red & white 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Atotonilco (de Pedraza) Tzitzimitl blue 1 cuexyo
• 
• Hueypuchtla Tzitzimitl yellow 1 cuexyo
• 
• Atotonilco (el Grande) Tzitzimitl red 1 cuexyo
• 
• Tuluca Tzitzimitl blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Tlachco Tzitzimitl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 
• Chalco Tzitzimitl blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the centre field mirrored abou tthe vertical axis
• 
• Tlapacoyan Tzitzimitl yellow 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the centre field mirrored abou tthe vertical axis
• 

Xopoli

• Petlacalco Xopoli green 1 xicalcoliuhqui
• 
• Acolhuacan Xopoli green 20 cuexyo though the long fringe featehrs to the shield are rgeen rather than yellow
• 
• Quauhnahuac Xopoli red 1 cuexyo
• 
• Huaxtepec Xopoli blue 1 xicalcoliuhqui variant with the central field mirrored about the vertical axis
• 

Other

• Tochtepec 1 x gold shield only
•