Wab Forum Armies the Tarascan Army of the Conquest
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WAB FORUM ARMIES THE TARASCAN ARMY OF THE CONQUEST HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Mexican Basin. However, it was a rocky volcanic land, punctuated by smaller fertile valleys, and home to only 1.3 million people. In this respect it could never rival the power of the Triple Alliance. The Tarascans spread their language and administrative skills into a cohesive uniform polity that encompassed a variety of ethnic groups, all maintained from the administrative offices within the main city of Tzintzuntzan. It was a highly stratified society with a small hereditary nobility ruling on behalf of a large population of commoners. There was also a very large slave population. The minor nobility formed a The Pyramids of Tzintzuntzan, the “Place of the Hummingbirds” professional military force, with the commoners delivering their military service as a form of tribute to the government. Unlike Together with the Tlaxcalteca, the people of the Michoacan the Mexica, the Tarascans employed uniformly armed combat Valley, the Tarascans, could be considered one of the most units and relied much more heavily on archery. As an aside, the dangerous enemy of the Triple Alliance Mexica. Ironically, they Tarascans were so named due to another error by the “cloth- fought the much larger Mexica armies to a standstill for about 90 eared” Spanish. The Tarascans facetiously called the Spaniards years but then surrendered their entire empire to the Spanish “Tarascue” or “sons-in-law” due to the Spaniards reputation of Crown within 1 year of the Aztec collapse. stealing native daughters. Somehow, the Conquistadores thought this was the name the Tarascans used for themselves, and so the The Tarascans were, like the Nahuatl speaking Chichimec tribes term stuck. The Aztecs used the Nahuatl term of “Michoaca” to that surrounded them, another migratory group in the 12th and denote their enemy. This meant “land of those who have fish”, 13th century C.E., that followed the collapse of the Toltec probably pertaining to the plentiful bounty found within Lake Empire. The Tarascans, who called themselves the “Purepecha”, Patzcuaro. migrated into the Patzcuaro Basin of the Michoacan Valley around 1200 C.E. They quickly adapted themselves to their new It was during Tzitzicpadacuare’s reign that the inevitable surroundings and developed a “royal lineage” known as the conflicts with the Mexica began. Originally, they battled back “Uacusecha” (the Eagles) which would become the family of all and forth over the Toluca Basin for the rich deposits of gold, the future Tarascan kings. Linguistically and culturally, the copper, silver and obsidian. Then, in 1479, an Aztec army under Tarascans are unique and separate from the other Mesoamerican Axayacatl, was crushed at the Battle of Charo with the Aztec groups. rear-guard fighting all the way back to Aztec lands. From then on, the hostilities were mostly marked by smaller border Around 1300 the Tarascan Cazonci (King), Tariacuri and his 2 engagements. Then in 1515, Moctezuma Xocoyotl and an Aztec nephews began their expansion from the cities of Ihuitzio, army led by the Tlaxcalan general Tlahuicole penetrated into the Patzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan around the shores of Lake Patzcuaro. north-eastern territories as far as the city of Acambaro. A series By 1450 the Tarascan Empire, under the leadership of King of rapid victories and defeats left both armies bloodied and Tzitzicpadacuare, rivalled the size of the Triple-Alliance and beaten with no land changing hands. The wily local chief of stretched from the Pacific to the western borders of the Central Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, Warhammer, Warhammer Historical Wargames and the Warhammer Historical Wargameslogo are trademarks of Games Workshop, Ltd WAB Forum http://wabforum.co.uk/ 1 v 0.1 WAB FORUM ARMIES THE TARASCAN ARMY OF THE CONQUEST Zacatula used this time as an opportunity to break away from developed, more civilized, but still widely dispersed Chichimec both Tarascan and Aztec hegemony. This standstill more or less people that lived to the north of the Central, Pueblan and persisted until the coming of the Conquistadores. Michoacan valleys. They were also renowned for their archery and their exceptional warlike abilities, such that the Mexica As was stated before, the Tarascan included many non-Tarascan named one of their highest grades of warriors the Otontin (“the peoples who played an important part in the Tarascan wars. otomis”). At different times, different groups of Otomis would Some were nomadic tribes that would wander in and out of have fought as mercenaries on both sides of the Tarascan-Mexica Tarascan (and Aztec) held lands, while others were specifically and Mexica-Tlaxcalan wars. settled to form buffer zones between the Tarascan and Aztec lands. From north to south, along the Tarascan eastern border, we The Matlatzinca were also an Otomi people who found have the Chichimecs, the Otomi, the Matlatzinca and the themselves in the unenviable position of living between the ever Chontal. Militarily, non-Tarascan warriors were encouraged to expanding Tarascan and Mexica empires. They found themselves employ their own traditional weapons and tactics and would be fighting for both sides during the 15th century until eastern led by their own generals, all under the supreme command of the Matlatzan was conquered by the Aztecs under Axayacatl. The Cazonci. remaining free Matlatzinca were settled by the Tarascans into their eastern borderlands to provide a buffer zone against future The Chichimecs comprise a large number of nomadic semi- Aztec aggression. It was a combined Matlatzinca and Tarascan barbaric tribes that wander about the north of modern Mexico, a army that handed the Aztecs one of their most crushing defeats territory known to the Conquistadors as “Gran Chichimeca”. ever at Charo. Sahagun stated that “just as the Chichimecs They are a Nahuatl speaking people, whose ancestors were the always went carrying the bow, these (the Matlatzinca) always antecedents of the Mexica, the Tlaxcalteca and the Huexotzinca. went carrying the sling”. This may be true but the Codices show There were no hereditary chieftains in Chichimec society. that the maquehuitl and shield were also prominent. Warlords were elected from the bravest and most fearsome warriors. Their specific weapon was the bow, which they started This brings us to the Chontal. Technically, they were in the using almost from infancy. Spanish chroniclers indicated that South-Eastern border of Tarascan lands and the Chinantla Valley Chichimec archers could puncture oranges thrown into the air! just over the hills north of the Valley of Oaxaca. Linguistically Chichimecs were found fighting on both sides of the Tarascan and culturally, they are closer to the Zapotecs and Mixtecs than wars. Sahagun mentions a tribe of “Teuchichimeca” who fought the Tarascan and Nahuatl speaking neighbours to the north. The against Aztec incursions for the Cazonci Tzitzicpadacuare 1454- Chontal allied themselves with the Tarascans, as the Aztecs, 1479. Once the Aztec Empire had collapsed and the Tarascan under Ahuitzotl, moved into Guerrero to reach the Pacific and try Empire had handed itself to the Spanish Crown, the to encircle them. The Chontal, like their neighbours the Conquistadors turned their attention to pacifying Gran Chinantec, favoured long slashing pikes of about 3-4 brazas (16- Chichimeca. This became the long and gruelling “Chichimec 21 feet) in length in combat. Please note: there were many tribes Wars” of 1550-1590. known as the “Chontal” as this is the Nahuatl term for “barbarian”. Their true name is lost to us. Then we come to the Otomi. This was a somewhat more Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, Warhammer, Warhammer Historical Wargames and the Warhammer Historical Wargameslogo are trademarks of Games Workshop, Ltd WAB Forum http://wabforum.co.uk/ 2 v 0.1 WAB FORUM ARMIES THE TARASCAN ARMY OF THE CONQUEST I will use the term Tarascan to describe an army made of the bonus of +1 as its combat effectiveness is compromised. In Tarascans, Chichimeca, Otomi, Matlatzinca and Chontal. a subsequent movement phase, the Wide Open Order unit may decide to Reform in order to become Open Order and SPECIAL RULES benefit from a +2 Rank bonus. Like other Reforms, this Fleet of Foot constitutes an entire Movement. In either formation (Open The Spanish chroniclers noted that the Meso-American combat or Wide Open Order), if the unit has moved, then only the units displayed great agility and were quick to manoeuvre on the front rank may fire and has a-1 To Hit roll modifier. field of battle. All Tarascans have a basic movement rate of 5”, and a charge distance of 10”. They have the usual movement It is probably helpful to employ a small marker to indicate penalty if they move through woods or other difficult and Wide Open Order status for your opponents benefit. Once impassable terrain. They were used to fighting in unfavourable the unit Reforms back to Open Order, the marker can be terrain and, therefore, retain their rank bonus when doing so. removed. Wide/Open/Closed Order Massed Sling Fire With the exception of some rare Pike wielding units, such If the Matlatzinca unit has not moved, or if it has as the Chontal, the Tarascans fought in a somewhat loose Reformed into Wide Open Order, it may do a Massed formation, similar to other armies in the New World. Sling Fire. This is exactly analogous to Massed Archery fire allowed in bow armed troops. Basically the front rank I believe they should be treated as Open Order troops, and may all shoot and ½ of all subsequent ranks may fire. No to that end, they benefit from a +2 rank bonus for combat multiple shots may be done regardless of the distance. resolution. However, the Tarascan army may take a single unit of formed Matlatzincan slingers Matlatzinca combat Make sure your opponent is aware that the unit is units would have been able to fire their slings and still considered Wide Open Order.