Figures to build an Aztec Army

I've seen few of these figures so this page is largely based catalogues and on comments from the Meet the Aztecs web page by Jim Esler. Jim's web page went through the figures figure code by figure code, but I wanted them sorted by the use of the figure.

Manufacturers

All these manufacturers do 15mm Aztec figures:

Essex Miniatures

Recently released a range of Aztecs. In general I like Essex figures; good quality at a reasonable price. The Aztec range includes a variety of figures in every pack. They also have late Italian Wars Spanish which could be used for Conquistadors, but I'm not so keen on these - check out Gladiator instead.

Falcon Figures (UK).

Not to be confused with Falcon Miniatures (US). Last I heard Falcon had been taken over by Chariot Miniatures, however, I couldn't find Falcon listed on the Chariot site. If you want to see pictures, then try the US distributor, the Quartermaster.

Gladiator Games

Chunky figures, but I happily mix them with the above. Also have a Spanish range to match.

David Kuijt uses Gladiator figures on for his Aztec and Enemies: DBA 105 Army and Variants. David illustrates both the Aztecs and Texcalans. Mark's Tlaxcalans in DBM has some shots of some more beautiful Texcalans from Gladiator.

Miniature Figurines

I avoid Minifigs as they tend to be tall and skinny compared to Essex. But they have a complete range of Aztecs and Texcalans.

Naismith Design (available from NavWar)

I'm not really familiar with this manufacturer, but they have a complete range including Aztecs, Texcalans, Mayan, Conquistador, and Inca.

Tin Solider (UK)

They're an Australian outfit, but the link is to the UK distributor. I'm not so keen on them as their figures make Gladiator figures look slim. They also do conquistadors.

Shields and Backbanners

Gladiator casts figures with a choice of shields. Based on the shields in the Codex Mendoza, choose only those shields with feather fringes for the military orders.
Essex have an Aztec shield pack (AZ18)
In the Essex range only the "Standard Bearers" have backbanners.
Gladiator sells a separate backbanner pack (AZ19) which you can use to vary the look of the army. You can use these backbanners on some of the Huaxtec figures from Falcon listed below. In a few cases mentioned below, certain specific banners were used to help create specific troop types.
- Quaxolatl (umbrella) backbanner.
- Citlalpamitl (star) backbanner
- Papalotl (butterfly) backbanner
- Xopilli (clawback) backbanner

Generals and command figures

Essex AZ17 Command pack

4 Generals/Foot Officers, 2 musicians

Falcon MXA1 - Command

This pack has a nice standard bearer which is based on Plate A2 Mexica General (Pohl, 1991). Other parts of the pack are mentioned below.

Gladiator AZ1 - Command

This pack contains some nicely detailed figures.

A general figure like Plate A1 Mexica Emperor (Pohl, 1991).

A standard bearer similar to Plate A2 Mexica General (Pohl, 1991).

An 'emperor' figure with cloak.

Two musicians blowing conch shell trumpets.

Tin Soldier AZAl ARMY COMMAND PACK

Contains one each of the following: Chosen Speaker, Chief of men, Arrow Knight captain, Eagle Knight captain, Jaguar Knight captain, Quachic captain

Cuachicqueh Military Order

Essex

AZ1 Cuachic, war-suit, sword and shield
AZ1a Cuachic, war-suit, sword, javelin and shield
AZ2 Cuachic, war-suit, standard bearer (4 per pack)
AZ3 Cuachic, breechclout, sword and shield
AZ3a Cuachic, breechclout, sword, javelin and shield

Heath (1999) shows a Cuachic in breechclout but otherwise I've only seen war-suit wearer. Heath goes on to say that the Meso-American's, like their North American peers, viewed less as more in the arena of military attire, i.e. brave men wore less - fits in with the Cuachic ethos given their alternative name of Momiccatlcani ("They who hurl themselves to death").

Falcon MXA3 - Quachchic (cuahchicqueh)

This figure is based on Plate C1 Mexica Cuahchic (Pohl, 1991). It comes with the proper citlalpamitl (star backbanner) already attached. Although the pose of this figure is somewhat static it paints up well. Colours and shield pattern are as per Plate C1.

Gladiator AZ13 - Quachic (cuahchicqueh) Veterans with Spear and Shield

Three different poses to mix with the Falcon cuahchicqueh. You have to sort through the backbanner packs for the appropriate citlalpamitl backbanner.

Tin Soldier AZAl0 QUACHIC VETERAN.
Tin Soldier AZAll QUACHIC CAPTAIN (6).

Otontin Military Order

Falcon MXA11 - Fanatic warrior (Ottomi)

Falcon MXA3 - Quachchic (cuahchicqueh)

Although a Cuachic figure, hence with a mohawk, Meet the Aztecs also uses this figure for Otontin.

Gladiator AZ9 - Arrow Knight with Two-handed Sword

Although a military order called Arrow Knights did not exist, this figure in conjunction with a xopilli (clawback backbanner), can be used for an Otontin.

Eagle Military Order

Essex AZ6 Eagle Warrior, sword and shield (6 per pack)
Essex AZ6a Eagle Warrior, sword, javelin and shield (6 per pack)

Falcon MXA10 - Eagle Knight

Gladiator AZ2 - Eagle Knight with Sword

There are three different poses in each package, and these give enough variety for several elements.

Tin Soldier AZA4 Eagle Knight.
Tin Soldier AZA5 Eagle Knight Captain (6).

Jaguar Military Order

Essex AZ4 Jaguar warriors, sword and shield
Essex AZ4a Jaguar warriors, sword, javelin and shield
Essex AZ5 Jaguar warriors, standard bearer (4 per pack)

Falcon MXA4 - Triple Alliance jaguar fighter
Falcon MXA19 - Jaguar Knight

Gladiator AZ5 - Jaguar Knight with Sword

There are three different poses in each package, and these give enough variety for several elements.

Tin Soldier AZA6 Jaguar Knight.
Tin Soldier AZA7 Jaguar Knight Captain (6).

Other Suit Wearers

Captains (i.e. veteran warriors) and Warrior Priests formed the remaining suit wearers. Captains should be mixed with their men, including both the Military Orders and Clan Warriors. It is unlikely that priests fought as separate units, so should probably also be mixed through the other elements.

Sundry packs which I couldn't classify without seeing them:

Essex AZ7 Suit Wearers, assorted weapons, shield
Essex AZ7a Suit Wearers, assorted weapons, javelins, shield

Tin Soldier AZA8 Arrow Knight.
Tin Soldier AZA9 Arrow Knight Captain (6).

Captain in a full bodysuit with a quaxolatl (umbrella backbanner)

Falcon MXA1 - Command

Aside from the Standard Bearer mentioned above, this pack has a very nice figure in a full bodysuit and a quaxolatl (umbrella backbanner).

Coyote Warrior

Falcon MXA6 - Huexotzingan Warrior

This is based on Plate E1 Huexotzingan Warrior (Pohl, 1991). Useful for Texcalans.

Tlacochcalcatl

Falcon MXA9 - Tlacochcalcatl

The figure already has a poorly sculpted pamitl backbanner, being a bit two-dimensional, but is fine to mix into military orders' elements.

Three-captive Warrior

Gladiator AZ9 - Arrow Knight with Two-handed Sword

Although a military order called Arrow Knights did not exist, this figure can be used with the papalotl (butterfly backbanner) to make a three-captive warrior.

Huaxtec uniform (i.e. pointy hat)

Essex AZ8 Suit Wearers, pointed hat, sword and shield
Essex AZ8a Suit Wearers, pointed hat, sword, javelin and shield

Falcon MXA2 - Warrior Priest

Tin Soldier AZA3 Priest.

I'm guessing that these guys have a pointy hat, but they could be the blood soaked long hair chaps.

Macehualtin Clan Warriors

Essex

AZ9 Warrior, quilted jacket, breachclout, assorted weapons, shield
AZ9a Warrior, quilted jacket, breachclout, assorted weapons, javelin, shield
AZ10 Veteran Warriors (Tequihuahqueh), breachclout, sword & shield
AZ10a Veteran Warriors (Tequihuahqueh), breachclout, sword, javelin and shield
AZ11 Veteran Warriors (Tequihuahqueh), breachclout, sword and shield
AZ11a Veteran Warriors (Tequihuahqueh), breachclout, sword, javelin and shield
AZ12 Veteran Warriors - standard bearers, veteran warriors (4 per pack)
AZ13 Hordes - breachclout, assorted weapons
AZ15 Spearman, breechclout (shieldless)

Falcon Figures

MXA13 - Warrior, Dart Thrower
MXA15 - Warrior, Maquahuitl, Shield
MXA20 - Warrior, Maquahuitl, Shield
MXA21 - Warrior, Cotton Quilted Armour, Spear, Shield
MXA22 - Warrior, Standing, Spear, Shield

Some of these have a small buckler-type shield, while others are equipped with a larger shield fringed with feathers.

Gladiator AZ14 - Warrior Swordsmen with Shield

Includes a warrior wearing quilted cotton armour and wielding a club. .

Tin Soldier

AZA12 Apprentice Warrior.
AZA13 Otomi.
AZA14 Peasant with maquahuital.
AZAl5 Peasant with lance.

If you do want specifically Otomi tribesmen then they differed from the Mexica by having their hair clipped short (Duran, 1964, note 60).

Archers and Slingers

Essex AZ14 Bowman, breechclout
Essex AZ16 Slingers, breechclout (shieldless)

Falcon MXA12 - Archers
Falcon MXA14 - Slinger
Falcon MXA23 - Archer firing, quilted cotton armor
Falcon MXA24 - Archer firing

Gladiator AZ18 - Archers

This pack contains three different poses, all are wearing quilted cotton armour.

Tin Soldier AZA16 Peasant Archer.
Tin Soldier AZA17 Peasant Slinger.

Baggage / Porters

For baggage, use a mixture of:

Essex AZ19 Assorted youths with baggage (6 per pack)
Gladiator AZ37 Baggage bearers
Falcon MXA17 - Porters carrying baggage (6 figs)

Falcon MXA18 - Holy Relic carried on litter

This is a group of two porters carrying an idol on a litter. The Aztecs prized jade over gold, so Meet the Aztecs have the idol painted jade green.

Texcalan

And very quickly ...

Falcon MXA6 - Huexotzingan Warrior

The Texcalans favoured Coyote Knights. This figure is based on Plate E1 Huexotzingan Warrior (Pohl, 1991).

Falcon MXA7 - Tlaxcallan elite warrior

At least one of these chaps comes with a royal banner.

Falcon MXA8 - Tlaxcallan archer

Other archer figures are probably also suitable for example Falcon MXA23 has a head band so could be a Texcalan.

Gladiator

AZ 20 Tlaxcallan command
AZ 21 Tlaxcallan suit wearer swordsmen
AZ 22 Tlaxcallan suit wearer spearmen
AZ 23 Tlaxcallan archers
AZ 24 Tlaxcallan shield bearers
AZ 25 Tlaxcallan otomi mercenaries

Tlaxcalans in DBM has some beautiful shots of these figures. David Kuijt also uses nicely painted Gladiator figures for his DBA #105b Tarascan or Toltec-Chichimec 1168 AD - 1521 AD option.

Mixtec/Zapotec

Falcon has a warlord pack.

Gladiator

AZ 26 Mixtec command
AZ 27 Zapotec command
AZ 28 Warriors with atlatl and shield
AZ 29 Warriors with copper axe
AZ 30 Peasant slingers

Maya

Gladiator

AZ 31 Mayan command
AZ 32 Noble warriors, cloth armour and shield
AZ 33 Mayan swordsmen with shield
AZ 34 Mayan spearmen with shield
AZ 35 Mayan archers
AZ 36 Mayan slingers

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