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TLAXCALANS

The Tlaxcalans were a meso-american empire which existed 500 years ago. They were located to the east of the Aztecs and were one of a number of Toltec-Chichimec city states. These were derived from the fusion of the earlier Toltec civilisations and a barbarous immigration of wild Chichimec 'dog people' tribesmen. The formerly Toltec Colhuacan was the earliest, but the most important of later times were Huexotzingo, Cholula and Tlaxcala. These were usually allied against the Aztecs but Cholula occasionally took the other side. Tlaxcala, which means 'tortilla' and was a Spanish mistake for Texcala 'the crags', survived the others long enough to join with Cortez' Spaniards in destroying the Aztecs. A contemporary Spanish account reports that the Tlaxcalans 'manoeuvered marvellously well'. Their army was grouped into 4 commands and liked to counter or envelop the enemy flanks with massed archers before assaulting their centre. Suit wearers are the military orders such as the Eagle and Jaguar knights. Although some militia archers had cotton armour, this was not proof against the bow. However, other archers had side arms and were mixed with warriors armed with maquahuitl and shield who protected them while they shot. (Extract from DBM Army List Book 4.)

The figures are 15mm Gladiator miniatures, and it took me a couple of years between painting the first and last elements. This army was kind of tedious to paint because of the sheer number of figures, which are all individually very detailed. Still, the massed archery of the 'Tortilla People' has been causing much consternation amongst my DBM opponents, which is good to see!

Here is the Tlaxcalan Commander in Chief in his red and white striped cloak, surrounded by his troops. The red and white headband was an attribute of Tlaxcalan nationality. To the foreground and out of focus are some of the many archers.

Suit Wearers are the hardcore close combat infantry of the Tlaxcalan army. In DBM they are classed as Blade(I). They are armed with obsidian edged weapons and atlatl dart throwers. Many wear coyote suits as a symbol of their Chichimec 'dog people' desert ancestry. Distinctive back ornaments were symbols of soldiers communites. The white heron in this picture is the house of Tizatlan, founded by a lake notable for its herons.

Here are the full amount of Tlaxcalans I have painted up. Tlaxcalans usually outnumber their opponents by up to two to one, so the trick is to make those numbers count. My normal tactic is to try and get a battlefield with as much rough terrain as possible, and then assault the flanks of the enemy with massed Archers (flank marches in DBM terms), while the Suit Wearers and Archers and Shield Bearers hold off and inflict casualties upon the enemy center.

Last and certainly least, here are the brave men and dogs of the Baggage Core. They are mobile so they can run over the hills and far away if the enemy gets too close. With the Tlaxcalans exellent command and control, ordering the baggage around is not difficult. In fact the Tlaxcalan CinC often leads the baggage personally in times of danger to ensure its safety as well as his own. This tactic tends to draw howls of derision and disgust from opponents of course :)