Page:Historia Verdadera del Mexico profundo.djvu/130

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to the Lord of battles and the Sun; that they pleaded him to send his people, that they would be in the field waiting on the third day."... “But, feeling the damage (the Choluetcas), then sent a messenger to Moctecuhzoma, giving account of what that day they had done and of the large loss of people. And hoping for another day, to see if the Choluteca demanded more battle, or wanted to avenge his people, accompanied by the Mexicans to avenge their loss, the Cholutecas sent their messengers to the general of the Mexican army, saying that they had already enjoyed and rejoiced and after some time spent time with them; it was enough, that they should go with God." (Fray Diego Durán.)

The Aztecs made a holy war and fought, according to them, to keep alive the Fifth Sun whose existence was threatened, according to the religious and ideological reforms made by Tlacaelel and also, extended their domain and increased the number of tributary peoples. The warriors that died or were taken prisoner in these battles found the highest social aspiration in the sacrifices stone.

"That they should not be sad thereby, and that the death of their brother (Moctezuma) affected him, by losing such brave men, but that died in honor defending the homeland were tinted and glazed with the hue and enamel of their royal blood and value adorned with precious stones and the precise plumage of their greatness and valiant deeds, and that such was the fate that he and should hope for, because they did not died as women behind coal and stoves, but with a sword in their hand, dying with their blood and that of others the herbs of the field and the rays of the Sun in them, and of this he gloried and was very proud. And so later ordered to have the funerals of all the Lords that were killed in that battle..." (Fray Diego Durán.)

The Mexica wars were made to get prisoners and take them to Tenochtitlan and sacrifice them. The prisoners were treated with great respect, as they were, "Eagle food". It was considered a blunder if a warrior killed an adversary in the battlefield, because the objective was to take him captive. The

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