Editing Aztec warfare (section)

===Gladiatorial combat===
[[File:Tovar Codex (folio 134).png|thumb|left|This page from the [[Codex Tovar]] depicts a scene of [[Xipe Totec#Human sacrifice|gladiatorial sacrificial]] rite, celebrated on the festival of ''[[Human sacrifice in Aztec culture#Xipe Totec|Tlacaxipehualiztli]]'' (Feast of the [[Flaying]] of Men).]]
[[File: Codex Magliabechiano ritual sacrificial combat.jpg|thumb|upright|Victim of sacrificial gladiatorial combat, from [[Codex Magliabechiano]]. Note that he is tied to a large stone and his [[macuahuitl]] (sword/club) is covered with what appears to be feathers instead of obsidian.]]
[[File: Aztec warrior gladiatorial sacrifice.png|thumb|upright|Victims of sacrificial gladiatorial combat had one leg chained to the ground and they had to fight a "succession of champions". If they were victorious, they were freed. If they were defeated, they were killed.<ref>Frost, J. (1862). Pictorial history of Mexico and the Mexican War: comprising an account of the ancient Aztec empire, the conquest by Cortes, Mexico under the Spaniards, the Mexican revolution, the republic, the Texan war, and the recent war with the United States. Philadelphia: Charles Desilver.</ref>]]
Some captives were [[Human sacrifice in Aztec culture|sacrificed]] to [[Tonatiuh]] in ritual gladiatorial combat (as was the case of the famous warrior [[Tlahuicole]]). In this rite, the victim was tethered in place to a large carved circular "stone" ([[temalacatl]])<ref>Matos Moctezuma & Solis Olguín 2002, pp. 451–452.</ref> and given a mock weapon.<ref name="Smith 1996, 2003, p.218">Smith 1996, 2003, p. 218.</ref> The captive, sometimes with one arm tied behind their back or purposefully injured, was supposed to die fighting against up to four or seven fully armed [[Jaguar warrior|jaguar]] and [[Eagle warrior|eagle knights]], whereupon falling he would be promptly disemboweled by a priest, but if the captive survived he was granted freedom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collections |first=Special |title=Tarlton Law Library: Exhibit – Aztec and Maya Law: Aztec International and Military Law |url=https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/aztec-and-maya-law/aztec-international-and-military-law |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=tarlton.law.utexas.edu |language=en}}</ref>