The ichcahuīpīlli, known in Spanish as escaupil,[1] was a Mesoamerican military soft body armor similar to the European gambeson that was commonly used by the Aztecs and the Tlaxcaltecs. It was also constructed of densely packed, unspun cotton stitched between two layers of fabric.[2] The name is derived from the Nahuatl words ichcatl "cotton" and huīpīlli "shirt".
Glyph for Ichcahuīpīlli based on the Codex Xolotl.
Ichcahuipilli armor was a lightweight, multifunctional garment worn on the torso of the warrior, designed to provide blunt-force trauma protection against clubs and batons, slash protection from obsidian macuahuitl, and projectile protection from arrows and atlatl darts.[3] Ichcahuipilli were made of successive layers of packed cotton and cloth, at least one inch thick, and sewn in diamond-shaped patterns. Wearers usually wore the ichcahuipilli directly on their skin, however, the most experienced warriors, especially those of the ordersofeagle and jaguar warriors, used it to complement a tlahuiztli suit.[2]
Upon contact with a shot projectile, the dense fibrous materials of the vest would absorb the energy of the shot and dissipate it on a much larger area, stopping the bullet or arrow in the vest.
Page from the Codex Mendoza depicting warriors wearing ichcahuipilli and tlahuiztli suits.
Atlatl darts in particular were found to regularly penetrate European chainmail. Ichcahuipilli was so effective at stopping arrows, darts, and even lead musket shot,[4] Spanish soldiers often discarded their own, heavier plate armor, which was uncomfortable in the warmer, moist Mexican climate and prone to rust, in favor of indigenous armor which was lighter and comparatively maintenance-free.[5][6]
Most ichcahuipilli were made in a vest style that covered the torso down to the hips; however, various other designs were made and worn by Aztec soldiers of different ranks and warrior societies. The armor came in sleeved variations or in surcoat designs that covered most of a warrior's body down to the knees.
For SpikeTV's reality program Deadliest Warrior, a piece of material designated as ichcahuipilli armor was tested against the iron-tipped arrows of the Azande pima and botto. The armor was able to stop the arrows and even ward off some of them. It was later determined that although the arrows penetrated the material, the arrows were stopped and penetration was minimal enough to not cause any serious injury.
^Phillips, Charles "The Complete Illustrated History of the Aztec & Maya: The Definitive Chronicle of the Ancient Peoples of Central America & Mexico - Including the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, Mixtec, Toltec & Zapotec" 2015.
^Phillips, Charles (2006–2007). The Complete Illustrated History of the Aztecs & Maya: The definitive chronicle of the ancient peoples of Central America & Mexico - including the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, Mixtec, Toltec & Zapotec. p. 94. ISBN1-84681-197-X. OCLC642211652.
