War of the Three Sanchos vs Flower Wars (Xōchiyāōyōtl)

Castile quickly adapted to changing circumstances and altered its tactics, while the Navarre-Aragon alliance lost the initiative by sticking to a rigid defensive doctrine.

Aztec doctrine lacked flexibility specific to the Flower Wars; it strictly adhered to rules. In contrast, Tlaxcala tried to adapt to changing conditions — for example, by forming an asymmetric alliance with the Spaniards. However, during the Flower Wars, doctrinal flexibility remained limited.

Attrition War

This was both an 'Attrition War' and a 'Diversion/Delaying Action' with ritualistic characteristics. From the Aztec perspective, the aim was not to annihilate the enemy but to maintain a steady flow of human sacrifices and military training. For Tlaxcala, it was a war of resistance to preserve independence.

Castile directed its center of gravity directly at the disputed territories of Bureba and La Rioja. Navarre, on the other hand, dispersed its forces across a broad front, remaining weak at critical points.

The Aztec command failed to correctly identify the center of gravity; the main objective was not to destroy the enemy's center of resistance but to take captives. This made achieving strategic results difficult. Tlaxcala remained defense-oriented. Neither side established a decisive Schwerpunkt.

Castile succeeded in concealing its main objective by keeping Navarre constantly alert with border raids. It also created strategic deception by using Muslim taifa kingdoms against Aragon.

Military deception or strategic surprise was not applied in Flower Wars. Since the sides met by prior arrangement, there was no element of surprise. However, the Aztecs gradually wore down Tlaxcala through a form of 'creeping normalization' by increasing the intensity of the wars over time.

Castile managed to shake Navarrese lines with heavy cavalry charges. Especially El Cid's shock tactics established psychological superiority over the enemy.

The Aztecs avoided ranged weapons in Flower Wars, encouraging close-quarters combat. Weapons like the macuahuitl were used to display individual prowess. Without cavalry or artillery to create mass shock effect, it remained at a psychological level. The fearlessness of Aztec warriors served as a shock element.

The war's location in the mountainous terrain of Burgos and La Rioja favored the defender, but Castile's more mobile forces managed to turn the difficult terrain to their advantage.

Flower Wars were usually fought in prearranged sacred sites (cuauhtlalli). These were generally open plains, offering no geographical advantage to either side. However, since Tlaxcala's core territory was mountainous, the terrain was disadvantageous for the Aztecs in full-scale wars of conquest. Weather and seasons affected the timing of battles due to the agricultural calendar.

Castile had better knowledge of Navarre's defensive vulnerabilities due to local support in the border regions. Navarre was late in correctly reading Castile's expansionist intentions.

The Aztecs had an extensive trade and information network across the empire, giving them an edge in assessing their rivals' capabilities. Tlaxcala, with limited resources, was intimately familiar with Aztec military doctrine. The mutual information asymmetry was balanced, but the Aztecs' overall situational awareness was superior.

Castile kept constant pressure on Navarre forces through border raids and rapid sieges. The Navarre-Aragon alliance mainly reacted with counter-maneuvers.

Maneuver and interior lines were rarely used in the Flower Wars. Since battles were fought in prearranged locations with equal numbers, large-scale maneuver doctrine was not applied. However, the Aztecs had the ability to rapidly dispatch small units.

El Cid's individual successes created high morale and belief in victory among the Castilian troops, while the Navarrese side was plagued by leadership crises and uncertainty.

For the Aztecs, dying in a Flower War was sanctified as 'flowery death' (xochimiquiztli), meaning direct entry to paradise. This provided extraordinary morale to the warriors. Tlaxcala warriors were also highly motivated by the psychology of defending their homeland. Psychological resilience was high on both sides.

Before the war, Castile tried to weaken Navarre by establishing tributary ties and political influence. It also attempted indirect pressure by instigating Muslim taifa kingdoms against Aragon.

The Aztec Triple Alliance partially succeeded in wearing down Tlaxcala without battle through economic blockade, cutting off the flow of vital goods like salt and cotton. However, the blockade could not be fully enforced, and Tlaxcala maintained its independence through diplomacy. Sun Tzu's principle of 'victory without fighting' was not fully implemented here.