What was the fate of the Aztec princess rather than marriage?

The fate of the Aztec princess that aligns with historical accounts is that she was killed. In Mesoamerican traditions and conflicts, particularly within the context of the Aztec Empire, many royal figures, including princesses, could face dire consequences as a result of political shifts or war. When sovereign states such as the Aztecs conquered rival tribes, they often performed ritual sacrifices to appease their gods or assert dominance over the conquered peoples.

In the case of a captured princess, rather than being married off as a means of alliance, she might have been viewed as a political threat or as a necessary sacrifice. Ritual sacrifice was a critical element of Aztec religious practice, and many captured nobles, including women of high status, could meet this fate to fulfill religious obligations or ceremonial customs. This practice was intended to honor their deities and was intricately tied to the beliefs of the Aztec civilization.

Understanding this aspect of Aztec culture and the political landscape helps in grasping why the fate of the princess would lean more towards execution rather than other alternatives, such as exile or becoming a priestess, both of which would not reflect the realities faced during their conquests and religious practices.