In the early 1500s, a young native princess named Malinali was sold into slavery. The woman, who is known by many names, was one of the most hated-or most loved-figure in Mexican history. Little is known about the brilliant Aztec woman who served as a guide, an interpreter, and a powerful mistress. Her life has influenced Mexican pop culture where it continues to be celebrated-or despised-to this day.


Sold into Slavery

Malinali was born in Painala, where her father served as an Aztec cacique (chief). Her mother came from the nearby town of Xaltipan. When her father died, her mother remarried a noble from another city. The remarriage granted her mother a son. Not wanting to jeopardize her inheritance, Malinali was sold into slavery.

According to accounts, the slave traders sold Malinali to a chief of Pontonchan in the state of Tabasco. There, she learned her third language. She quickly became fluent in the native language of her town, the Aztec language Nahuatl, and Chontal Maya.

Spanish Expedition

The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes met Malinali after she, along with 19 other young women, were given to the Spanish army as part of their reparations following the fight between the Mayan and the Spanish forces. Malinali was baptized by two priests and was renamed "Dona Marina." Marina quickly made a name for herself after she served as Cortes' Nahuatl interpreter during his meeting with Aztec emissaries. Her fluency in the language allowed the conquistador to communicate with the locals and gain valuable information as they marched toward the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Over the next few weeks, Marina learned to speak Spanish fluently, eliminating Cortes' need to have another interpreter with them. They marched to the Kingdom of Tlaxcala, where they were met with suspicion.

Marina's linguistic skills proved useful once again after she helped form an alliance between the conquistador and the Tlaxcalan king. She told Cortes whether other people were lying and had the ability to ask for more gold. The conquistador, seeing her importance, assigned the best soldiers to guard the linguist.

The Aztec Empire

From the Tlaxcala kingdom, Marina, Cortes, and the army travelled to an Aztec realm, Cholula. The king did not trust the Spanish military and made plans to kill or capture them all. Marina, who befriended a local woman married to a military leader, warned Cortes of the plans.

Instead of running away, she brought the woman to Cortes. The Spanish army immediately launched an attack against the Cholulans, killing thousands and wiping out most of the upper class. The battle was quickly over. With nothing hindering them from overtaking the Aztec capital, Cortes and Marina marched to Tenochtitlan. Cortes ordered the death of Aztec Emperor Montezuma. The Aztecs attacked the invaders and killed a thousand, forcing them to flee. Marina hid under a bridge and regrouped with Cortes and his forces. The Spanish troops re-entered the capital and won against the Aztec forces. Marina translated the Aztec's formal surrender on August 13, 1521.


Legacy

Marina and Cortes became closer throughout the expedition. Their relationship lasted four years, which resulted in Marina giving birth to Cortes' son, Martin, in 1523. The pair had one last journey together to Honduras in 1524 where Marina met and married Juan Xaramillo de Salvatierra while Cortes went back to his legal wife in Cuba.

Little is known about Marina's life after she and the conquistador parted ways. An unearthed letter that was written by her son mentioned her passing in 1552.

Many Mexicans see her as a traitor to the Mesoamerican people. Others see her as a liberator of the people who lived under the Aztec rule. As the mother of one of the first mixed-race children in the continent, Marina is regarded as the mother of the mestizos. Her legacy is still the subject of paintings, movies, books, and other materials today.

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