Epic...endless love: stories of romance that was consuming and complex. These romances stood the test of time, or acted as iconic features in various historical settings. The centerpiece of an era, sometimes the romance itself was difficult or dangerous, or it was healing and forgiving. Romeo and Juliet, and Tristan and Isolde are accessible (fictional) examples that may come to mind, but the history books -- and succeeding web pages -- are lush with examples of Latin couples who've affected history by being revolutionary, dynamic, passionate, and/or the talk-of-the-time.

HERNAN CORTES and MALINCHE (DOÑA MARINA):

Nahua woman Malinche was one of twenty young indigenous women received by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. The women came from vanquished native villages and were immediately converted to Christianity. Malinche became Cortes' mistress and the mother of his son Martin -who was the favorite among all of Cortes' children. Malinche assisted Cortes with a strategy to pit indigenous people against one another, acting as an interpreter. Malinche accompanied Cortes wherever he went, more committed to him than her own people; she even warned him of a surprise attack in Cholua. Malinche is considered the mother of the first mestizo (people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry) in Mexico.

FRIDA KAHLO and DIEGO RIVERA:

Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera led a volatile marriage, one that was fueled by betrayal, devotion, inspiration, passion, politics and painting. Rivera influenced and strengthened Kahlo in the way of art; and, Rivera hailed Kahlo as the love of his live. Both were temperamental and prone to affairs: Rivera having sex with Kahlo's younger sister, and Kahlo, who was bisexual, had affairs with many including Isamu Noguchi and Josephine Baker. The twice married couple divorced in November 1939 and remarried in December 1940.

DESI ARNAZ and LUCILLE BALL:

Cuban-born Desi Arnaz and American Sweetheart Lucille Ball became America's favorite interracial couple during their stint on the television series I Love Lucy, where Arnaz portrayed Latin band leader Ricky Ricardo. The television show merely showed the humorous and compassionate side of their relationship, however their marriage was turbulent. The twenty year marriage was plagued with accusations of unfaithfulness and alcoholism. Ball filed for divorce in 1944, but the two didn't actually divorce until 16 years later, after sharing two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. Though the two divorced, they would remain friends, and Arnaz would later confess, "'I Love Lucy' was never just a title."

EVA and JUAN PERON

Argentine President Juan Perón and his second wife, the First Lady of Argentina Eva Perón, met at a fundraiser following an earthquake that killed roughly 10,000 people. Smitten with one another, the two quickly fell in love and moved in together. The two acted as Argentina's first true political power couple. Following Eva's death -- due to cervical cancer -- and prior to Juan's exile, Perón had Evita's body embalmed and put on display for almost two years. Subsequently the body disappeared for 16 years before it was returned. On the date of her death, at only the age of 33 (weighing only 79 lbs), all activity in Argentina ceased: movies stopped playing and restaurants closed.

GLORIA and EMILIO ESTEFAN

Cuban-born iconic crossover performer Gloria Estafan and 19-time Grammy Award winning Cuban-American musician and performer Emilio Estefan have been married for 37 years. Gloria has said that Emilio was her "first and only boyfriend." The two married in September of 1978. The talented couple has a son and a daughter, and their first grandchild, Sasha Argento Estefan Coppola, was born on June 21, 2012. The two have had a scandal-free marriage, and are often photographed arm-in-arm. When asked how they avoided scandal in their marriage, Emilio responded, "Number one, we got married for the right reasons. We were raised poor kids, immigrants that were coming to this country. So in a way ... we have a big responsibility for the next generation." And Gloria joked, "We have no time!"

MARIAH CAREY and NICK CANNON

Multiplatinum Afro-Venezuelan performer Mariah Carey married Comedian/actor Nick Cannon on April 30, 2008 with no prior announcement. The two married at her private estate on Windermere Island in The Bahamas; and later lived out a "fairy-tale fantasy" wedding at the Disneyland Resorts in 2013 on their fifth anniversary. The only major controversy to arise in their marriage was caused by hip-hop star Eminem, who poked fun at Mariah Carey and initiated a "beef." Carey and Cannon share twins, a boy and a girl by the names of Monroe and Moroccan.

PENELOPE CRUZ and JAVIER BARDEM

Spanish Actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem began dating after working together on the sensual comedy-drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona. They married in a private ceremony in the Bahamas and share two children, Leonardo and Luna. The first met many years before when filming Jamón, jamón (1992). Bardem portrayed a would-be underwear model and bullfighter. Cruz appeared as a teenager who was caught in a complex love triangle.

LA LA VASQUEZ and CARMELO ANTHONY

Afro-Puerto Rican New York Knicks' megastar small forward Carmelo Anthony and Afro-Puerto Rican DJ and television personality La La Vasquez got engaged Christmas Day 2004, and were married by Michael Eric Dyson. The ceremony was filmed by VH1, and was aired under the title, La La's Full Court Wedding. Together, the couple, who are considered New York royalty, had a son on March 7, 2007. More than 10 years into their relationship, the two are still going strong.