La Malinche
Overview
La Malinche known also as Malintzin, Malinalli or Doña Marina, was a Nahua woman from the Mexican Gulf Coast
, who played a role in the Spanish
conquest of Mexico
, acting as interpreter, advisor, lover and intermediary for Hernán Cortés
. She was one of twenty slaves given to Cortés by the natives of Tabasco in 1519. Later she became a mistress
to Cortés and gave birth to his first son, Martín
, who is considered one of the first Mestizos (people of mixed European
and indigenous American ancestry).
The historical figure of Marina has been intermixed with Aztec legends (such as La Llorona
, a woman who weeps for lost children).
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, who played a role in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
conquest of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, acting as interpreter, advisor, lover and intermediary for Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
. She was one of twenty slaves given to Cortés by the natives of Tabasco in 1519. Later she became a mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
to Cortés and gave birth to his first son, Martín
Martín Cortés (son of doña Marina)
Martín Cortés el Mestizo was the first-born and illegitimate son of Hernán Cortés and Doña Marina...
, who is considered one of the first Mestizos (people of mixed European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
and indigenous American ancestry).
The historical figure of Marina has been intermixed with Aztec legends (such as La Llorona
La Llorona
La Llorona is a widespread legend in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Central America. Although several variations exist, the basic story tells of a beautiful woman by the name of Maria killing her children by drowning them, in order to be with the man that she loved. When the man rejects her, she kills...
, a woman who weeps for lost children).
