| A Nahua Indian woman; translator, mediator, adviser and concubine of the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes Country: Mexico |
Malintzin (1496-1505) was a Nahua woman whose life and legacy would forever be intertwined with the fate of Mexico. Born as Malinali or Malinal, her father's untimely demise forced her mother to remarry and give birth to a son. Malintzin, now deemed expendable, was sold to Mayan slave traders and taken to the trading hub of Xicalango.
In 1519, Malintzin became one of 20 enslaved women gifted to Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish chronicler, described her as beautiful and compassionate, standing out among the other captives. Initially intended as a concubine for Alonso Hernando Puertocarrero, she was instead given to Spanish priest Gerónimo de Aguilar, who had spent years in Mayan captivity and spoke their language.
Malintzin's fluency in Nahuatl made her an invaluable asset to Cortés's expedition. She played a crucial role as an interpreter and diplomat, facilitating communication and preventing potential conflicts. As the Spaniards advanced towards the Aztec capital, Malintzin discovered a plot by the Cholula elite to ambush Cortés's army. She promptly alerted him, enabling the thwarting of the conspiracy.
Despite her status as a concubine, Malintzin developed a close bond with Cortés. She bore him a son, Martín, who is considered the first mestizo of Mexico. Their unconventional relationship left a lasting mark on history, influencing cultural perspectives on love, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Following the fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521, Malintzin retired to a home in Coyoacán, near Cortés. She accompanied him on his expedition to Honduras in 1524-1525 and later married Spanish nobleman Juan Jaramillo. Her death date is shrouded in mystery, with some historians placing it around 1529 during a smallpox epidemic, while others suggest she died in Spain in 1551.
Malintzin's reputation has undergone numerous transformations throughout the centuries. Initially vilified as a collaborator, she has since become a complex and contested figure. Her name often evokes polarizing interpretations, such as an embodiment of betrayal, the epitome of sacrifice, or simply the mother of the modern Mexican nation. Her relationship with Cortés sparked the term "La Chingada" ("the violated one"), while "malinchista" refers to those who favor foreign influences over domestic ones.
Despite the ongoing debates, Malintzin remains an enduring symbol of the seismic changes that shaped Mexico's history. Her legacy continues to inspire art, literature, and academic research, cementing her place as a captivating and enigmatic historical figure.