La Malinche - Infinite Women

Born: 1505 (circa), Mexico
Died: 1527
Country most active: Mexico
Also known as: Doña Marina

The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
This famous and beautiful Indian woman was born in the town of Painola in the state of Vera Cruz.
Opinions differ to the exact place of her birth. She is said to have been a daughter of one of the Indian Chiefs of that vicinity. She was still a child when her father died. Her mother was married to a nobleman soon after and a son was born to this couple. The parents wanted this son to be the only heir to all the properties and titles, and they had to do something which would put Marina out of sight, so when a daughter of one of the slaves died they made believe it was Marina, and all the funeral ceremonies were in her honor. Marina was secretly delivered to a tribe of Indians who later sold her to another tribe in Tabasco. On March 12, 1519, the Spanish Navy arrived at Tabasco commanded by Hernan Cortes. The natives tried to oppose and defend their territory but they were spellbound by the firearms, and horses of the Spanish, and for their own demonstrations of bravery. For that reason they simulated to come to terms and to give proof of their desire for peace. Many presents were given the conqueror. The Spaniards had no women to do their work and prepare their meals. H. Cortes gave them twenty slaves, one of them was the beautiful Marina. It was at this time she was baptized Marina. Cortes believed this young Indian maiden would be of great service to him. When he first received these women he mistreated them among his officers, giving Marina to Alonzo Hernandos. She was very useful to the conqueror and her life was very closely related to the Spanish and the conquest. She was interpreter for Hernandos, a difficult thing as the Indians of that region spoke Mexican. She translated for one of the Captains of Mayon, and the Captain translated it into Spanish for Cortes. The Captain to whom she had been given returned to Spain and Marina entered the services of Cortes and continued to act as interpreter for him. During all the war of the conquest Marina very loyally accompanied Cortes everywhere. She influenced Cortes so much that the cruelty to the Indians became less. She also convinced the Indians not to fight, so that no blood would be shed. In the year 1524, when Cortes organized an expedition to Honduras, he took Marina. Marina married Juan de Jaramillo, a nobleman in one of the little towns of Honduras. Cortes gave her many wedding presents such as, Jalolepec, Oluta, Tetiquipape. On March 14, 1528, she was given a tract of land near Chapulpalepec. On July 3 of the same year she was given an orchard in one of the main streets of the capital.