La Malinche
Nahua interpreter and intermediary for Hernán Cortés during the conquest.
La Malinche was a Nahua woman from the Mexican Gulf Coast who acted as interpreter, advisor, and intermediary for Hernán Cortés during the Spanish invasion of the Aztec Empire.[1] Her son Martín with Cortés was one of the first Mestizos in New Spain.[1] In 1519, the people of Tabasco gave the Spanish twenty enslaved women, and she was one of them.[1]
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1500
- Died
- Before February 1529
- Other names
- Malintzin, La Malinche
- Occupation
- Interpreter
- advisor
- intermediary
- Known for
- Role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
- Spouse
- Juan Jaramillo
- Partner
- Hernán Cortés
- Children
- Martín Cortés, María
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
Malinche's birthdate is unknown but estimated around 1500, and she was born in an altepetl on the bank of the Coatzacoalcos River east of the Aztec Empire.[2] After a battle at Potonchán, the Maya gave the Spaniards twenty enslaved women including Malinche.[3][4] She worked with Aguilar to bridge communication between Spaniards and Nahua, translating from Spanish to Maya to Nahuatl.[5] Malinche later married Spanish hidalgo Juan Jaramillo in Orizaba.[6]
She died before February 1529, survived by her son Martín and daughter María.[6] When Malinche was sold or kidnapped into slavery, she was likely between 8 and 12 years old.[7] After being taken to the major port of Xicalango, Malinche was bought by Chontal Maya and then brought to Potonchán.[8] Captain Alonso Hernández Puertocarrero was the recipient of Malinche as a gift.[4]
At San Juan de Ulúa, the Spaniards met Nahuatl speakers; because Aguilar could not understand them, Malinche's linguistic abilities came to light.[9] Cortés removed Malinche from Puertocarrero and pledged her "more than liberty" in exchange for her aid in communicating with Moctezuma.[9]
References
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hanson, "Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power", Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2007-12-18; Thomas 1993, p. 171–172; Cypess 1991, p. 7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cypess 1991, p. 7; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Karttunen 1994, p. 4; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Karttunen 1997, p. 292 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Karttunen 1994, p. 4 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hassig 2006, p. 61–63; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Karttunen 1997, p. 292; Restall 2003, p. 97–98; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Restall 2003, p. 97–98; Townsend 2006, p. 12 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Karttunen 1997, p. 292; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Restall 2003, p. 97–98; Hassig 2006, p. 61–63 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gordon, Helen. Voice of the Vanquished: The Story of the Slave Marina and Hernan Cortés. Chicago: University Editions, 1995, page 454.; Chaison, Joanne. "Mysterious Malinche: A Case of Mistaken Identity," The Americas 32, N. 4 (1976).; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Townsend 2006, p. 12 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Townsend 2006, p. 12; Karttunen 2001, p. 352; Restall 2003, p. 97–98; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Karttunen 1997, p. 292; Valdeón 2013, p. 163–164; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Franco 1999, p. 76–78 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: de Fuggle, "Bernal Díaz del Castillo Cuentista: La Historia de Doña Marina", Alicante: Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, 2016; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Chapman 1957, p. 116–117 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "La Malinche" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Karttunen 1997, p. 292; Restall 2003, p. 97–98; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Hassig 2006, p. 61–63; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Townsend 2019, p. 93; Karttunen 1997, p. 292; Townsend 2006, p. 12; Restall 2003, p. 97–98 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article La Malinche (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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