La Malinche

Marina
Malintzin, in an engraving dated 1885.
Born	c. 1500
Died	before February 1529 (aged 28–29)
Other names	Malintzin, La Malinche
Occupation(s)	Interpreter, advisor, intermediary
Known for	Role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
Spouse	Juan Jaramillo
Children	Martín Cortés María

La Malinche (1500-1550) or Malintzin or Marina was an American Indian woman from the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. In 1519, Hernán Cortés chose her as a slave with 19 other women. She became the direct helper and translator for Cortés. She knew both Mayan and Nahuatl of the region and learned Spanish. She was important in negotiations. With Malinche, Cortés could interpret the language of the Aztecs. Malinche was eventually baptized as Doña Marina. Cortés used Malinche to find the weaknesses of the Aztecs and to destroy them. This included the fall of Tenochtitlán.