La Malinche

La Malinche, also known as Malintzin or Doña Marina, was a Native American woman who played a crucial role during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. She served as a translator, negotiator, and advisor to the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. Her ability to speak both Nahuatl and Spanish facilitated communication between the indigenous peoples and the Spanish. La Malinche's legacy is complex; she is often seen as a symbol of betrayal, but also as a key figure in cultural exchange and the blending of Spanish and Indigenous cultures in Mexico.