from 1519 CEReputable sourceWell documented
La Malinche, the Interpreter
On the timeline · around from 1519 CE ·
What happened
Early in the campaign Cortés acquired Malintzin — La Malinche — an enslaved Nahua woman who spoke both Nahuatl, the Aztec language, and Maya. As his interpreter and adviser she became indispensable to the conquest, and remains one of the most divisive figures in Mexican history.
Why it matters
Without La Malinche's translation and diplomacy, Cortés could not have negotiated the alliances that made the conquest possible — making her one of history's most consequential interpreters.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. La Malinche · Reputable source