The holiday of the fair half has passed … Well, the role of women in history hardly needs commentary. Among them were great creators. There were also destroyers. And some curious manifestations of female figures and characters in historical processes are still little known.
Take, for example, the conquest of the Aztec empire in Mexico by Cortez. In these events, much seems incomprehensible and illogical. First of all - “the riddle of Montezuma”. Why did the powerful emperor behave so inconsistently and indecisively? Why did he let the Spaniards into his capital Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), without any serious resistance at all? The prominent historian of the conquest, J. Innes, analyzing this riddle, wrote that during negotiations with the Aztecs, Cortez “literally hypnotized Montezuma from a distance”. But with what?
Of course, the legend of Quetzalcoatl, a god and at the same time a real leader, played a key role. Once he ruled the country, was expelled and sailed across the sea, promising to return later. However, let's take into account that Montezuma was not at all a naive simpleton, he ruled for 16 years and managed to go through the school of cruel intrigues, wars, and civil strife. Let's note another feature: after all, Cortez himself did not even try to play on the mentioned legend!
A bully and a womanizer by nature, he was a lawyer by training. In his appeals to the Indians, he emphasized legal "traps" that would allow the locals to become citizens of the Spanish king. His appeals were specially recorded by a notary, their texts were preserved - they do not contain the slightest clue for identifying Cortes with a deity! Not the slightest hint that he claims to be the returning Quetzalcoatl! Finally, for some reason, the Indians did not mistake Grihalva for Quetzalcoatl, who had visited their shores a few years earlier, or Pinedo, who had landed at the same time as Cortes.
Considering these questions, all researchers miss an interesting detail that seems to lie on the surface. Neither the Aztecs nor the Spaniards knew each other's languages! During the transfer of information, the only person, the translator Marina, acted as an intermediate link between them for a long time. So how can you be sure that Montezuma and his messengers heard exactly what Cortez was telling them?
Let's take a closer look at the course of events. Having quarreled with the governor of Cuba, Velazquez, who had banned the expedition, in February 1519 the conquistadors sailed from the West Indies and headed for the shores of America. They took the Indian Melchior as a translator, and on the island of Cozumel Cortez also picked up the Spaniard Aguilar, who had previously been enslaved by the natives and had learned the Tabasco language. The detachment landed near the cities of Tabasco and Champoton. But Melchior fled and advised the local Cacique leaders to attack the Spaniards. Fights ensued, where 16 horses, 6 light cannons and arquebusses played their part. The Indians were defeated, the Caciques showed obedience and brought gifts.
Among their offerings were 20 female slaves. The Spaniards did not suffer from racial prejudices, but they had a ban on cohabitation with pagans. The women were christened, and they received the status of "barragana" - legal mistresses or "field wives". One of the Indian women, whose real name is unknown, became Marina at the baptism. More precisely, “dona Marina” - great attention was paid to the origin then, and she, as reported by Spanish sources, was “a noble lady and a cacique over cities and vassals by birthright”.
It is not difficult to logically supplement her previous life. Shortly before the arrival of the Europeans, Emperor Auitztol, and then his brother Montezuma, conquered and pacified the rebellious regions. From the fact that Marina turned out to be a slave, it follows an unambiguous conclusion that her people have lost. And the mention that she herself was a cacique means that her father and brothers (if any) have already died. Most likely, they ended their lives on the altars: after victories over the rebels, Auitztol sacrificed 20 thousand people, Montezuma - 12 thousand. What fate awaited Marina herself? Or the harem of a noble leader - but she was not in the harem yet, the girls were supposed to give. Or - in time, too, lie on the altar. Women were sacrificed less often than men, but on special occasions this was practiced, especially with noble ones (this is how, for example, Montezuma's sister died).
At first, Cortez did not pay attention to Marina, he gave the captain Puertocarrero. However, the girl soon managed to advance. Aguilar knew only Tabasco, the language of the coastal Indians, and in the hinterland they spoke Nahuatl. The Indian woman knew both languages. The Spanish squadron from Tabasco made a transition to the north, and contact was established with the governors of Montezuma Cuitlalpitoc and Teudilla. The negotiations were conducted through two translators, Aguilar translated from Spanish to Tabasco, and Marina from Tabasco to Nahuatl. During these meetings, the Spaniards learned about Kulua, a confederation of city-states around Lake Teshkoko, inhabited by the Meshik (Aztec) people. And Cortes talked about his emperor Charles V, about the Christian faith, about his desire to personally meet with Montezuma.
Communication with the Aztecs was excellent, a week later the embassy of Prince Quintalbor arrived from Mexico City. With fantastic gifts, but Montezuma refused a personal meeting. It is especially interesting that the word “teule” was used for the first time in relation to the Spaniards. It meant something divine. Consequently, already in the first negotiations, the Indians received some evidence of the “divinity” of the guests. Only Marina could introduce such a version. She already knew the legend of Quetzalcoatl. And as the daughter of the leader, she was to receive a priestly education. Was it difficult for her to supplement Cortez's speech with some sacred phrases that made a corresponding impression?
Probably, Marina also heard about the terrible omens that frightened the Aztecs for two years - two comets appeared, lightning struck the temples. Lake Teshkoko “boiled”, washing away a number of houses, and at night the inhabitants of the Aztec capital heard a woman crying: “My children, we must flee from this city”. Subsequently, the Aztecs claimed that the Spaniards arrived on the day dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. But they docked several times! And the landings themselves took more than one day. If desired, it was quite possible to choose the right date and emphasize this …
The talks did not end with Quintalbor's visit. The transfer by the embassies continued, and Marina very quickly mastered Spanish. Some authors believe - out of love for Cortez. However, another likely motive suggests itself - revenge. For your enslaved people. For their loved ones, killed or sacrificed. For their own fate, the transformation of the princess into a slave. Taking the position of the chief translator, Marina got the opportunity to get even with her enemies in full.
Cortes, meanwhile, pulled off a legal trick, founded the city of Vera Cruz with "self-government" - thus, according to Spanish law, he left the jurisdiction of the governor of Cuba. And to establish itself in the local area, another important step was taken: the Spaniards established friendship with the Totonacs, the inhabitants of the city of Sempoala. They were recently subjugated by the Aztecs, and now, at the tip of the Europeans, they have arrested the Aztec tax collectors. Thus, the Totonacs tied themselves with the conquistadors, surrendered to their protection.
The useful qualities of Marina Cortes noticed and appreciated her. When the Sempoals, wishing to intermarry with the aliens, gave them 8 chiefs' daughters “to bear the children of captains,” a new girlfriend, a certain Francisca, was allocated for Captain Puertocarrero, and then he was sent to Madrid with a report. The translator was taken by the "Captain-General" Cortes. Leaving the garrison in the fortress of Vera Cruz, he marched with a detachment of 400 soldiers and an army of Totonacs to Mexico City.
It was then that the "riddles of Montezuma" manifested themselves in full. In the mountains near the town of Shikochimalco, the road was a narrow staircase carved into the rocks. Here, even a small detachment could stop any army. But … the local cacique received an order from Montezuma to let the Teuli pass. On the advice of the Totonacs, Cortes went to Tlaxcala, a federation of several cities, also recently conquered by the Aztecs. Nevertheless, the Qasik of the Tlashkalans of Shikotenkatl first greeted the guests “with spears”. In the first skirmish, 15 Indians killed two horses and wounded two Spaniards. Thus, the psychological impact of horses and European weapons was reduced to naught. Only after several weeks of battles, interspersed with negotiations, the Tlashkalans recognized the authority of Cortez and annexed their troops to him.
And Montezuma sent new embassies. He even expressed his readiness to become a vassal of Charles V, to pay tribute! He just begged the Spaniards not to go to Mexico City. Cortes did not heed the requests and went on to the city of Cholula. For some reason, the emperor did not even try to throw his own troops against the Spaniards, as the Tlashkalans did at first. Although at the same time he made an attempt to destroy them surreptitiously, with someone else's hands. On the orders of Montezuma, the Cholula leaders were to distract Cortez with negotiations, and secretly move the soldiers to the Spanish camp. Let them get close to him and attack him at night. This plan was exposed by Marina through some Indian woman (maybe her former subject, who was also in slavery?) Kasiks, who appeared to pretend negotiations, were immediately arrested, and then the Spaniards, Sempoals and Tlashkalans fell on the headless Cholul army, killed 6 thousand. human.
At subsequent meetings with the emissaries of Montezuma, Cortez reprimanded them for treachery and announced that it was impossible to deceive the Spaniards, they knew everything in advance. And here's another striking fact: in all the messages the Indians begin to call Cortez "Malinche". This is by no means a distorted name of Marina, as it is sometimes mistakenly believed. This is an officially recorded appeal to Cortez himself! “Malinche” means “marinin”, Marina's man. For the Indians, such treatment is absolutely not typical. It underlines the very special role played by the translator. H. Innes, admitting this in his research “Conquistadors”, writes that Marina became “alter ego” of Cortez. Although the name "Malinche", rather, speaks of something else. Cortez is perceived as Marina's “alter ego”! It was she who led some kind of policy on behalf of the captain-general!
After Cholula, the Aztecs made another attempt to lure the Spaniards into a trap (again solved in a timely manner). And Montezuma sent new requests to stop, promised fabulous amounts of gold and jewelry. But Cortez advanced on an almost triumphant march. He was joined by the Cholula and Wayoqingo Indians. They complained to the Spaniards about heavy taxes, about the atrocities of the Aztec officials, about the fact that their sons and daughters were taken away for sacrifices. Mexico City-Tenochtitlan stood in the middle of Lake Teshcoco, and one could get there only along long dams covered by fortresses. But no one thought to protect him. On November 8, 1519, the Spaniards entered the capital. The emperor greeted them barefoot, kissed the ground and placed two necklaces in the shape of golden shrimps on Cortez. And the shrimp was the symbol of Quetzalcoatl himself! He was really greeted like a god!
But in the descriptions of these events, some discrepancies draw attention to themselves. One version was later recorded from the words of the Indians. In this text, Montezuma explicitly recognized Cortez as Quetzalcoatl. Said to him: "You have come here to sit on your throne." He modestly explained that the ancestors of Montezuma ruled the city only as “your representatives, protected it and preserved it until you came”. In the report of Cortés to the government, another option is recorded - in it, obedience is expressed not to the commander of the conquistadors, but to the Spanish emperor. Montezuma says - they say, we have known for a long time that our lawful master lives beyond the seas, who sent you here. Thus, we have proof: Marina actually translated more than “freely”. One text was spoken, and another was transmitted to the interlocutor.
However, the influence of the legend of Quetzalcoatl was short-lived. The Spaniards, settling in the palace of the emperor's father, Ashayakatl, behaved completely "not in a divine way." They eagerly hunted for gold, recruited women, played cards. The detachments sent out to swear in the provinces provoked unrest with their looting. Cortez reacted quickly, taking Montezuma hostage. And here we get the second proof of the translation inaccuracy. Spanish sources report that Marina did not translate the rudeness and threats of the captains who came to arrest the emperor. However, she somehow persuaded Montezuma to go to the Spanish.
Subsequently, the ruler of the Aztecs showed the ability to behave differently. Showed restraint and complete disregard for life. But while he was still following the lead of Cortez and the translator. His authority kept all the disaffected. The governor of Qualpopoc, who had killed the Spaniards, had enough to send the seal of the god of war Huitzilopochtli, and he himself appeared in the capital, was handed over to the conquistadors and burned. And brother Montezuma Cuitlauca and nephew Kakamu, who planned to remove the captive emperor and start a war, were betrayed by their subjects! With such humility, Cortez felt omnipotent, came to the destruction of the idols in the temples. The city was on the verge of an uprising, but the clash was again averted. The emperor snorted, and that's it!
But then Montezuma's behavior changed dramatically. And the reason was the landing on the coast of another Spanish detachment - the governor Velasquez sent an expedition of Narvaez to arrest Cortez. The Aztecs, secretly from their guests in the capital, entered into negotiations with Narvaez. From this, by the way, one more indirect, but important conclusion follows. The Aztecs have taken care to prepare their own, independent translators! As a result, Marina's whole game went down the drain - it turned out that the recognized "god" is in fact an ordinary adventurer! Moreover, he is listed as a criminal!
True, the captain-general coped with the competitors quickly. With a detachment of 150 soldiers, he set out to meet Narvaes. He rejected the charges against him - presented a protocol on "self-government" of the city of Vera Cruz founded by him. There was a skirmish, Narvaez was wounded, and his soldiers, tempted by the riches of Meschica, went over to Cortez. Back he led a detachment of 1,100 soldiers, including 80 horsemen and 80 arquebusiers. But during his and Marina's absence, the irreparable happened. The remaining commander, Alvarado, was let down by greed. The highest nobility of the Aztecs gathered at night for the sacred dance "maceualishtli" in honor of the harvest. More than a thousand people performed it completely naked and unarmed, but richly hung with jewelry. Alvarado attacked and massacred.
It was then that the Aztecs really rebelled. The Spaniards and their allies were besieged in the palace of Ashayakatl, food was running out, attempts to exit were blocked. And Montezuma, on the demand to pacify his subjects, suddenly showed the true nature of the emperor. He said that the prisoner would not be listened to, but if his brother Kuitlauk was released, he would put things in order. Cortez took a bite - and got caught. As soon as Kuitlauk was released, the electoral council immediately proclaimed him emperor, and he led the struggle. And Montezuma announced: "The fate because of him (Cortez) has led me on such a path that I do not want to live."
He was nevertheless taken to the wall to talk to the besiegers, but he was wounded by a hail of stones and arrows, and then finished off by the Spaniards in a dungeon along with his nephew Kakama and other noble captives. The conquistadors fought their way out of the encirclement for several days - they set fire to houses on the way, stormed the barricades, built a mobile bridge over the gaps in the dams. The hottest battles took place on the “night of sorrow” on June 30, 1520. In rain and fog, the Spaniards forced the dams across the lake. The Indians attacked from all sides, scurried about in boats, beat out of the water with spears, drowned intruders. The breakthrough killed 600 Spaniards and 2 thousand Tlashkalans. The shooters even threw arquebus and crossbows, almost all of the plundered gold was lost - over 8 tons.
The wagon train carried several hundred "field wives" - the daughters of friendly Caciques, donated by slaves, even the daughters of Montezuma. But they were also left to fend for themselves. The Aztecs intercepted them near the second destroyed bridge and did not spare them, they considered them already belonging to the "Teuli". Some were killed on the spot, the rest were sacrificed along with other prisoners. Only three survived: Marina, the Tlaxcalan princess dona Luisa and Maria de Estrada, the only Spanish woman (who arrived with Narvaez) who participated in the expedition. At the cost of their own lives, the Tlashkalan warriors recaptured them from the hands of their enemies.
The remnants of Cortez's detachment, 400 Spaniards and Indians, somehow broke away from the pursuit and went to Tlaxcala. But the Kulua empire was already crumbling like a house of cards. Subject cities fell away from her, taking the side of the conquistadors. And those who supported the Aztecs, Cortez ordered to brand and sell into slavery - strictly according to the law, as rebellious subjects who had previously sworn allegiance to the Spanish king. There was an epidemic of smallpox brought in by the black slave of Narvaez. She mowed people down, and the captain-general got used to playing the role of the supreme arbiter, appointing caciques to the place of the dead. Through Vera Cruz, he received reinforcements, retroactively came and the government's blessing from Madrid.
In April 1521, 800 Spaniards and 200 thousand allied Indians, having built 13 brigantines on Lake Teshcoco, laid siege to Mexico City. The city defended itself desperately, held out for 4 months, but in August it was still taken and destroyed. The following year, Cortez was appointed governor of New Spain. He honestly thanked his friends and allies. The residents of Sempoal and Tlashkalans were exempted from taxes and received a number of other benefits. Marina stayed with the governor for some time, gave birth to a son from him. Further traces of his girlfriend and translator are lost.
The Marquis del Valle de Oaxaca Hernan Cortez continued to fight, conquered Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, suppressed the revolts of former comrades-in-arms. He married a noble Spanish woman, traveled to the metropolis several times and sued ill-wishers who accused him of abuses. In 1547 he died on his own estate. The Indian woman, who secured him the main victory and glorified his name in history, was no longer with him. Either she died earlier, or she just stepped aside, living out a century on her own. If she really helped him for love, then she was probably disappointed later. And if revenge was the driving force of her actions, she achieved her goal - she destroyed the great and powerful empire with only one extraordinary female mind and the cunning of a translator.
