---
title: Doña Marina, La Malinche
author: Kate Stephens
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21074/dona-marina-la-malinche/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2025-09-23
---
# Doña Marina, La Malinche
_Authored by Kate Stephens_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21074.jpg)
## Image Caption
Doña Marina ([La Malinche](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2796/la-malinche/)), book illustration included in *The Mastering of Mexico* by Kate Stephens, p. 65, 1916.
La Malinche, Malintzin, or Doña Marina, was a key figure in the fall of the [Aztec Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) and the absorption of Mexico into New Spain. Although commonly seen as a clash of civilizations between the Aztecs and the Spanish, the driving force for the wars against the Aztecs was the various Mexica peoples who sought to break free from [Aztec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) hegemony. La Malinche is often portrayed as a great betrayer of the Aztecs, which ignores the fact that she was not Aztec, nor were her sentiments towards them unique amongst people in the region. More recent scholarship on her has sought to provide a more complex view of the Spanish [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) and shine a light on the key role non-Aztec people played in that dramatic [saga](https://www.worldhistory.org/Saga/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Stephens, K. (2025, September 23). Doña Marina, La Malinche. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Stephens, Kate. "Doña Marina, La Malinche." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 23, 2025. .
### MLA
Stephens, Kate. "Doña Marina, La Malinche." *World History Encyclopedia*, 23 Sep 2025, .
## License & Copyright
This content comes from a public domain book whose copyright has expired. [Original image](https://archive.org/details/masteringofmexic00da/page/n90/mode/1up) by [**Kate Stephens**](https://archive.org/details/masteringofmexic00da/page/n90/mode/1up). Submitted by [Franco R. Batista Garcia](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/francobatista022/ "User Page: Franco R. Batista Garcia"), published on 23 September 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.