Why did Dona Maria assist Hornendo Cortez?
Marina was born a lady but her mother sold her into slavery so
that the son would inherit everything. She had a gift for languages
after living with the indios she had been sold to as well as the
Aztec Nuhuatl. Cortez needed an interpreter and there she was! His
real wife remained in Spain and he took her as his mistress and she
became called Dona Marina and bore him one son, Don Martin. After
being sold into slavery, what a perfect revenge. But, as things go,
Cortez eventually didn't need her any more and abandoned her. As
for his son, mixed blooded children were treated worse than either
pure Spanish or pure indio.