... Dona Marina. Marina was able to speak both Nahuatl and Maya, the former the language of the majority of Aztecs, and the latter being the language of a coastal Chief. Dona was able then to speak to a fellow ship member of the Spaniards that spoke Maya. This advantage allowed Hernan Cortes, the leader of the Spaniards to collect intelligence of the land, but also diplomatic ties that would enable them to co-exist (at least in the beginning) in a peace.3 Throughout Hernan Cortes' conquest this dialogue also alerted Cortes of Aztec plans to foil the conquest, helped in alliance creating, negotiating and even more importantly in the success of the Spaniards mission Dona Marina helped in the creation of the New Mexico. The Spaniards might have avoided almost certain death with Marina at their sides.4 However this was not the only reason for such a passive embrace of the ...

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