ABSTRACT
The sixteenth-century case of betrayal is complicated and fascinating. This case involves the story of the Conquest of Mexico led by Hernan Cortes in the sixteenth century. Malinali was said to have been born in Painalla in the province of Coatzacualco, on the southeastern borders of the Mexican empire. Cimatl feared that Malinali might stand in the way of her half-brother inheriting the position of chief. According to this version, she sold Malinali secretly to some traveling traders of Xicallanco. The fact is that Malinche emerges as the one who betrayed the Cholollans. The massacre at Cholollan was— as Prescott points out— to remain a "dark stain on the memory of the Conquerors" and "one of the most controversial events in Cortés' life." The Cholollan massacre, according to Hassig, is the most significant intervention by Malinche. Hassig argues that the Tlaxcaltecs and Cortes conspired together to massacre those Chololtecs who were siding with the Aztecs against the Tlaxcaltecs and Cortes.
