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'''Mata Hari''', byname of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876-1917), exotic dancer and mistress, notorious for the accusations against her for espionage during [[World War I]] in Europe.

'''Mata Hari''', byname of '''Margaretha Geertruida Zelle''' (1876-1917), exotic dancer and mistress, notorious for the accusations against her for espionage during [[World War I]] in [[Europe]].

==Early life==

==Early life==

Margaretha Zelle was born on August 7, 1876 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, the only daughter of four children born to hat merchant Adam Zelle and wife Antje. When Margaretha was 15 her mother died after a brief illness; that event, coupled with a history of bad investments and a bankruptcy, caused the siblings to be split up to live with relatives.

Margaretha Zelle was born on August 7, 1876 in [[Leeuwarden]], [[Netherlands]], the only daughter of four children born to hat merchant Adam Zelle and wife Antje. When Margaretha was 15 her mother died after a brief illness; that event, coupled with a history of bad investments and a bankruptcy, caused the siblings to be split up to live with relatives.

Margaretha also had a growing interest in her own sexuality, realizing fairly-early that it could be a ticket to marriage with men who had influence, money, and/or power. In 1895 she wed Captain Campbell McLeod after answering a personals ad in a newspaper; he was 40 years old at the time, while she was a month shy of 19. They were married for nine years, five of which were at his duty station in the Dutch East Indies (1897-1902) on the islands of Java and Sumatra; she would give birth to two children during that period. But the marriage was strained, in part due to Campbell's alcoholism and frequent rages over his jealousy of other officers gaining her attention, and she returning it.

Margaretha also had a growing interest in her own sexuality, realizing fairly-early that it could be a ticket to marriage with men who had influence, money, and/or power. In 1895 she wed Captain Campbell McLeod after answering a personals ad in a newspaper; he was 40 years old at the time, while she was a month shy of 19. They were married for nine years, five of which were at his duty station in the [[Dutch East Indies]] (1897-1902) on the islands of Java and Sumatra; she would give birth to two children during that period. But the marriage was strained, in part due to Campbell's alcoholism and frequent rages over his jealousy of other officers gaining her attention, and she returning it.

By 1905 the marriage was over.  Both had returned to Europe, with Campbell in the Netherlands with their daughter (their son died mysteriously on Java in 1899), while Margaretha had moved to Paris.  It was there that she became a French diplomat's mistress who encouraged her to be an exotic dancer.

By 1905 the marriage was over.  Both had returned to Europe, with Campbell in the Netherlands with their daughter (their son died mysteriously on Java in 1899), while Margaretha had moved to Paris.  It was there that she became a French diplomat's mistress who encouraged her to be an exotic dancer.