During World War I she was a spy who worked for both the French and the Germans. In 1917 she was executed by the French. Today her name refers to a seductive double-dealing woman. Who is she?

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, better known by her stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan whose intriguing life and dramatic death during World War I cemented her place in history as the quintessential seductive spy. Born in the Netherlands in 1876, she reinvented herself in Paris in the early 1900s, adopting the name Mata Hari, which means "eye of the day" or "sun" in Malay. Her captivating performances, often involving erotic dances, made her a sensation across Europe, and she cultivated relationships with many influential men, including high-ranking military officers and politicians.

As World War I escalated, Mata Hari's neutral Dutch nationality allowed her to travel relatively freely across borders, a privilege that drew the attention of intelligence agencies. She became suspected of working as a spy for both the French and the Germans, allegedly passing information gleaned from her numerous liaisons. French authorities grew increasingly suspicious of her activities, believing she was a double agent.

In February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in Paris on charges of espionage. She was accused of selling Allied military secrets to Germany, with some allegations claiming her actions led to the deaths of thousands of French soldiers, though definitive evidence was lacking and her guilt remains widely contested by historians. After a controversial trial by a military court, she was convicted and subsequently executed by a French firing squad on October 15, 1917, at the age of 41. Her dramatic story, marked by glamour, espionage, and tragedy, has since made her name synonymous with the "femme fatale," a dangerous and seductive woman who uses her charms for treacherous purposes.