Mata Hari: Celebrated dancer turns WWI spy

Mata Hari, once a celebrated dancer in her time, became infamous as a World War I spy. Born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle in 1876, she was the daughter of a Dutch hatmaker who became wealthy through stock market speculation. At 13, her father's bankruptcy forced her to leave her privileged life. She then met John Rudolf MacLeod, a Dutch nobleman 20 years her senior, and they moved to the Dutch East Indies in 1897.

However, their life together was fraught with arguments, culminating in the death of their son and MacLeod's refusal to pay alimony, leaving Mata Hari destitute. She returned to Paris and adopted the stage name Mata Hari, creating a persona as an exotic temple dancer. Her performances in Europe made her a sensation, and she rapidly climbed the social ladder, entertaining dignitaries and gaining the attention of military officers.

Financially desperate, she turned to espionage, becoming Agent H 21 for the Germans. However, she was later recruited by the French intelligence service and became a double agent. Arrested in February 1917, she was executed on October 15, 1917, for high treason in the Château de Vincennes. Despite her dubious status as a master spy, Mata Hari was a master of self-promotion, continuing until her last moments.