# Mata Hari

> Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan and spy (1876-1917)

**Wikidata**: [Q82180](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82180)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Hari)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mata-hari

## Summary
Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and spy (1876–1917). She gained fame as a performer in Paris and later worked as a spy for the French military intelligence agency Deuxième Bureau during World War I, where she was executed for espionage.

## Biography
- Born: 1876 (exact date unknown)
- Nationality: Dutch (Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Education: Unknown
- Known for: Spying for France during World War I
- Employer(s): Deuxième Bureau (French intelligence agency)
- Field(s): Espionage, entertainment

## Contributions
- Spied for the French Deuxième Bureau during World War I, providing military intelligence to the Allies.
- Executed by firing squad in 1917 for espionage against Germany.

## FAQs
**What was Mata Hari's profession?**
Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who later became a spy for the French Deuxième Bureau.

**Where did Mata Hari work?**
She performed in Paris as a dancer and later worked as a spy for the French military intelligence agency.

**What happened to Mata Hari?**
She was executed by firing squad in 1917 for espionage against Germany.

## Why They Matter
Mata Hari's life and death became legendary, shaping perceptions of espionage and exoticism. Her story influenced popular culture, including films and literature, and remains a symbol of intrigue. Her execution highlighted the harsh realities of wartime espionage, making her a cautionary figure in intelligence history.

## Notable For
- Being a spy for the French Deuxième Bureau during World War I.
- Her execution in 1917 for espionage.
- Inspiring numerous films and cultural depictions.

## Body

### Early Life
Mata Hari was born in 1876 in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, though her exact birthplace is unknown. She adopted the stage name "Mata Hari" (Indonesian for "eye of the day") during her career as an exotic dancer in Paris.

### Career
Mata Hari began her career as a dancer in Paris, performing in high-society venues. Her exotic appearance and performances made her famous, but she later transitioned into espionage.

### Espionage
In 1917, Mata Hari was recruited by the French Deuxième Bureau, an intelligence agency. She provided military intelligence to the Allies during World War I, though her methods and extent of her work remain debated.

### Execution
Mata Hari was arrested and executed by firing squad in 1917 for espionage against Germany. Her death became a sensationalized event, fueling myths and misconceptions about her role in intelligence.

### Legacy
Mata Hari's life and death have been the subject of numerous films, including *Mata Hari* (1931) and *Mata Hari, agent H 21* (1964). Her story continues to be a source of fascination in popular culture and historical accounts of espionage.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Archivio Storico Ricordi
3. The Peerage
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. BnF authorities
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. CiNii Research
8. MusicBrainz
9. SNAC
10. Find a Grave
11. FemBio database
12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
13. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
14. GeneaStar
15. Source
16. Margaretha Geertruida Zelle. Biografisch Portaal
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Biografisch Portaal
19. Digital Library for Dutch Literature
20. datos.bne.es
21. [Source](https://hedendaagsesieraden.nl/2024/11/17/mata-hari/)
22. Online Dictionary of Dutch Women
23. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
24. BBC Things
25. Nationalencyklopedin
26. National Library of Greece
27. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
28. Quora
29. [Cultureel Woordenboek](https://www.cultureelwoordenboek.nl/nederland-1900-1945/mata-hari)
30. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
31. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
32. LIBRIS. 2018
33. Dizionario di Storia
34. V&A Archive of Art & Design
35. Deutsche Biographie
36. Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland 1880-2000
37. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
38. Catalogo of the National Library of India