Chief Powhatan the father of Pocahontas and paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy led his tribes in a war against the English settlers in Jamestown Colony, Virginia. Powhatan was the name of the village where Wahunsunacock lived before he became chief. At that point he took the name Powhatan as his spoken name. Little is known about Powhatan before his encounter with Captain John Smith in 1607. Powhatan inherited the rule of four or five tribes after his father died, quickly creating the Powhatan Confederacy and forcing tribes to join together assembling rule over about 30 tribes to fight off the English. He then created his chief village with 30 tribes at Werowocomoco. In 1609, Powhatan packed up his tribe and moved them to Orapakes a swamp at the beginning of the Chickahominy River. This move was due to the fear of exposure to the English. Around 1611, Powhatan moved his tribe again to the North finally settling in King William County. Shortly after in 1618, Powhatan passed away from a disease. Powhatan's brother, Opchanacanough then became chief and continued the battle with the English killing off most of the tribe in 1644. Powhatan's appearance according to Captain John Smith, "He is of parsonage a tall well proportioned man... his head somwhat gray.... His age neare 60 of a very able and hardybody to endure any labour."
Fast Facts:
- Born in 1545
- Birth Name: Wahunsenacawh written Wahunsunacock after the 17th century
- Language: Algonquian
- Leader of the Powhatan Confederacy
- Father of Pocahontas
- Lived in the Eastern part of Virginia
- Died in 1618
- Burial mound located on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation
- His village Werowocomoco is now an archeological site for research
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