Biography of chief powhatan

(-1618)

Who Was Powhatan?

Born sometime in the 1540s or 1550s, Chief Powhatan became the leader of more than 30 tribes and controlled the area where English colonists formed the Jamestown settlement in 1607.

He initially traded with the colonists before clashing with them. The marriage of his daughter, Pocahontas, to a colonist led to another period of peace that was still in effect when Powhatan died in Virginia in April 1618.

Leader of the Powhatan

The future Chief Powhatan was born Wahunsenacawh (sometimes written as Wahunsunacock) sometime in the 1540s or 1550s.

Very little is known of his early life growing up in a Powhatan settlement.

Biography of chief powhatan general

The Powhatan were a matrilineal society, so his right to be chief was inherited from his mother.

When he first became chief, Powhatan ruled about six tribes. In addition to the Powhatan, these were the Pamunkey, the Arrohateck, the Appamattuck, the Youghtanund and the Mattaponi.

Using both alliances and war, Powhatan would expa