Powhatan the Paramount Chief

Powhatan was by far the most important Indian leader the English encountered when arriving at Jamestown.  It is difficult to overstate his influence over the tribes in the local area of the Jamestown ( see Strachey's map ) .  Even today, the name of Powhatan is assigned to literally dozens of roads and buildings throughout southern Virginia. 

It is very evident in retrospect that Powhatan was watching the English very closely while they were exploring his empire.   It must have become apparent that Smith as an important leader of the English, and though the English knew well that Powhatan was the Paramount chief of the region and had already had diplomatic visits with lesser chiefs,  Powhatan choose as his first encounter with the English to be with Smith as a captive.  Smith's first report of that first encounter is given below.   Several years later in England he modified the story to include being saved by Pocohantos.  

John Smith's first encounter with Powhatan as a captive: Arriving at Weramocomoco [? On or about 5 January 1608], their Emperour proudly lying uppon a Bedstead a foote high, upon tenne or twelves Mattes, richly hung with Manie Chaynes of great Pearles about his necke, and covered with a great Covering of Rahaughcums [raccoons ]. At heade sat a woman, at his feete another; on each side sitting uppon a Matte uppon the ground, were raunged his chiefe men on each side of the fire, tenne in a ranke, and behinde them as many young women, each a great Chaine of white Beaddes over their shoulders, their heades painted in redde: and with such a grave and Majesticall countenance, as draue me into admiration to see such state in a naked Salvage.        Hee kindly welcomed me with such good wordes, and great Platters of sundrie Victuals, assuring mee his friendship, and my libertie within foure days. Hee much delighted in Opechan Comoughs relation of what I had described to him, and oft examined me upon the same.    [ Smith  had shown to Opechancanou a compass and told him about the roundness and size of the earth. ]    Hee asked mee the cause of our comming. I tolde him being in fight with the Spaniards our enemie, beeing overpowred, neare put to retreat, and by extreame weather put to this shore: where landing at Chesipiack, the people shot us, but at Kequoughtan they kindly used us: we by signes demaunded fresh water, they described us up the River was all fresh water : at Paspahegh also they kindly used us: our Pinnasse being leake, we were inforced to stay to mend her, till Captaine Newport my father came to conduct us away. He demaunded why we went further with our Boate. I tolde him, in that I would have occasion to talke of the backe Sea, that on the other side the maine, where was salt water. My father had a childe slaine, whiche wee supposed Monocaii his enemie: whose death we intended to revenge. After good deliberation, hee began to describe mee the Countreys beyonde the Falles, with many of the rest; confirming what not onely Opechancanoyes, and an Indian which had beene prisoner to Pewhatan had before tolde mee: but some called it five dayes, some sixe, some eight, where the sajde water dashed amongest many stones and rockes, each storm ; which caused oft tymes the heade of the River to bee brackish: Anchanachuck he described to bee the people that had slaine my brother : whose death hee would revenge. Hee described also upon the same Sea, a mighty Nation called Pocoughtronack, a fierce Nation that did eate men, and warred with the people of Moyaoncer and Pataromerke, Nations upon the toppe of the heade of the Bay, under his territories : where the yeare before they had slain an hundred. He signified their crownes were shaven, long haire in the necke, tied on a knot, Swords hke Pollaxes. Beyond them, he described people with short Coates, and Sleeves to the Elbowes, that passed that way in Shippes Hke ours. Many Kingdomes hee described mee, to the heade of the Bay, which seemed to bee a mightie River issuing from mightie Mountaines betwixt the two Seas : The people cloathed at Ocamahowan, he also confirmed ; and the Southerly Countries also, as the rest that reported us to be within a day and a halfe of Mangoge, two dayes of Chawwonock, 6. from Roonock, to the south part of the backe sea : He described a countrie called Anone, where they have abundance of Brasse, and houses walled as ours. 1 requited his discourse (seeing what pride hee had in his great and spacious Dominions, seeing that all hee knewe were under his Territories) in describing to him the territories of Europe, which was subject to our great King whose subject I was, the innumerable multitude of his ships, I gave him to understand the noyse of Trumpets, and terrible manner of fighting were under captain Newport my father: whom I intituled the Meworames, which they call the King of all the waters. At his greatnesse, he admired: and not a little feared. He desired mee to forsake Paspahegh, and to live with him upon his River, a Countrie called Capa Howasicke. Hee promised to give me Corne, Venison, or what I wanted to feede us: Hatchets and Copper wee should make him, and none should disturbe us. This request I promised to performe : and thus, having with all the kindnes hee could devise, sought to content me, hee sent me home, with 4. men: one that usually carried my Gowne and Knapsacke after me, two other loded with bread, and one to accompanie me.