How did the Powhatan react to the arrival of English?
The English arrived in Virginia in 1607.The supreme chief of the Powhatan chiefdom was there at that time.The other would take over within a decade.
In the last quarter of the 16th century, the elder brother, sometimes called Powhatan, took over the control of six tribes from his mother.He used warfare or intimidation to consolidate others.He centralized his headquarters at Werowocomoco on the York River by the time the English arrived.Some of his tribes confronted the English and attacked them.The first day of their arrival, the newcomers were attacked and soon after they chose the site for their settlement and began building their fort.Powhatan told the tribal leaders to meet the English, wait and see what they planned to do, and report back to him.John Smith wrote that Powhatan acted with dignity and wisdom.
The supreme chief gave Smith one of Powhatan's nearby towns in exchange for metal tools the chief wanted the English to make for the Indians.Powhatan offered to establish the English as a new tribe under his control.He asked Smith to have some large guns and a grindstone sent to him.John Smith was the leader that Powhatan wanted to see what he could get from.He was going to send a young Indian named Namontack to live with the English in order to learn more about their culture.
Powhatan was willing to trade and negotiate with the strangers, but only if they went to him.When they forced him to accept a crown and promise that he would be subservient to their king, James I, he started having second thoughts.He retreated instead of fighting back.He moved his capital to a place called Orapaks in early 1609.The best location for a large village was far up the Pamunkey River, so he relocated to Matchcot by 1614.The town of Youghtanund was ruled by his younger brother, Opechancanough.
The English were engaged in many skirmishes with Powhatan's warriors, but he himself was inactive.He might have thought that the English would starve and leave.He chose to accommodate and then avoid the English.Opechancanough had the chance to gain power.The fighting stopped after Powhatan's daughter was captured and held for the English.When his daughter remained with the settlers, her father still showed his dignity because he didn't give in to all of the English demands.Slowly, Opechancanough gained the trust of many Powhatan warriors.
The English were encountered by Opechancanough in their first year in Virginia.He was the one who captured John Smith in December of 1607.He treated Smith as an honored guest and gave him good food.Through his priests, he was able to determine that Smith was harmless.He was determined to observe Smith.He led Smith to Werowocomoco.The younger brother was forced to accept Powhatan's more peaceful policy of "Wait and see", and he watched as Smith was released.