Francisco de Chicora facts for kids

Francisco de Chicora was a Native American young man. He was kidnapped in 1521 by Spanish explorers. This happened near the Pee Dee River in what is now South Carolina. About 70 other people were taken with him. The Spanish explorers, Francisco Gordillo and Pedro de Quexos, were the first Europeans to reach this area. They were based in Santo Domingo.

Chicora was taken to Hispaniola. There, he learned Spanish and became a Catholic. He worked for Lucas Vasquez de Ayllón, a Spanish official. Sadly, most of the kidnapped natives died within two years. Chicora was one of the few who survived.

He traveled with Ayllón to Spain. There, he met Peter Martyr, a court historian. Chicora told Martyr many stories about his people and their land. Martyr wrote down this information. It was published in 1525 as the "Testimony of Francisco de Chicora."

In 1526, Chicora returned to North America with Ayllón. They were part of a large expedition with 600 colonists. When they landed near the Santee River, Chicora escaped. He went back to his own people and was never seen by the Spanish again.

Spanish Explorers Meet Native People

Spanish explorers made many trips to the southeastern part of what is now the United States. They explored areas around the Santee River and Winyah Bay. In 1520, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, a judge in Santo Domingo, sent Francisco Gordillo on an expedition.

Gordillo sailed north from Hispaniola through The Bahamas. Near an island, he met Pedro de Quexos. Quexos was a slave trader trying to capture Arawak people. Quexos decided to join Gordillo's trip.

In June 1521, they landed at a river they called "San Juan Bautista." This was probably the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. Many curious native people gathered on the shore. They ran away when the Spanish came closer in small boats. But two natives were caught. The Spanish gave them clothes and sent them back to shore.

The native people were amazed to see their friends return in new clothes. Before, they had only worn buckskins. Their chief ordered 50 of his people to bring food for the Spanish. The Spanish were given gifts and a tour for several days. They claimed the land for their king. They also invited the natives to see their ships.

Gordillo was told by Ayllón to be friendly with the native people. This was to prepare for future colonization. But Quexos wanted slaves. He convinced Gordillo to trick the natives. The Spanish suddenly sailed away with 70 natives still on board. One of them was the young man who would be named Francisco.

When they arrived in Santo Domingo, Ayllón was angry about the trick. He brought the matter to a special group. This group said the captured natives should be freed. They ordered them to be returned to the mainland. But this trip never happened because it was too expensive.

According to Peter Martyr, most of the natives died within two years. Many wandered the streets of Santo Domingo. Only a few survived. Francisco was one of them. He was baptized and learned Spanish. He then worked for Ayllón.

Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón took Francisco to Spain. He presented him to the Royal court. There, Francisco told amazing stories about his homeland, which the Spanish called "Chicora." He also spoke about nearby lands in what is now the Carolinas.

"Chicora" was likely one of several areas where Siouan-speaking people lived. These areas were ruled by a chief named Datha of Duahe. Francisco de Chicora described the people of Duhare as "white" with "blond hair to the heels." He also spoke of a giant king named Datha. He even told tales of another group of people who had long tails.

Francisco met the historian Peter Martyr. He shared many details about his people's customs in Chicora. He also described the neighboring areas.

After returning to the Caribbean, Ayllón led a large expedition in 1526. He brought three ships and 600 colonists to North America. Francisco de Chicora came with them. They landed at what Ayllón called the Jordan River, now the Santee River in South Carolina. One of their ships got stuck. When the group went ashore, Francisco de Chicora quickly left the Spanish. He ran away to rejoin his own people. After that, he was not mentioned in historical records again.

Learning About Ancient Tribes

Researchers today study the stories Francisco de Chicora told. They want to identify the different areas and tribes he described. They look at how 16th-century Spanish words sounded. They also study the many languages of the Native American tribes in the area.

• Francisco's home area was called Chicora. Researchers believe it was on the lower Pee Dee River. Most scholars think these people were a Catawban group.
• Duahre (or Duhare) was a nearby area. Francisco said it was home to Datha, a main tribal chief. Ayllón is believed to have traveled through this area in 1526. He was on his way to Guadalupe. There, he built a short-lived colony called San Miguel de Gualdape.

The exact location and people of Duhare have been discussed by experts. Some think they were Catawban, Guale, or Cusabo. In 2004, Blair Rudes suggested that other clues in Peter Martyr's account point to the Iroquoian Tuscarora people tribe. He noted similarities between a religious ceremony Francisco described and one among the Tuscarora.

Other areas mentioned by Francisco de Chicora and identified by researchers include:

• Xapita: An area near Duahre where pearls were found. It is linked to the Sampit River.
• Hitha (Yta): An area ruled by Datha, possibly the Etiwaw (Eutaw) people.
• Xamunambe: Another area ruled by Datha.
• Arambe, Guacaya, Quohathe, Tanzaca (Tanaca), Pahoc: Other regions the Spanish visited. The native people there had dark brown skin. Guacaya might be the Waccamaw tribe. Quohathe could be the Coweta (a Muscogee (Creek) group).

Other historical documents list more areas from Francisco de Chicora's stories. Some of these have been identified:

• Yamiscaron: Possibly the Yamacraw or Yamasee tribe.
• Orixa: A Cusabo group on the Edisto River.
• Coçayo: The "Coosa" group of the Cusabo. They lived on the upper South Carolina rivers.
• Pasqui: Lived inland near the Siouan Waxhaw people tribe.
• Aymi: Possibly the Hymahi people, located near the Congaree River.
• Sona: Possibly a Cusabo group on the Stono River.
• Yenyohol: The Winyaw people of Winyah Bay.