Saturiwa facts for kids
 An old drawing showing Chief Saturiwa getting his men ready for a fight.
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Extinct as tribe | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| North Florida near the St. Johns River (where Jacksonville is today) | |
| Languages | |
| Timucuan language, Mocama dialect | |
| Religion | |
| Native | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Timucua |
The Saturiwa were an important group of Native Americans who lived in what is now Jacksonville, Florida. They were a chiefdom, which means they were led by a powerful chief. Their main village was located near the mouth of the St. Johns River.
The Saturiwa were part of a larger group called the Timucua. Specifically, they belonged to the Mocama subgroup. The Mocama people spoke a special language called the Mocama dialect of Timucuan. They lived along the coasts of northern Florida and southeastern Georgia.
The Saturiwa played a big role when Europeans first started settling in Florida. They became friends with the French settlers who built Fort Caroline in 1564. Later, they also became involved with the Spanish mission system.
The Saturiwa people are named after their chief, Saturiwa. He was the chief when Europeans first arrived. His main village was on the south side of the St. Johns River. Chief Saturiwa ruled over thirty other chiefs and their villages.
Chief Saturiwa teamed up with the French, who built Fort Caroline in his land. He even helped them fight against the Spanish from St. Augustine. After the French left Florida, the Saturiwa made peace with the Spanish. The Spanish then built a mission called San Juan del Puerto near their main village.
Like many other native groups in Florida, the Saturiwa suffered greatly. They were hit hard by new diseases and wars during the 1600s. By the early 1700s, they were no longer mentioned in historical records. It is believed that the remaining Saturiwa people joined other Timucua groups and lost their unique identity.
Where the Saturiwa Lived
The main village of the Saturiwa was in today's Jacksonville, Florida. It was on the south bank of the St. Johns River, close to where the river meets the ocean. French records show that Chief Saturiwa was the leader of thirty other village chiefs. Ten of these chiefs were his "brothers."
The villages that were part of Saturiwa's alliance were mostly around the mouth of the St. Johns River. They also spread up the river and along the nearby Atlantic coast. This area stretched from St. Augustine in the south up to the St. Marys River, which is now on the border of Florida and Georgia.
Some villages up the St. Johns River to the west included Omoloa, Casti, and Malica. These were near what is now downtown Jacksonville. To the north, the village of Caravay (or Sarabay) was likely on Little Talbot Island. Another village, Alimacani, was on Fort George Island. This island was across the river from the main Saturiwa village. There were also villages along the coast to the south. One of these was Seloy, which later became the site of the Spanish city of St. Augustine.
To the north of the Saturiwa lived other Mocama-speaking people. These included the Tacatacuru. Their main village was on Cumberland Island in Georgia. They also controlled other villages along the coast.
Further up the St. Johns River to the southwest lived the Utina. They were another Timucua group. The Utina and Saturiwa were often at war with each other. The area between Jacksonville and Palatka was not very populated. This empty space might have acted as a buffer zone between the Saturiwa and the Utina.
Saturiwa History
We don't know much about the Saturiwa before Europeans arrived. People have lived in this area for thousands of years. There is evidence of pottery from as far back as 2500 BC. Like other Mocama groups, the Saturiwa were part of the Savannah archaeological culture. They also belonged to the St. Johns culture.
The Saturiwa first met the French expedition led by Jean Ribault in 1562. The French were exploring the area, but they did not write down the name of the Saturiwa at that time. Two years later, the Saturiwa met the French again. This time, the French came to build Fort Caroline.
Chief Saturiwa became friends with the French settlers. They traded goods and exchanged gifts. He allowed them to build Fort Caroline in his territory. He even offered to help build the fort. The colony's governor, René Goulaine de Laudonnière, accepted the help. The Saturiwa provided a palm-thatched roof for the barn.
Chief Saturiwa hoped this friendship would make Laudonnière help him fight his enemies, the Utina. The Utina lived upriver to the southwest. However, Laudonnière refused to join an attack against the strong Utina. This made the relationship between the Saturiwa and the French less friendly.
The French eventually fixed their relationship with the Saturiwa. But in 1565, Spanish forces attacked Fort Caroline. The Spanish were led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who had recently founded St. Augustine.
The Saturiwa first fought against the Spanish. In 1566, they joined the Potano and Mayaca groups. They fought against the Agua Dulce and their Spanish allies. In 1567, the Saturiwa, along with the Tacatacuru and others, helped Dominique de Gourgue. They attacked the Spanish-held Fort Caroline.
Eventually, the Saturiwa submitted to the Spanish. The Spanish then built some of their first missions in Florida in Saturiwa territory. The main mission for the Saturiwa was San Juan del Puerto. It was located near Alicamani on Fort George Island. Here, Francisco Pareja worked on translating and writing about the Timucua language.
The Saturiwa became a key group in the Spanish mission system. However, their numbers dropped sharply throughout the 1600s. By 1601, Spanish records show they were under the main chief of "San Pedro" (Tacatacuru). They were badly affected by outbreaks of disease in 1617 and again in 1672. Their missions are mentioned in lists from 1675 and 1680. These lists show their population was getting smaller and smaller. After this, they disappear from historical records. It is likely that any surviving Saturiwa joined other Timucua groups. They then lost their separate identity.
