Saturiwa (chief) facts for kids
Saturiwa was a powerful Native American chief in Florida during the 1500s. He led the Saturiwa tribe, part of the larger Timucua people. His main village was located near the mouth of the St. Johns River in what is now Florida. Saturiwa was in charge of about thirty other villages and their chiefs. He became an important figure when Europeans started settling in Florida. Chief Saturiwa made friends with the French settlers, known as Huguenots, who built Fort Caroline in his land.
Chief Saturiwa's Story
Chief Saturiwa led his people, the Saturiwa chiefdom, in the area we now call Jacksonville, Florida. This was around 1562 when French explorers, led by Jean Ribault, first arrived. His people met the French directly when René Goulaine de Laudonnière built Fort Caroline two years later.
The Saturiwa were a large group within the Mocama Timucua. They lived from the mouth of the St. Johns River towards modern-day downtown Jacksonville. Their territory also stretched along the Atlantic coast. This area went from St. Augustine north to the St. Marys River.
His Family and Power
French records say that Saturiwa was the leader of thirty other villages. Ten of these village chiefs were even said to be his 'brothers'. This shows how much power and influence he had.
Saturiwa also had a son named Athore. Athore was also a chief of a village under his father. The French described Athore as handsome, smart, and honorable. Saturiwa arranged marriages within his family to keep power strong.
Alliances and Conflicts
Chief Saturiwa quickly formed an alliance with the French. He hoped they would help him fight his enemies, the Utina tribe, who lived further up the river. However, Laudonnière, the French leader, did not keep his promise to help Saturiwa. He also wanted to make friends with the Utina. Because of this, relations between Saturiwa and the French became difficult for a while. But soon, they became friendly again.
When the Spanish took over Fort Caroline from the French in 1565, Saturiwa and his people did not like the Spanish. The Spanish had become allies with the Utina, Saturiwa's enemies. In 1567, Saturiwa joined forces with two other tribes, the Potano and the Mayaca. They fought against the Utina and their Spanish allies.
The next year, Saturiwa and his ally, Chief Tacatacuru, joined a French soldier named Dominique de Gourgue. They attacked Fort Caroline together. We do not know when Chief Saturiwa died. However, his people continued to be hostile towards the Spanish until the 1570s.
Saturiwa and his family appear in several pictures made by Theodor de Bry. These pictures are believed to be based on original drawings by Jacques le Moyne.
