Weroance facts for kids
A Weroance was a special leader or commander among the Powhatan people. These Native American groups lived along the coast of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay area. The word "Weroance" comes from the Algonquian language, which the Powhatan people spoke.
Think of a Weroance as a chief or a powerful leader of a tribe. All the Weroances were part of a larger group called the Powhatan Confederacy. This big group was led by one main chief, who was called Powhatan.
When English settlers arrived in Jamestown in 1607, they met these Powhatan people. Each tribe within the Confederacy had its own Weroance. It was rare for outsiders to meet a Weroance, as their presence was a special event. An early English explorer, John Smith, wrote that Weroances and their people lived quite similarly.
The way "Weroance" was spelled changed a lot in old writings. This was because spelling rules were not set in stone back then. You might see it written as:
- weeroance
- werowance
- werowans
- wyroance
- wyrounce
- wyrounnces
A weroansqua was a female ruler. Just like "Weroance," the spelling of this word also changed over time.
What Powers Did a Weroance Have?
Weroances had important roles in their communities. They helped make big decisions, especially when there was trouble with outsiders. For example, in 1607, when the English settlers arrived, the main chief, Powhatan, let his Weroances decide how to deal with the newcomers.
Weroances and priests were the only people allowed inside religious temples. This shows how important they were in both government and spiritual life. When visitors came, they did not go to meet the Weroance directly. Instead, visitors were guided to the Weroance.
Weroances, their wives, and their advisors often wore special clothes. They dressed in fine jewels and soft, tanned deer skin. This showed their high status in the community.
Important Weroances You Should Know About
Many Weroances had their own names, and some were written down by people like William Strachey. Often, the name of their tribe or area was also used as their title. It was a bit like how European nobles might be called "the Earl of Essex" instead of their personal name.
When the English first came to Virginia, some of the Weroances were close family members of the main chief, Wahunsenacawh (also known as Powhatan). Here are a few:
- Parahunt: He was the Weroance of the Powhatan tribe itself. He was also called Tanx Powhatan, which meant "little" Powhatan. Some people thought he was the main chief, but he was actually his son.
- Pochins: He was the Weroance of the Kecoughtan tribe. He was also a son of the main chief. His father had made him leader there around 1598 after a conflict.
- Opechancanough: He was the younger brother of Chief Powhatan. Opechancanough was the Weroance of the Pamunkey tribe. After his brother Wahunsenacawh died in 1618, Opechancanough became the most powerful leader of the entire Powhatan Confederacy.
How Power Was Passed Down
In Powhatan society, power was passed down through the mother's side of the family. This is called matrilineal inheritance. This meant that women could inherit leadership roles.
John Smith, who was one of the Jamestown settlers, explained how this worked for Chief Powhatan's kingdom. He wrote that the kingdom did not go to Powhatan's sons or children. Instead, it first went to his brothers. After his brothers, it would go to his sisters, starting with the oldest. Only after all the sisters had passed away would it go to the children of the oldest sister, both male and female. It would never go to the children of the male relatives. This system made sure that power stayed within the family line through the women.
