Powhatan Chiefdom

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Powhatan Chiefdom was a powerful alliance of Algonquian-speaking Native American tribes in 17th-century coastal Virginia, led by the paramount chief Powhatan and known for its early encounters with English colonists at Jamestown.

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Statements (54)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Algonquian-speaking polity
Native American chiefdom
tribal confederacy
alsoKnownAs Powhatan Confederacy
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom

Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
capital Werowocomoco
conflictWith Colony of Virginia
continent North America
country present-day United States
culturalPractice longhouse-style dwellings
use of wampum and shell beads as tribute
culturalRegion Southern Algonquian area
linked to: Eastern Woodlands
dissolved mid-17th century
economy hunting and fishing
maize agriculture
tribute collection
ethnicGroup Algonquian-speaking peoples
governmentType hereditary chiefdom
tributary alliance
hasPart Appomattox tribe
Arrohateck tribe
Chickahominy tribe
Kecoughtan tribe
Mattaponi tribe
Nansemond tribe
Pamunkey tribe
Piankatank tribe
Powhatan tribe
linked to: Powhatan peoples

Quiyoughcohannock tribe
linked to: Susquehannock

Rappahannock tribe
Tappahannock-related groups
Weyanock tribe
inception late 16th century
language Virginia Algonquian
linked to: Chesapeake tribe
leaderTitle paramount chief
locatedIn Chesapeake Bay region
Coastal Virginia
Tidewater Virginia
namedAfter Wahunsenacawh (Powhatan)
linked to: Wahunsenacawh
notableLeader Opechancanough
Pocahontas (as a diplomatic figure)
Wahunsenacawh (Powhatan)
linked to: Wahunsenacawh
numberOfSubgroups about 30 tribes
partOf Eastern Woodlands cultural area
linked to: Eastern Woodlands
population approximately 14,000–25,000 at contact
religion Traditional Algonquian religion
significantEvent 1607 contact with English at Jamestown
First Anglo-Powhatan War
Second Anglo-Powhatan War
Third Anglo-Powhatan War
encounters with Jamestown colonists
marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe
territory along the Rappahannock River and Potomac River
between the James River and York River

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Referenced by (18)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Powhatan alsoKnownAs Powhatan Chiefdom
Tsenacommacah partOf Powhatan paramount chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
A Map of Virginia depicts Powhatan territory
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
A Map of Virginia associatedWith Powhatan Confederacy
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Arrohateck partOf Powhatan paramount chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Henricus Historical Park theme Powhatan chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Rappahannock tribe partOf Powhatan paramount chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Nansemond Indian Nation partOf Powhatan chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Werowocomoco wasCapitalOf Powhatan chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Werowocomoco wasPoliticalCenterOf Powhatan chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Werowocomoco wasCeremonialCenterOf Powhatan chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Mamanatowick politicalAuthorityOver Powhatan Confederacy
subject linked to: mamanatowick
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Parahunt partOf Powhatan leadership network
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Mamanatowick governs Powhatan Confederacy
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Matachanna royalHouse Powhatan dynasty
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Pamunkey partOf Powhatan Confederacy
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Powhatan Chiefdom alsoKnownAs Powhatan Confederacy
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom
Powhatan Chiefdom alsoKnownAs Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom
linked to: Powhatan Chiefdom