Massasoit (l. c. 1581-1661) was the sachem (chief) of the Wampanoag Confederacy of modern-day New England, USA. Massasoit (also given as Massasoyt) is a title meaning Great Sachem; his given name was Ousamequin of the Pokanoket tribe of modern-day Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 1581 - 1661Life of Massasoit, Chief of the Wampanoag Confederacy, whose efforts saved the Plymouth Colony.
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22 Mar 1621Massasoit and governor John Carver sign the peace treaty which will bind Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag Confederacy together until after Massasoit's death.
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22 Mar 1621The Pilgrim-Wampanoag Peace Treaty is signed between Governor John Carver of the Plymouth Colony and Chief Ousamequin (better known as Massasoit) of the Wampanoag Confederacy pledging mutual support and protection. This treaty would be honored as long as the people of that generation were in control of their respective peoples.
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1623Edward Winslow saves Massasoit's life when the chief falls ill, further bonding colonists and Native Americans together.
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1661Massasoit dies and is succeeded by his eldest son, Wamsutta.
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1662Wamsutta dies under suspicious circumstances; his brother, Metacom becomes chief and claims he was poisoned by colonists.
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1675 - 1678King Philip's War in which thousands are killed as the Native Americans try to defend their land and way of life from increasing European colonization of the Americas.
