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.
More about: MassasoitDefinition
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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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.
