Annawan (Wampanoag war chief)
Annawan was a notable Wampanoag war chief who played a significant role during King Philip's War, which occurred between 1675 and 1676 in the New England colonies. Serving as a trusted adviser and strategist under King Philip, also known as Metacomet, Annawan was recognized for his bravery and leadership in a pivotal conflict that shaped Indigenous-White relations in the region. Following Metacomet's death in August 1676, Annawan took command of the remaining Indigenous resistance, orchestrating guerrilla-style attacks against colonial towns such as Swansea and Plymouth. His ability to evade capture for two weeks showcased his tactical skills, but ultimately, he was betrayed by a captive who revealed his location. On August 26, 1676, Annawan surrendered, relinquishing a significant medicine bundle that held cultural and historical importance for the Wampanoag people. Despite the respect shown by Captain Benjamin Church, who sought mercy for Annawan, he was ultimately executed by Plymouth residents, marking the end of organized resistance from the Wampanoag tribe. Annawan's legacy reflects the enduring struggle and resilience of Indigenous peoples amid colonial expansion.
Annawan (Wampanoag war chief)
- CATEGORY: War chief
- TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Wampanoag
- SIGNIFICANCE: Annawan led the Wampanoag during King Philip’s War
A prominent Wampanoag war chief under King Philip (Metacomet) during King Philip’s War (1675-1676) in the New England colonies, Annawan was a trusted adviser and strategist. He was acknowledged as a brave soldier in this decisive war for the future of Indigenous-White relations in the Northeast.
After the death of Metacomet in August 1676, Annawan became the leader of a short-lived continued Indigenous American resistance, leading attacks on the towns of Swansea and Plymouth. Conducting guerrilla-style warfare and shifting campsites nightly, Annawan was able to evade colonial forces under Captain Benjamin Church for two weeks. Then, a captive Indigenous American led Church and a small party of soldiers to Annawan’s camp, now known as Annawan’s Rock. Church misled the Indigenous Americans into believing that they were outnumbered, and on August 26, 1676, Annawan surrendered the tribe’s medicine bundle, which included wampum belts telling the history of the tribe and of the Wampanoag Confederacy.
Church respected his defeated adversary so much that he asked for clemency for Annawan. During Church’s absence, however, Plymouth residents seized Annawan and beheaded him, ending the last vestige of resistance by the Wampanoag tribe. The legacy of Annawan displays the powerful resistance many Indigenous Americans presented in the face of conflict with colonial forces.
Bibliography
"Boys' Book of Frontier Fighters by Edwin Sabin." Heritage History, www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=sabin&book=frontier&story=annawan. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.
Lepore, Jill. The Name of War: King Philip's War and the Origins of American Identity. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.
Philbrick, Nathaniel. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. New York: Viking, 2006.