A 1616 engraving of Pocahontas by Simon van de Passe, the only portrait of Pocahontas made within her lifetime.

Pocahontas (c.1595-1617) was an Algonquian Indian whose life has formed the basis of highly romanticized legends. Her real name was Matoaka: 'Pocahontas' was actually a childhood nickname referring to her frolicsome nature (her name means "little wanton" or "playful frolicsome girl" in Powhatan). She was the daughter of Powhatan, a Native American chief who controlled almost all of tidewater Virginia, at the time Tenakomakah. Because Pocahontas never learned to write (which means that everything known about her was transmitted to later generations by others), the thoughts, feelings, and motives of the historical Pocahontas remain largely unknown. Her story thus became a perfect breeding ground for romantic hyperbole in the centuries following her death (Pocahontas (1995 movie) being an example). Download high resolution version (594x770, 214 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (594x770, 214 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Events January 30 - William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time May 24 - Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library. ... Events Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed I (1603-1617) to Mustafa I (1617-1623). ... The Algonquian (also Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ... Chief Powhatan, whose earlier name was Wahunsunacock, was the leader of the Powhatan (also spelled Powatan and Powhaten), a very powerful tribe of Native Americans, speaking an Algonquian language, who lived in what is now Virginia at the time of the first European-Native encounters. ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... Pocahontas was The Walt Disney Companys 33rd animated feature film. ...

Life of Pocahontas

Pocahontas is said to have prevented her father from executing colonist John Smith in the year 1607. Whether this is a true story cannot be verified; Pocahontas was only about twelve years old at the time and could not have known Smith for long, as he had arrived from England that year. Smith did not speak the Powhatan language at that time and may have misunderstood what was actually going on. Smith's account was long considered to be a fabrication, one of the main problems being that he never mentioned this supposed event in any of the sundry monographs about the colony published by him, until some 20 years after they allegedly occured; but some recent researchers assert that there is little reason to doubt his veracity. However, the veracity of several highly romanticized popular versions is unquestionably dubious. Whatever really happened, a friendly relationship with Smith and the rest of the colony of Jamestown, Virginia had been initiated and Pocahontas would often come to the settlement and play with the children there. During hard times, Pocahontas also helped to save the Jamestown colony from extinction by supplying it with food. John Smith (1580-1631) was an English soldier and sailor, now chiefly remembered for his role in establishing the first permanent English colony in North America, and his brief association with the Native American princess Pocahontas. ... Events January 20 - Tidal wave swept along the Bristol Channel, killing 2000 people. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Jamestown was a village on an island in the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ...

In 1612, Pocahontas was captured and held hostage by the Jamestown colonists in the hope that they could ransom her for the release of some of their own people held in captivity by Pocahontas's tribe. During this time, she learned English and was baptized by Alexander Whitaker. There is evidence that she was already betrothed to someone of her own tribe by the name of Kocoum before she was kidnapped. After her baptism, however, she married John Rolfe, who had established the growing of tobacco in Virginia, on April 5, 1614, and her name was changed to Rebecca Rolfe. The marriage was unsuccessful in winning the captives back, but it did create a climate of peace between the Jamestown colonists and Powhatan's tribes for several years. Events January 20 - Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism. ... Alexander Whitaker (1585-1616) was a Christian theologian, who settled in Virginia Colony in 1611, and established two churches near the Jamestown colony. ... Kocoum is a character from the 1995 Disney movie, Pocahontas. ... John Rolfe (c. ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of 2002-08-28 Tobacco () is a broad-leafed plant of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, whose dried and cured leaves are often smoked (see tobacco smoking) in the form of... April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... Events April 5 - In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. ...

The Virginia colony's sponsors found it difficult to both lure new colonists to Jamestown and to find investors for such ventures and so caught on to Pocahontas as a marketing ploy to convince people back in Europe that the New World was tameable and safe. In 1616 she was brought to England, living in Brentford between 1616 and 1617, to meet King James I and his court. There she was promoted as an "Indian princess," which created a sensation in England, becoming America's first international celebrity. The plan to win more backing for the Virginia colony and to gain royal favor was a great success. Rolfe was eager to return to Virginia to raise tobacco, but Pocahontas became ill and died of smallpox, pneumonia, or tuberculosis (accounts differ) during the journey, in Gravesend . Her only child was Thomas Rolfe, through whom she has living descendants. Events Dirk Hartog lands on an island off the Western Australian coast Pocahontas arrives in England War between Venice and Austria Collegium Musicum founded in Prague Nicolaus Copernicus De revolutionibus is placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Roman Catholic Church Births May 18 - Johann Jakob Froberger, German... Brentford is a place in in the London Borough of Hounslow on the River Thames in west London. ... Events Dirk Hartog lands on an island off the Western Australian coast Pocahontas arrives in England War between Venice and Austria Collegium Musicum founded in Prague Nicolaus Copernicus De revolutionibus is placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Roman Catholic Church Births May 18 - Johann Jakob Froberger, German... Events Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed I (1603-1617) to Mustafa I (1617-1623). ... James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Pneumonia (the ancient Greek word for lungs) is defined as an inflamation, usually caused by infection, involving the alveoli of the lungs. ... Tuberculous lungs show up on an X-ray image Tuberculosis is an infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system, circulatory system (miliary TB), genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... Gravesend is a town in North-West Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. ... Thomas Rolfe (January 30, 1615 - c. ...

After her death

An 18th century portrait by an unknown artist; based on the engraved image (see above) but 'Europeanizing' Pocahontas's features; the myth-making begins.

A fanciful 19th century "portrait"; the myth-making is complete.

While in England, Simon Van de Passe engraved Pocahontas's portrait on a copper plate. This engraving is the only portrait of Pocahontas made during her lifetime. Despite being dressed in European clothing to signify her submission to European culture, her Native American features remain robust and the engraving suggests a strong personality. More than a century later, an unknown artist made an oil painting of Pocahontas based on the earlier engraving. Though she is dressed exactly the same, her non-white features are watered down, giving her skin a paler cast, her hair a lighter shade of brown, and her face a more European appearance. The stern look in her eyes from the earlier engraving is also relaxed, giving her a more gentle and tame appearance. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (403x608, 55 KB)Public domain image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (403x608, 55 KB)Public domain image from http://www. ... For other uses, see White (disambiguation). ...

After the death of Pocahontas, the story of Smith's rescue by Pocahontas went public in his books New England Trials (1622) and The Generall Historie (1624), providing the ingredients for romantic inflation. By the 19th century, Pocahontas had become one of the most important icons of America, and the romantic literature surrounding her at the time depicted her as a Noble Savage who was Christian in behavior even before being baptized. Events January 1 - In the Gregorian calendar, January 1 is declared as the first day of the year, instead of March 25. ... Events January 24 - Alfonso Mendez, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Someone who belongs to an “uncivilized” group or tribe and is considered to be, consequently, more worthy than people who live within civilization. ...

With the Indian Removal Act underway and the preparation for colonists to move westward, taking the land and assimilating the Indians, the story of Pocahontas converting to Christianity and accepting European culture struck a chord among 19th century Americans as they battled with Natives who were defiantly resisting assimilation. To them, the success of Pocahontas's transformation validated the mission of the colonists. This can be seen in an 1840 painting by John Chapman called The Baptism of Pocahontas which was hung in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. A government pamphlet went into circulation entitled The Picture of the Baptism of Pocahontas explaining the characters in the painting and congratulating the Jamestown settlers for introducing Christianity to the "heathen savages", thus doing more than to just "exterminate the ancient proprietors of the soil, and usurp their possessions". The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law passed by the Twenty-first United States Congress in order to facilitate the relocation of American Indian tribes living east of the Mississippi River in the United States to lands further west. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Chapman may be: Johnny Appleseed - Ecologist John Herbert Chapman - Space Researcher John Chapman (footballer) - Association Football manager This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... United States Capitol The Capitol when first occupied by Congress, 1800. ...

Around this time, romantic stories about Pocahontas would often adapt her vague story to fit their own beliefs. Her marriage to Rolfe when it was Smith whom she rescued, did not seem right to some, and so at least one author, John R. Musick, retold the story to "clarify" the relationship between the three. In Musick's account, Rolfe is a back-stabbing liar who, seeing the opportunity to marry "royalty," tells Pocahontas that her true love, Smith, is dead. She then reluctantly agrees to marry Rolfe. After the two begin preparations to leave for England, Pocahontas encounters Smith, still alive. Overcome by emotion and recollections, she dies of a broken heart three days later.

Like much of the 19th century poetry and novels surrounding Pocahontas, The Walt Disney Company's 1995 animated feature Pocahontas presents a highly romanticized and distorted view of the events surrounding Pocahontas' meeting with John Smith. The sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World, loosely depicts her journey to England. See Pocahontas (movie) for a list of films surrounding this story. The Walt Disney Company (also known as Disney) (NYSE: DIS) is one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pocahontas was The Walt Disney Companys 33rd animated feature film. ... There are a number of movies with the title Pocahontas: Pocahontas and John Smith - a 1924 film directed by Bryan Foy Captain John Smith and Pocahontas - a 1953 American production directed by Lew Landers Pocahontas - by The Walt Disney Company Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World - the direct-to...

Mistaken assumption about a Bush family relation

Although both President Bushes are descended from Native Americans, genealogists who have attempted to link Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush with Pocahontas, have been in error. Their mistaken assumption was that Robert Bolling, Jr. (a 10th generation ancestor of George W. Bush) was the son of Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe (granddaughter of Pocahontas). This connection has been disproved by many other genealogists, who point out that Rolfe died in 1676, six years before the birth of the younger Bolling. Robert Bolling,Jr. was evidently the son of Anne Stith, whom his father married after Jane Rolfe's death. The Bush family, therefore, is not descended from Pocahontas. For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... Order: 41st President Vice President: J. Danforth Quayle Term of office: January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 Preceded by: Ronald Reagan Succeeded by: Bill Clinton Date of birth: June 12, 1924 Place of birth: Milton, Massachusetts First Lady: Barbara Pierce Bush Political party: Republican George Herbert Walker Bush (born June... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is a politician and the current (43rd) president of the United States. ... Colonel Robert Bolling (December 26, 1646 - July 17, 1709) was a wealthy early American settler and an ancestor of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. ... Jane Rolfe (October 10, 1650 - c 1676) she is famous for being the only grandchild of the legendary Indian chieftainess Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, who married the Englishman John Rolfe. ... Events January 29 - Feodor III becomes Tsar of Russia First measurement of the speed of light, by Ole Rømer Bacons Rebellion Russo-Turkish Wars commence. ... Anne Stith (c. ... Barbara Bush, Jeb Bush, George H.W. Bush, Laura Bush, and George W. Bush watch tee ball on the White House lawn. ...

Pocahontas legacy and disambiguation

There are several notable places and landmarks that take their name from Pocahontas.

• Pocahontas was the namesake for one of the richest seams of bituminous coal ever found in Virginia and West Virginia, and the Pocahontas Land Company, a subsidiary of the Norfolk and Western Railway.
• The town of Pocahontas, Virginia is also named for her.
• The newest of four car-carrying ferryboats, the Pocahontas operates for the Virginia Department of Transportation's Jamestown Ferry service which carries Virginia State Highway 31 (John Rolfe Highway) across the James River between Scotland in Surry County and Jamestown.
• The Pocahontas Parkway near Richmond is named after Pocahontas, and the Powhite Parkway is named after the Powhatan Indian tribe. Pocahontas' father was Chief Powhatan.

Bituminous coal Bituminous coal is a soft coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen. ... State nickname: Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin Official languages English Area 62,809 km² (41st)  - Land 62,436 km²  - Water 376 km² (0. ... Norfolk and Western Railway (AAR reporting mark: NW), a US class 1 railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. ... Pocahontas is a town located in Tazewell County, Virginia. ... The Pride of Burgundy, a P&O Ferries car ferry on the Dover-Calais route A ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and possibly their vehicles, on a relatively short-distance, regularly-scheduled service. ... The Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, is the government agency responsible for building, maintaining and operating Virginias roads, bridges and tunnels. ... Jamestown Ferry (also known as the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry) is an automobile ferry on the James River connecting Jamestown in James City County with Scotland in Surry County. ... Virginia State Highway 31, known as the John Rolfe Highway is located in the eastern part of the state, and connects U.S. Highway 460 in the town of Wakefield in Sussex County with Virginia State Highway 5 and Virginia States Highway 199 in Williamsburg. ... The James River in the state of Virginia is 547 km (340 miles) long and drains a watershed encompassing 26 000 km² (10 000 square miles), home to 2. ... Surry County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... Jamestown was a village on an island in the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now. ... Pocahontas Parkway (also known as Virginia State Highway 895) is a toll road near Richmond, Virginia. ... The Powhite Parkway in Richmond, Virginia is a toll road operated by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA). ... The Powhatan (also spelled Powatan and Powhaten) were a very powerful confederacy of Native American tribes, speaking an Algonquian language, who lived in what is now Virginia at the time of the first English-Native encounters. ...

Further reading

• David A. Price, Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of A New Nation, Alfred A. Knopf, 2003

External links

• Pocahontas
• Virginia Historical Society page on Pocahontas (With a copy of the only known authentic portrait of her. Compare to the Victorian version.)
• Did Pocahontas Save Captain John Smith? a critical review of the historical evidence against Smith
• A Smithsonian article on Pocahontas
• Pocahontas: Icon At The Crossroads Of Race And Sex