Jamestown | Chief Opechancanough | 5

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2024

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Many people are familiar with Powhatan, the Paramount Chief who ruled over a vast network of more than 30 tribes in the Chesapeake region when the English arrived in 1607. But it was Powhatan’s brother, Opechancanough, who came closest to wiping out the English colony at Jamestown. Today, Lindsay is joined by Dr. James Horn, President of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. He’s the author of A Brave and Cunning Prince: The Great Chief Opechancanough and the War for America.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wonderly Plus subscribers can binge new seasons of American history tellers early and ad-free right now.
0:06.6	Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:29.1	Imagine it's December 1621 in the Powhatan town of Memand, Virginia. You're an Anglican minister and member of the Colonial Governor's Council, and ever since you arrived in Virginia
0:33.7	two years ago, you've been driven by a single purpose. Your desire to convert the local
0:38.9	Indian people to Christianity, and none more so than Opie Cancano, the great warrior and leader of
0:44.9	the Powhatan people. Right now, you're walking along the Pamunkey River with him, working up the
0:50.2	courage to broach a delicate subject. You glance at Opie Cancano, and he nods for you to continue.
0:56.2	I must confess there is a matter weighing heavily on my heart.
1:00.9	The chief of the Acomac sent a message to our governor.
1:05.2	He accused you of asking him for his stores of water hemlock.
1:09.6	It's a highly lethal plant. He said you plan to use it to poison us.
1:15.5	He stops walking and turns to face you, his gaze sharp and penetrating. He is wrong. I have no
1:21.9	wish to destroy your people. You and I are friends. I would like to think so. But this accusation has spread panic in the colony.
1:30.4	The governor has placed everyone on guard for a potential attack.
1:34.1	You truly deny any involvement?
1:37.0	Yes.
1:38.1	All I want is to continue the peace we've enjoyed these past few years.
1:42.1	You struggle to read him, to know if he speaks the truth.
1:45.7	You nod cautiously.
1:47.5	I wish the same.
1:49.3	My people have wronged the Powitin many times.
1:52.7	Perhaps we could return to our previous conversations about sending some of your people
	...

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