NATIVES
IROQUOIS
AND WARFARE
PAST
IMAGES
BLOOD THIRSTY SAVAGES
WARFARE MAJOR PART OF
LIFE
VIOLENT PEOPLE VIOLENT
SOCIETY
CONTEMPORARY
THEMES
PEACEFUL ZEN-BUDDHIST
AT ONE WITH NATURE
ONLY FIGHTS WHEN
THREATENED
THEN ONLY TO “COUNT COUP”
IROQUOIS
MISSIONARY/ETHNOLOGIST
J.F. LAFITAU
“WAR IS A NECESSARY
EXERCISE FOR THE IROQUOIS…IT IS INDESPENSABLE TO THEM BECAUSE OF ONE OF THEIR
FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF BEING.”
IROQUOIS
PROWESS IN BATTLE FOR
MALE
IMROVED PROSPECTS FOR ADVANTAGEOUS
MARRIAGE
RECOGNITION AS A
COMMUNITY LEADER
IMROVES CHANCES FOR
ELECTION AS SACHEM
IROQUOIS
IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY
SENECA
CAYUGA
ONONDANGA
ONEIDA
MOWHAWK
IROQUOIS
NON-STATE WARFARE
DEEPLY EMBEDDED
SUCCESSFUL WARRIORS
RECEIVE PRAISE
NOT FOR ITS OWN SAKE
FOR USEFUL FUNCTIONS WAR
PERFORMS
MAITENANCE OF SATBLE POPULATION LEVELS
NOT NECESSARILY BY
KILLING THE EXCESS POPULATION-BY ADDING TO THE TRIBE’S STRENGTH
IROQUOIS
TRADITIONAL
(PRECOLUMBIAN) WAR SERVED THIS PURPOSE
POPULATION
NUMBERS
COLLECTIVE
AND INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL POWER
DEATH
OF TRIBE MEMBER
TRIBE
DIMINISHED IN PROPORTION TO THE DECEASED SPIRTUAL STRENGTH
IROQUOIS
STRENGTH
MUST BE REPLENISHED
“REQUICKENING
CEREMONY”
DECEASED
NAME (SOCIAL ROLE/DUTIES) TRANSFERRED TO SUCCESSOR
VACANCIES
THUS FILLED
SPIRITUAL
VOID SYMBOLICALLY FILLED
IROQUOIS
SOCIETY COMFIRMED
CREATED
NEED FOR “BACKFILL” OR WHEN DECEASED WAS OF LESS STATURE
IROQUOIS
WARFARE CRUCIAL TO THESE
CUSTOMS
WHEN DECEASED OF LESS
STATURE
ROLE FILLED BY CAPTIVE
“ADOPTED” TO HELP
STRENGTHEN TRIBE
IROQUOIS
SO
FAR SO GOOD
SOUNDS
VERY DISNEY-LIKE
DISNEY’S
POCAHONTAS WOULD BE PROUD…RIGHT?
BUT,
WAIT THERE’S MORE
ON
THE SOCIAL LEVEL THIS HELPED THE IROQUOIS DEAL WITH GRIEF
IROQUOIS
ALSO BELIEVED THAT GRIEF, UN ASSUAGED COULD ROB THE SURVIVORS OF THEIR REASON
IROQUOIS
RITUALIZED
GRIEF
SURVIVORS
WOULD CUT HAIR
SMEAR
FACE W/ CHARCOAL OR DIRT
TEN
DAYS OF DEEP MOURNING
ONE
YEAR OF INTENSE MOURNING (RESUME TRIBAL DUTIES-NEGLECT PERSONAL APPEARANCE)
IF
GRIEVING STILL OR SPIRITUAL “HOLE” NOT PLUGGED
ULTIMATE
SOCIALLY SANCTIONED CHANNEL FOR MOURNING=MOURNING WAR
IROQUOIS
TARGET=TRADITIONAL FOE
MISSION=SEEK CAPTIVES
ENEMY NOT NECESSARIL
RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH
ORGANIZED BY FAMILY
MEMBERS
TRIBE
NATION
CONFEDERACY
IROQUOIS
RAIDERS
RETURN
MOURNERS
SELECT CAPTIVE TO REPLACE THE DECEASED
OR
VENT
IN RITUALS OF TORTURE AND DEATH
GAUNTLET
STRIPPED
MORE ABUSE
(WOMEN/CHILDREN)
FINGERNAILS
BURNING
DANCE
WHILE ULTIMATE FATE DECIDED
IROQUOIS
CAPTIVES APPORTIONED TO
FAMILIES
EVEN IF SLATED FOR DEATH
STILL “ADOPTED”
REFERRED TO AS “UNCLE” OR
“SISTER”
UNCEREMONIOUSLY KILLED
AWAY FROM VILLAGE
IROQUOIS
WHY?
HUMILIATION/TORTURE
BENEFITS ENTIRE COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION
IN ENEMY DEFEAT
IMPROVED
COHESION
TACTICS
SMALL
RAID
QUICK,
NOT SUSTAIND
TERRITORY
UNIMORTANT
STRATEGY
NOT IMPORTANT
IROQUOIS
ALTERATIONS
BROUGHT BY EUROPEANS
TRADE
BROUGHT STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
TERRITORY
(TRADE ROUTES) BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT
DIPLOMACY/TRADE
NEGOTIATION
WARS
GOT BIGGER
EUROPEAN
TECHNOLOGY
STEEL
FIREARMS
THE WHEEL
PEQUOT WAR
EXAMPLE
OF THESE “ALTERATIONS”
1634
CPT. JOHN STONE
“DRUNKARD”
“LECHER” “BRAGGARD”“BULLY” “BLASPHEMER”
KILLED
ALONG WITH HIS MEN
BY
INDIANS
CONNECTICUT
RIVER
STONE
HAD TAKEN 2 INDIAN CAPTIVES
RESCUE
PARTY CAUGHT UP
PEQUOT WAR
BACKGROUND
DUTCH
ATTEMPT TO THWART ENGLISH EXPANSION EAST
ESTABLISH PERMANENT
FORTIFIED TRADING POSTS ON CONNECTICUT
18 JUNE SIGN ACCORD W/
PEQUOT FOR THE LAND
TREATY SPECIFIES FREE
ACCESS TO POST
PEQUOT
VIOLATION
AMBUSH BAND OF
TRADITIONAL ENEMIES (NARRAGANSETTS)
PEQUOT WAR
DUTCH SIEZE PEQUOT GRAND SACHEM (TATOBEM)
PEQUOTS
SEND RANSOM-GET TATOBEM’S BODY IN RETURN
COULD
HAVE EASILY DESTROYED POST
DID
NOT-WHY?
HATED
WHITE MAN/SACRED HUNTING GROUND?
NAH!!!
PEQUOT WAR
PEQUOT OBJECTIVE
DOMINATE COMMERCE-NOT
DESTROY
NOT END IT
PEQUOT=ALGONQUIN NOT
IROQUOIS BUT SHARE MANY TRADITIONS AMONG THEM THE MOURNING WAR
PEQUOT WAR
PEQUOTS
CAME ACROSS STONE AND HIS MEN
WHITE
RESPONSE NEVER OCCURRED TO THEM
SENT
TRADING GROUP TO DUTCH POST
DUTCH
SHOT AT THEM
PEQUOTS
AT WR W/DUTCH AND NARRAGANSETTS
PEQUOTS
TURN TO ENGLISH FOR AID (WINTHROP)
PEQUOT WAR
PEQUOTS
NEVER DENY KILLING STONE
THEY
THOUGHT HE WAS DUTCH
ENGLISH
INSIST ON REPARATIONS AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE
PEQUOT
AMBASSADORS AGREE-SACHEMS REFUSE BUT APOLOGIZE
MATTER
TURNED OVER TO “DIVINES”
JULY
1636, JOHN OLDHAM KILLED
WAR
MAY-JULY 1637