While the concept of royalty, as understood in European monarchies, was generally absent among the Indigenous peoples of North America, there were notable exceptions where individuals were recognized and treated with a similar level of esteem. This article delves into the fascinating story of four such leaders – three Mohawk chiefs from the Iroquois Confederacy and one Mahican chief – who were collectively referred to as "Kings" during a significant diplomatic visit to England in 1710. This journey and the events surrounding it offer a unique window into the complex relationships between European powers and the Indigenous nations of North America during the early 18th century.
These four individuals, while not the first Native Americans to set foot on English soil (Pocahontas preceded them in 1616), were the first to be officially received and treated as heads of state, marking a pivotal moment in intercultural relations. The 3 Mohawk Kings and 1 Mahican Indian King in North America represented a significant delegation, their presence in London designed to forge alliances and secure crucial support against French expansion in the New World.
The Kings and Their Lineage
The three Mohawk "Kings" hailed from the Iroquois Confederacy, a powerful alliance of five (later six) distinct nations located in what is now upstate New York. Their names and affiliations were:
- Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow: A member of the Bear Clan, he was known as the "King of Maguas" (a reference to the Mohawk territory). He later adopted the Christian name Peter Brant and was the grandfather of the renowned Mohawk leader Joseph Brant, a prominent figure during the American Revolutionary War.
- Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row: Representing the Wolf Clan, he was designated the "King of Canajoharie," a significant Mohawk settlement meaning "Great Boiling Pot." He was also known as John of Canajoharie.
- Tee Yee Ho Ga Row: Also of the Wolf Clan, his name translated to "Double Life." He was known by the Christian name Hendrick Tejonihokarawa, often referred to as King Hendrick.
The fourth member of this esteemed group was Etow Oh Koam, a Mahican chief belonging to the Turtle Clan. The Mahican people, an Algonquian-speaking tribe, were not part of the Iroquois Confederacy but were allied with them. Etow Oh Koam was mistakenly identified in his portrait as the "Emperor of the Six Nations," highlighting the European unfamiliarity with the intricacies of Indigenous political structures.
Initially, five chiefs were intended to make the transatlantic voyage, but tragically, one succumbed to illness during the arduous journey across the Atlantic. The remaining four persevered, driven by the crucial mission they were tasked with.
A Diplomatic Mission Orchestrated
The visit of the 3 Mohawk Kings and 1 Mahican Indian King in North America was not a spontaneous event but a carefully orchestrated diplomatic initiative conceived by Pieter Schuyler, the mayor of Albany, New York. Schuyler, a prominent fur trader and a member of the New York Indian Commission, recognized the strategic importance of securing English support against the encroaching French presence.
Schuyler, highly regarded by the Iroquois as their special intermediary with the colonial government, understood that direct appeals to the English Crown would be far more effective than relying solely on colonial authorities. His objective was clear: to persuade Queen Anne to provide military assistance to the Iroquois Confederacy, bolstering their position against the French and their allied Indigenous groups.
Royal Treatment in London
Upon their arrival in London, the "Four Kings," as they became popularly known, were received with a level of pomp and circumstance befitting visiting dignitaries. They were treated as royalty, transported through the city in royal carriages, and granted an audience with Queen Anne at the prestigious Court of St. James’s Palace. Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, recognized the strategic value of forging a strong alliance with the Iroquois Confederacy.
The presence of these imposing figures created a sensation within London society. Nobles vied for the honor of hosting and entertaining them. Contemporary accounts describe the kings as being remarkably tall with commanding presences, further captivating the British public. Their visit occurred during a period of mourning for the British court, following the death of Prince George of Denmark, Queen Anne’s husband.
The "American Kings" were immersed in the cultural and social life of London. They toured the Tower of London, a symbol of English power and history, and visited St. Paul’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. They attended a performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the Haymarket Theatre, showcasing the pinnacle of English dramatic arts, and enjoyed the spectacle of the Royal Opera. Their itinerary also included witnessing a "trial of skill with sword" and a visit to the Cockpit Royal, where they observed the controversial "Royal Sport" of cockfighting. Bear fights and wrestling matches were also on display, providing a glimpse into the diverse forms of entertainment popular at the time.
Gifts and Promises from the Queen
Queen Anne, recognizing the significance of their visit, commissioned Jan Verelst, a renowned court painter, to create portraits of each of the Four Kings. These portraits served as both diplomatic gifts and lasting representations of the encounter between the British Crown and the Indigenous leaders.
Beyond the symbolic gestures, Queen Anne also pledged tangible support to the Iroquois Confederacy. She ordered the construction of Fort Hunter, a new fortified settlement along the Mohawk River, complete with a chapel. She also provided missionaries from the Church of England to proselytize among the Mohawk people, hoping to counter the influence of French Jesuit missionaries who had already converted some Mohawk to Catholicism.
These missionaries developed a written system for the Mohawk language and translated religious texts into Mohawk, facilitating the spread of Christianity among the Iroquois. Chief Hendrick, in particular, was said to be a devout convert.
In addition to military assistance, the chiefs specifically requested missionaries to counter the influence of French Jesuits, who had successfully converted many Mohawk to Catholicism. Queen Anne responded by tasking the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Tenison, with authorizing a mission. Mayor Schuyler oversaw the construction of a chapel at Fort Hunter the following year, near the Mohawk "Lower Castle" village.
Queen Anne also gifted a silver Communion set and a reed organ to the Mohawk. The "Lower Castle" village became predominantly Christian in the early 18th century, contrasting with the "Upper Castle" at Canajoharie, where no mission was established until William Johnson, the British agent to the Iroquois, built the Indian Castle Church in 1769.
The visit generated a wealth of historical documentation, including multiple versions of their speeches to Queen Anne, published accounts of their experiences, numerous engravings and miniatures, and the four oil paintings.
The Significance of the Portraits: Iroquois and Mahican Tattoos
The oil paintings commissioned by Queen Anne hold particular significance because they provide invaluable visual records of the facial and body tattoos of the Mohawk and Mahican people. These markings offer insights into their cultural practices, social hierarchies, and individual achievements. The 3 Mohawk Kings and 1 Mahican Indian King in North America left a legacy in the form of these portraits.
According to Jesuit accounts, Iroquois and Mahican tattoos were created by first stenciling designs onto the skin and then pricking the flesh with trade needles or sharpened bones until blood flowed. Crushed charcoal, and sometimes red cinnabar, was then vigorously rubbed into the open wounds to create permanent markings.
While Iroquois women were rarely tattooed, they sometimes received small tattoos for medicinal purposes, such as relieving toothaches or rheumatism. Iroquois men, on the other hand, used tattoos to signify achievements in battle, with cross-hatches on the face representing successful military expeditions and marks on the thighs indicating the number of enemies killed.
One Jesuit account from 1663 described an Iroquois war-chief with 60 tattoo marks on a single thigh, underscoring the importance of these markings in communicating individual accomplishments and status. Many other markings, the meanings of which have been lost to time, adorned the faces and bodies of Iroquois men, some possibly representing totemic affiliations.
A Dutch trader’s account book from 1706 mentions a Seneca man named Tan Na Eedsies who used a pictograph alongside his order, effectively using his facial tattoos as a personal signature.
Of the four kings, only Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow, Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row, and Etow Oh Koam were tattooed. Each portrait features the clan totem (wolf, bear, turtle) near the base of the canvas, symbolizing their respective affiliations. All three kings are depicted with their weapons, representing their success in battle. They are shown wearing black breeches, vests, and stockings, covered by scarlet cloaks trimmed with gold, gifts from Queen Anne.
The portrait of Etow Oh Koam is particularly significant as it is the only known portrait of an 18th-century Mahican chief.
Until 1977, these paintings hung in Kensington Palace, after which Queen Elizabeth II had them moved to the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The 3 Mohawk Kings and 1 Mahican Indian King in North America returned to Boston in July 1710. While they had witnessed the "Grandeur, Pleasure, and Plenty" of the British nation, their visit yielded mixed results. One source indicates that Brant died shortly before their return from London, while another states that he died shortly after. Both Nicholas and John faded into obscurity.
In the summer of 1711, a massive British military expedition involving thousands of American colonists and hundreds of Native Americans from the Five Nations set sail from Boston to attack Quebec, a key French stronghold. However, several British ships ran aground in the St. Lawrence River, and the expedition was abandoned.
Despite the initial impact of their visit, the long-term consequences were limited. French power persisted in Canada until the fall of Montreal in 1760, and the subsequent Treaty of Paris in 1763 opened the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes region to English settlement.
Ironically, the westward expansion of colonists onto Iroquois lands ultimately contributed to the decline of the Five Nations. A series of military, political, and economic challenges compounded these problems after 1763.
Although the visit of the Four Kings had little significance in the broader scope of American history, the memory of their visit was to be documented well into the 19th century.
