Real story of Pocahontas

Portrait of Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the heroic American Indian who saved the life of British settler John Smith. She put her head on top of his as he was about to be executed by her fellow tribesmen. She was the daughter of a Native American chief in Virginia. Her marriage to an English settler brought 8 years of peace between the Indians and the British.
Pocahontas is also the famous cartoon from Disney about beautiful Indian maiden and the handsome explorer and their love affair that crosses race and culture.
In reality Smith was a former mercenary with red hair, and Pocahontas was only 12. Her real name was Matoaka. She later married another British settler, John Rolfe.
The real Pocahontas became the world’s first Native American Christian. She was kidnapped by settlers. The girl learned English, converted to Christianity and was baptised Rebecca.

Pocahontas was born in about 1595. Her father, Powhatan, was a powerful Indian leader. In 1613 she was kidnapped by colonists. According to one version – she was treated with respect, but some scientists say she was raped in captivity. Soon she married tobacco planter John Rolf. This marriage allowed the British to make peace with the Indians for 8 years. Two years later, Pocahontas and her husband went to England. There she was treated as the Empress of Virginia.
She died at Gravesend in 1617 on her way home to America after visiting England with her husband and son. The girl was only 21. She was buried in St George’s Church in Gravesend.
Her only child, Thomas Rolfe, was educated in England, and he returned to Virginia to leave many descendants.