Powhatan was named after his birth village, so Powhatan meant "shaman's village." One of his main residences was called Matchet. Tidewater, Virginia, was the home of the Algonquian nation. Wahunsonacock was his real name, but the English could not pronounce it, so they called him Powhatan. He was a mamanotowick or "great chief." Another home village was Werowocomoca, meaning "chief's town." Powhatan ruled about 15,000 people from thirty [30] tribes. This fact made many people wonder why the Powhatan Confederacy did not kill all of the colonists from day one. Wahunsonacock became a prominent warrior and local chieftain in the late 1500's. He defeated 30 local chiefs and took control of their people. The Powhatan Confederacy was founded on conquest and despotic personal authority. The large territory was called Tsenacommacah meaning "densely inhabited land." Each village of Tsenacommacah had its own werowance, who met the approval of Powhatan.
Powhatan had twenty sons and daughters. His most famous daughter was Pocahontas. To gain support for their settlement at Jamestown, the English placed a gold crown on his head and declared him "King Powhatan." Like native leaders elsewhere, on the eastern coast, he made every effort to help the newcomers survive the first winter with gifts of food. However, the gratitude of the colonists was short lived and they wanted more of everything, and used swords and guns to achieve that end.
Powhatan had three brothers and two sisters. Powhatan's war chief was his brother Opechancanough. Ketataugh and Itoyatan were his other brothers. Cockacoeske was his sister. She ruled from 1656 - 1686. Her son was Captain John West, after his English father, Colonel John West.
Wahunsonacock, Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas' Father
