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Massasoit was actually a title, Great Sachem, used by Ousamequin, sachem of the Pokanoket, and Great Sachem, or "Massasoit," of the Wampanoag Confederacy.
History
Early Years
"Massasoit" was born in Montaup, a Pokanoket village at the site of today's Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island. He held the allegiance of seven lesser Wampanoag sachems. Massasoit visited Plymouth in 1621 and negotiated a treaty guaranteeing the English their security in exchange for their alliance against the Narragansett. Massasoit actively sought the alliance since two significant outbreaks of smallpox brought by the English had devastated the Wampanoag during the previous five years.Forging Peace
According to English sources, Massasoit prevented the failure of Plymouth Colony and the almost certain starvation that the Pilgrims faced during the earliest years of the colony's establishment. Moreover, Massasoit forged critical political and personal ties with the colonial leaders, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Winslow and William Bradford which culminated in a negotiated peace treaty on March 22, 1621. For both the burgeoning colony and the Wampanoag, Massasoit's alliance insured that the Wampanoag remained neutral during the Pequot War in 1636. Unfortunately, the peaceful relationship that Massasoit had worked so dilligently to create and protect had unforseen dire consequences for the Wampanoag.Massasoit's Sons
During this politically promising time, Massasoit had five children: "Moanam," or Wamsutta, also known as "Alexander," who was born sometime between 1621 and 1624; Pometecomet, Metacomet, or Metacom, also known as "Philip"; a third son, Sonkanuchoo; and two daughters, one whose name the English failed to record, and Amie. Massasoit's eldest son, Wamsutta, became sachem of the Pokanoket on the death of his father. Wamsutta was named "Alexander," after the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great. His second son, Metacom, followed suit and adopted the name, "Philip," after Alexander the Great's father, Philip of Macedon (See King Philip's War). After the death of Wamsutta, Metacom succeeded him in 1662.Maintaining an Uneasy Alliance
In 1632, Massasoit came down with one of the many great illnesses brought by the English that would continue to plague Native peoples for centuries to come. Sending word of his impending death, Edward Winslow rushed from Plymouth to Massasoit's aid. Upon his arrival, Winslow recalled that Massasoit's wigwam was full with advisors, councilors, and doctors, "in the midst if their charms for him, making a hellish noise." In his own mind, Winslow quickly condemned their practices which he felt were ". . .unlike to ease him that was sicke." Winslow also made a concoction of "comfortable conserves." Attempting to get Massasoit to swallow his medicines, Winslow noted that Massasoit's mouth was furred, his tongue swollen, after which time he ". . . washed his mouth and scraped his tongue and got an abundance of corruption out of the same." He also gave Massasoit some sassafras tea, clearly having learned its uses from the Wampanoag. Whether due to Winslow's efficacious treatment or the "hellish charms" and "noise" of Massasoit's own doctors, or perhaps a combination of the two, Massasoit recovered.After his recovery, Winslow maintained that Massasoit now saw that "the English are my friends and love me." Moreover, Winslow also noted that Massasoit felt duty bound to observe that, "whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me."
Consequences of Alliance
For nearly forty years, the Wampanoag and the English of Massachusetts Bay Colony maintained an increasingly uneasy peace until Massasoits death. Throughout this time, and in order to maintain his forged peace, Massasoit sold lands which the English insisted on having.It is unclear as to when Massasoit died. Some accounts claim that Massasoit died as early as 1660. Others contend that he died as late as 1662. Very likely, Massasoit was anywhere from eighty to ninety years old at the time. What we do know is that at the time of his death, his son Wamsutta, who had also adopted the name "Alexander" became his successor. Unfortunately, of Massasoit's five children, the only child to survive King Philip's War in 1676 was his daughter, Amie, wife of Tispaquin.
Legacy
During his reign as Grand Sachem, Massasoit never permitted the Pokanoket to convert to Christianity, and with great diplomatic skill, managed to stay such efforts. Perhaps unsurprisingly however, the half century of peace that Massasoit so assiduously negotiated collapsed soon after his death. Wamsutta very likely was murdered by the English after he was summoned to Plymouth Court. Breaking with his father's diplomacy, and in response to increasing depredations into Wampanoag territory by his ally, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Wamsutta began to form an alliance with Connecticut Colony. Within a year of his succession, and almost immediately after appearing in front of the court, Wamsutta died under extremely suspicious circumstances. Metacom, Massasoit's second son became sachem of the Pokanoket, and chief sachem of the Greater Wampanoag Confederacy. Metacom, also known as "Philip," certainly believed that Wamsutta had been treacherously murdered at the hands of the English. Wamsutta's death was one of the leading factors that eventually lead to King Philip's War, the bloodiest war in American history--indeed, more so than the American Civil War in terms of lives lost proportional to population.
Statues of Massasoit stand near Plymouth Rock and at the Utah state Capitol. Massasoit Community College and Massasoit State Park, both located in Massachusetts, are named after him.
"Massasoit"