Micanopy (Seminoles)

Micanopy by Charles Bird King

Micanopy (* 1780 near St. Augustine , Florida ; † January 2, 1849 in Fort Gibson , Oklahoma ) also known as Micco-Nuppe , Michenopah , Miccanopa , Mico-an-opa , was the chief chief of the Seminoles . He was the leader of the Seminoles during the Second Seminole War from 1835 to 1842. The name Micanopy has its origins in the language of the Hitchiti "Miko" (chief) and "naba" (above); so it means something like "chief chief".

Little is known about his early life. He was born around 1780 near what is now St. Augustine , Florida . He was a member of the Alachua Seminoles. After the death of the supreme chief of the Seminole Bolek in 1819, he was his successor. Its main town, like that of its related predecessors ( Bolek , King Payne and Cowkeeper ), was Cuskowilla near present-day Micanopy in Alachua County .

Micanopy began acquiring large quantities of land and livestock early on. More than a hundred runaway slaves worked on his estate in the early 19th century. This was a common practice with many Seminoles. By promoting mixed marriages between Seminoles and runaway slaves, their descendants could gain influence in the tribal council. Among other things, it became several war chiefs.

In 1819, after the Adams-Onís Treaty between the United States and Spain, Florida was bought by the Americans. In 1821, Andrew Jackson was appointed governor of the newly formed Florida Territory. In the following decade, there was a strong wave of American settlers immigrating to northern Florida. Micanopy was an opponent of the immigrants. There were always conflicts between the whites and the Indians. In 1824, the Treaty of Moultrie Creek forced the Seminoles to relocate to a reservation in the interior of central Florida, which cut them off from the coastal regions.

However, the conflicts between the Americans and the Seminoles continued. There was an increasing influx of white settlers who were interested in taking possession of the remaining Seminole land for new settlements and plantations. In addition, many runaway black slaves fled to the Seminoles. The slave owners from Florida and the neighboring states demanded their return. The government launched a campaign to relocate the Seminoles to Indian territory in what is now Oklahoma .

On May 9, 1832, under white pressure, a group of Seminole leaders signed the Payne's Landing Treaty . This contract stipulated that the Seminoles should give up their areas in Florida and instead move to a reservation of the already resettled creeks in Indian territory. Initially, the white government representatives tried to implement the treaty in a peaceful manner. Micanopy and the younger chiefs Osceola , Alligator and Wild Cat (a nephew of Micanopy) refused to sign the contract. Instead, they began to organize resistance among the Seminoles. After the murder of Indian agent Wiley Thompson in 1835, attacks on American army units took place under Micanopy (with the cooperation of Osceola).

One of these attacks was directed against a unit under the command of Major Francis Langhorne Dade . His unit was killed except for two soldiers (this later became known as Dade's massacre ). Another attack was directed against General Duncan Clinch in December 1835 , here too the Indians were successful. The second Seminole War had begun.

After the initial successes of the Seminoles, the fortunes of war turned at the beginning of 1837. Micanopy was convinced that it would be pointless to continue fighting. He surrendered to General Thomas S. Jesup's troops . He was ready to relocate his property to the Indian Territory. On June 2, 1837, however, he and his 700 Seminoles were kidnapped by around 200 Seminoles under the leadership of Osceola and Apiacka (Sam Jones). Micanopy was captured by General Jesup in December 1838.

Micanopy was initially imprisoned in Charleston , South Carolina . After his release he was brought to Indian territory with around 200 Seminoles. However, he could no longer exercise previous power there. In 1845 he was one of the signatories to a treaty that included partial independence of the Seminoles from the Creek Nation. A separate Seminole reserve, independent of the Creek, was not established until 1856.

Micanopy died on January 2, 1849 at Fort Gibson , Oklahoma.

literature

• Bruce E. Johansen, Donald A. Grinde Jr .: The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography. Six Hundred Life Stories of Important People, from Powhatan to Wilma Mankiller . Henry Holt and Company, New York NY 1997, ISBN 0-8050-3270-3 .
• Harvey Markowitz (Ed.): American Indian Biographies . Salem Press Inc., Pasadena CA 1999, ISBN 1-58765-036-3 , ( Magill's Choice ).

predecessor	Office	successor
Bolek	Supreme Chief of the Seminoles 1821–1849	-