Pocahontas, Powhatan woman who fostered peace between English colonists and Native Americans by befriending the settlers at the Jamestown Colony in Virginia and eventually marrying one of them. Learn more about Pocahontas’s life and her legacy, including her portrayal in popular culture.
Most notably, Pocahontas has left an indelible impression that has endured for more than 400 years. And yet, many people who know her name do not know much about her. Pocahontas was born about 1596 and named "Amonute," though she also had a more private name of Matoaka.
Pocahontas might be a household name, but the true story of her short, powerful life is buried in myths that have persisted since the 17th century. First, Pocahontas wasn’t her actual name.
The True Story of Pocahontas Is More Complicated Than You Might Think
An iconic figure in American history, Pocahontas is largely known for saving the life of the Jamestown colonist John Smith and then romancing him—although both events are unlikely to be true.
Pocahontas (l. c. 1596-1617, also known as Amonute, Matoaka) was the daughter of Wahunsenacah (l. c. 1547 - c. 1618, also known as Chief Powhatan), leader of the Powhatan Confederacy in the region of modern-day Virginia, United States.
Pocahontas: Directed by Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg. With Mel Gibson, Linda Hunt, Christian Bale, Joe Baker. An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.
The heartbreaking life of Pocahontas was one of tragedy and violence - the story of a young girl who was brutally raped, kidnapped, and allegedly murdered by those who were meant to keep her safe. Disney’s version of Pocahontas centers John Smith, the man Pocahontas supposedly fell in love with.