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The Pequot War was an armed conflict between 1634–1638 between the Pequot tribe against an alliance of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies who were aided by their Native American allies (the Narragansett and Mohegan tribes). Hundreds were killed; hundreds more were captured and sold into slavery to the West Indies. Other survivors were dispersed. At the end of the war, about seven hundred Pequots had been killed or taken into captivity. The result was the elimination of the Pequot as a viable polity in what is present-day Southern New England. See also the Native American Diaspora project.
Participants:
- Pequot: Sachem Sassacus
- Eastern Niantic
- Western Niantic: Sachem Sassious
- Mohigg: Sachem Uncas
- Niantic Sagamore Wequash
- Narragansett: Sachem Miantonomo
- Montauk or Montaukett
- Massachusetts Bay Colony: Governors Henry Vane and John Winthrop, Captains John Underhill and John Endecott
- Plymouth Colony: Governors Edward Winslow and William Bradford, and Captain Myles Standish
- Connecticut Colony: Thomas Hooker, Captain John Mason, Robert Seeley
- Saybrook Colony: Lion Gardiner
Notes: "The Pequots were believed to have extremely powerful individuals among them, which contributed to their lack of fear when confronting the colonist before the Pequot War of 1636-37. Roger Williams warned John Winthrop that, in addition to their 'store of guns,' they had a 'witch amongst them [who] will sinck the pinnacles by diving under water and making holes etc.' In the early stages of the Pequot War, taunting Pequots said that they had one among them, probably their sachem Sassacus, who, if he killed just one more Englishman, would be equal to God: 'and as the Englishman's God is, so would he be.' Indians allied with the English intention to attack Sassacus's fort, because the sachem's 'very Name was a Terrour' to them. Trembling Narragansetts told Captain John Mason that Sassacus was 'all one a God, no Body could kill him." by Karen O Kupperman, Indians and the English, pg 191-2
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