(1638?–76). Also known as King Philip, Metacom was the leader of the Wampanoag, a group of Native Americans who lived in what are now Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Metacom is best known for his role in King Philip's War, an uprising against English settlers.

Relationship with the English

Starting in 1620, the land of the Wampanoag people was occupied by settlers from England—the Pilgrims of Plymouth colony. Massasoit, father of Metacom, was the grand sachem (or chief) of the Wampanoag when the Pilgrims came. He kept peace with the newcomers until his death in 1661.

The next sachem was Wamsutta, Metacom's older brother. The Wampanoag were already beginning to resent the constant demands for more land that the settlers were making. Wamsutta died in 1662, and many of the Wampanoag accused the English of murdering him.

As the new sachem, Metacom continued to try to work with the settlers. He went along with their demands until 1671, when they took away his people's weapons and forced him to sign a harsh treaty. Metacom began to prepare for war.

King Philip's War

In June 1675, the English executed three Wampanoag accused of murdering a man of their tribe who had worked for the colonists. The act sparked fighting between Metacom's forces and the English. Metacom proved to be an able military leader. His forces attacked dozens of English settlements and destroyed about 12. The Indians had the advantage in the early fighting, but in the spring of 1676 the English began to raid effectively. After his wife and son were captured, Metacom fled to a swamp in what is now Rhode Island. On August 12, 1676, he was killed by an Indian who was fighting on the English side. The English cut off Metacom's head and placed it on a pole in Plymouth. It remained on display for many years as a warning to anyone else who might want to rise up against the settlers. After Metacom's death, his weak and hungry followers gave up. The English had won what became known as King Philip's War.