Metacomet by Michael Wuschke

Metacomet, also known as King Philip, was the chief of the Wampanoag tribe who helped lead his tribe and their allies in the fight against the Colonists in a war known as King Philip's War. He was the son of Massassoit, who was the Wampanoag chief that helped the Pilgrims during their first year in Massachusetts in 1621, and the younger brother of Wamsutta, also known as, Alexander, who became the Wampanoag chief in 1660.

Metacomet signing a treaty

After the death of his brother in 1662, Metacomet became the new chief of the Wampanoag tribe. During his reign, Metacomet began to sell off most of his tribe's land, presumably following the orders of the Colonists. When it was revealed that Metacomet and his tribe were planning a war against the Colonists, he was forced to sign a peace treaty demanding that he surrendered his weapons to the Colonists, but he refused. When the news spread around the Colonies that an Indian Colonist was murdered, many Colonists believed that Metacomet ordered the death of the Indian Colonist because he was supplying them with information about the Native Americans and their activities, though he denied these accusations.

The death of Metacomet

Nevetheless, these events would later spark a bloody and violent conflict between the Indians and the Colonists that would last for two years and would not see a definitive end until the death of Metacomet when he was murdered by Indian soldiers loyal to the Colonists a year later in 1676.