Menawa
Encyclopedia
Menawa was a Muscogee (Creek) chief and military leader, known as Great Warrior. Like many of the Creek leaders of his era, his mother was Creek and his father was mostly Scots
ancestry, a fur trader. As the Creek had a matrilineal system of descent and leadership, his status came from his mother's clan
.
He grew up among the Upper Creek and was part of the "Red Sticks
", a group that opposed assimilation and worked to revive traditional practices. He led forces during the Creek Wars (1813-1814) and survived the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
. To carry out punishment for a blood crime, in 1825 Menawa led 200 warriors in an attack on the home of chief William McIntosh, who had signed the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs
, without the consent of the National Council. They killed him, burned his mansion, and confiscated his property, including 100 slaves and livestock. Menawa died during the trek of removal to Indian Territory
.
in present-day Alabama
. The site is now covered by the lower part of Lake Martin
, created by a dam.
His mother was a high-status Creek woman and his father a mostly Scots fur trader; such strategic alliances were common, as both cultures believed they benefited. He was reared within the Creek tribe and gained his status from his mother's clan
. Her eldest brother would have acted as his mentor, teaching him men's ways and introducing him to the men's societies.
During the Creek War
(1813-1814), he was one of the principal leaders of the "Red Sticks
" or Upper Creeks, who worked to revive traditional practices and resisted assimilation. What began as a civil war within the tribe, where strong divisions had arisen with the Lower Creek. It evolved into the Red Sticks fighting as allies of the British and against the United States during the War of 1812
.
Menawa was second in command at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 at the end of the Creek War. He was wounded seven times during the battle, but he escaped and survived his wounds.
After the war, Menawa continued to oppose the European-American encroachment on Creek lands. Lower Creek chiefs had ceded town lands in 1790, 1802 and 1804. In 1825, Chief William McIntosh, a Lower Creek, was one of several chiefs who signed the Treaty of Indian Springs
with the US, ceding most of the remaining Creek land east of the Mississippi River. The tribe had been under severe pressure from Georgia, but the Upper Creek, the majority, continued to oppose such cessions. The Creek National Council had passed a law declaring it a capital crime, and declared the signers of the 1825 treaty to be traitors. It ordered their execution.
On April 30, 1825, Menawa led a party of 120-150 lawmenders from towns of the ceded land; they executed chief William McIntosh, and Etommee Tustunnuggee, who had alienated communal Creek land without the consent of the National Council. They burned down McIntosh's mansion at Indian Springs, and confiscated his 100 slaves, livestock and produce. Later that day they caught Samuel and Benjamin Hawkins, his sons-in-law and also signatories to the treaty. They hanged Samuel and shot Benjamin, but he escaped.
In 1826, Menawa was a member of the Creek National Council, led by Opothleyahola
, that went to Washington D.C., to protest the Treaty of Indian Springs. The Creek leaders signed the Treaty of Washington (1826)
with the US government, which nullified the Treaty of Indian Springs. In this new treaty, the Creek ceded land to Georgia
—in compensation, they received an immediate payment of $217,660 and a perpetual annuity of $20,000. The state of Georgia ignored the new treaty and worked to evict the Creek from their lands.
Menawa was among the hundreds who died during the general removal
of the Creek. His burial place is unknown.
Scots
Scots may refer to:*The Scottish people, the inhabitants of Scotland*Scots language *Scotch-Irish*Scottish English*Scots pine, a Scottish tree*Short for Pound Scots...
ancestry, a fur trader. As the Creek had a matrilineal system of descent and leadership, his status came from his mother's clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
.
He grew up among the Upper Creek and was part of the "Red Sticks
Red Sticks
Red Sticks is the English term for a traditionalist faction of Creek Indians who led a resistance movement which culminated in the outbreak of the Creek War in 1813....
", a group that opposed assimilation and worked to revive traditional practices. He led forces during the Creek Wars (1813-1814) and survived the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend , was fought during the War of 1812 in central Alabama...
. To carry out punishment for a blood crime, in 1825 Menawa led 200 warriors in an attack on the home of chief William McIntosh, who had signed the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs
Treaty of Indian Springs
There are two Treaties of Indian Springs with the Creek Indians. The first treaty was signed January 8, 1821. In it, the Lower Creek ceded land to the state of Georgia in return for cash payments totaling $200,000 over a period of 14 years...
, without the consent of the National Council. They killed him, burned his mansion, and confiscated his property, including 100 slaves and livestock. Menawa died during the trek of removal to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
.
Early life and education
He was born Hothlepoya, meaning "Crazy Trouble Hunter," at the village of Oakfuskee, at the located on the Tallapoosa RiverTallapoosa River
The Tallapoosa River runs from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, in the United States, southward and westward into Alabama. It is formed by the confluence of McClendon Creek and Mud Creek in Paulding County, Georgia. Lake Martin at Alexander City, Alabama is a large and...
in present-day Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The site is now covered by the lower part of Lake Martin
Lake Martin
Lake Martin is located in Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Coosa counties in Alabama. It is a 44,000-acre lake with over 750 miles of wooded shoreline. An artificial reservoir, Lake Martin was formed by the construction of Martin Dam on the Tallapoosa River. The Martin Dam powerhouse is used to generate...
, created by a dam.
His mother was a high-status Creek woman and his father a mostly Scots fur trader; such strategic alliances were common, as both cultures believed they benefited. He was reared within the Creek tribe and gained his status from his mother's clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
. Her eldest brother would have acted as his mentor, teaching him men's ways and introducing him to the men's societies.
Career
When Hothlepoya became second chief of Oakfuskee, he was given the name Menawa (Great Warrior), in the American Indian tradition of naming related to major life passages.During the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
(1813-1814), he was one of the principal leaders of the "Red Sticks
Red Sticks
Red Sticks is the English term for a traditionalist faction of Creek Indians who led a resistance movement which culminated in the outbreak of the Creek War in 1813....
" or Upper Creeks, who worked to revive traditional practices and resisted assimilation. What began as a civil war within the tribe, where strong divisions had arisen with the Lower Creek. It evolved into the Red Sticks fighting as allies of the British and against the United States during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Menawa was second in command at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 at the end of the Creek War. He was wounded seven times during the battle, but he escaped and survived his wounds.
After the war, Menawa continued to oppose the European-American encroachment on Creek lands. Lower Creek chiefs had ceded town lands in 1790, 1802 and 1804. In 1825, Chief William McIntosh, a Lower Creek, was one of several chiefs who signed the Treaty of Indian Springs
Treaty of Indian Springs
There are two Treaties of Indian Springs with the Creek Indians. The first treaty was signed January 8, 1821. In it, the Lower Creek ceded land to the state of Georgia in return for cash payments totaling $200,000 over a period of 14 years...
with the US, ceding most of the remaining Creek land east of the Mississippi River. The tribe had been under severe pressure from Georgia, but the Upper Creek, the majority, continued to oppose such cessions. The Creek National Council had passed a law declaring it a capital crime, and declared the signers of the 1825 treaty to be traitors. It ordered their execution.
On April 30, 1825, Menawa led a party of 120-150 lawmenders from towns of the ceded land; they executed chief William McIntosh, and Etommee Tustunnuggee, who had alienated communal Creek land without the consent of the National Council. They burned down McIntosh's mansion at Indian Springs, and confiscated his 100 slaves, livestock and produce. Later that day they caught Samuel and Benjamin Hawkins, his sons-in-law and also signatories to the treaty. They hanged Samuel and shot Benjamin, but he escaped.
In 1826, Menawa was a member of the Creek National Council, led by Opothleyahola
Opothleyahola
Opothleyahola, also spelled Opothle Yohola, Opothleyoholo, Hu-pui-hilth Yahola, and Hopoeitheyohola, was a Muscogee Creek Indian chief, noted as a brilliant orator. He was a speaker of the Upper Creek Council. He led Creek forces against the United States government during the first two Seminole...
, that went to Washington D.C., to protest the Treaty of Indian Springs. The Creek leaders signed the Treaty of Washington (1826)
Treaty of Washington (1826)
The 1826 Treaty of Washington was a settlement between the United States government and the Creek National Council of Native Americans, led by their spokesman Opothleyahola. The Creeks ceded much of their land in the State of Georgia to the Federal government....
with the US government, which nullified the Treaty of Indian Springs. In this new treaty, the Creek ceded land to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
—in compensation, they received an immediate payment of $217,660 and a perpetual annuity of $20,000. The state of Georgia ignored the new treaty and worked to evict the Creek from their lands.
Menawa was among the hundreds who died during the general removal
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
of the Creek. His burial place is unknown.
External links
- Miriam Fowler, "Menawa, A Chief of the Upper Creeks", Rootsweb
- "Treaty With The Creeks, Jan. 24, 1826", Digital Library, Oklahoma State University