Olotoraca
Encyclopedia
Olotoraca was subchief of a Florida tribe.
, in 1565, Olotoraca served as guide to the Spaniards, since the French had refused to lend assistance to Satouriona against his enemies, Outina
and Potanou
, the other two Florida chiefs. But the cruelties of the Spaniards soon estranged the Indians, and when Dominique de Gourgue
s came to revenge Jean Ribaut they were willing to assist him.
Olotoraca was instrumental in forming the alliance, and led Satouriona's 300 warriors against the Spanish
. But for him Gourgues's expedition would have failed. He guided the French
, went to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, and in the assault on the first fort was also the first to mount the glacis
, driving his pike
through the breast of a Spanish cannon
eer. Menéndez returned a few months later, and, after rebuilding Fort San Mateo, re-established Spanish dominion in Florida. Olotoraca, who had succeeded Satouriona, fought to the end, murdered the Spanish missionaries
, and several times burned and ruined the Spanish establishments. He was at last captured and hanged.
According to Gatschet, the proper form of his name is Hola‘taraca, hola‘ta being the title for a subchief in the Timucua language
.
Biography
He was the nephew of Satouriona, one of the three chiefs among whom Florida was divided at the time of Jean Ribaut's landing in 1562. At the time of the first expedition by Pedro Menéndez de AvilésPedro Menéndez de Avilés
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was a Spanish admiral and explorer, best remembered for founding St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. This was the first successful Spanish foothold in La Florida and remained the most significant city in the region for several hundred years. St...
, in 1565, Olotoraca served as guide to the Spaniards, since the French had refused to lend assistance to Satouriona against his enemies, Outina
Utina
The Utina, also known as the Agua Dulce or Agua Fresca tribe, were a Timucua chiefdom in northern Florida during the 16th century. The name given to them by their enemies, Thimogona, may be the origin of the word Timucua, now applied to the whole group of related tribes who lived in northern...
and Potanou
Potano
The Potano tribe lived in north-central Florida at the time of first European contact. Their territory included what is now Alachua County, the northern half of Marion County and the western part of Putnam County. This territory corresponds to that of the Alachua culture, which preceded the...
, the other two Florida chiefs. But the cruelties of the Spaniards soon estranged the Indians, and when Dominique de Gourgue
Dominique de Gourgue
Dominique de Gourgue was a French nobleman and soldier. He is best known for leading an attack against the Spanish in Florida in 1568, in response to the destruction of the French Fort Caroline. He was a captain in King Charles IX's army.-Youth:De Gourgue's early life is not well known...
s came to revenge Jean Ribaut they were willing to assist him.
Olotoraca was instrumental in forming the alliance, and led Satouriona's 300 warriors against the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
. But for him Gourgues's expedition would have failed. He guided the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, went to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, and in the assault on the first fort was also the first to mount the glacis
Glacis
A glacis in military engineering is an artificial slope of earth used in late European fortresses so constructed as to keep any potential assailant under the fire of the defenders until the last possible moment...
, driving his pike
Pike (weapon)
A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear used extensively by infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a counter-measure against cavalry assaults. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the...
through the breast of a Spanish cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
eer. Menéndez returned a few months later, and, after rebuilding Fort San Mateo, re-established Spanish dominion in Florida. Olotoraca, who had succeeded Satouriona, fought to the end, murdered the Spanish missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, and several times burned and ruined the Spanish establishments. He was at last captured and hanged.
According to Gatschet, the proper form of his name is Hola‘taraca, hola‘ta being the title for a subchief in the Timucua language
Timucua language
Timucua is a language isolate formerly spoken in northern and central Florida and southern Georgia by the Timucua people. Timucua was the primary language used in the area at the time of Spanish arrival in Florida. Linguistic and archaeological studies suggest that it may have been spoken from...
.