Timeline 1500

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Timeline 1500
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Introduction: This section contains items of interest to me in subject, time & location associated with family history. This is a worksheet that is constantly being updated and corrected. Glean what you can; just understand that this is a work in progress.

1519

East. Hern�n(do) CORTES, marqu�s del Valle de Oaxaca landed at Veracruz, Mexico, then fought his way to Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Aztec leader, MOCTEZUMA II, was killed; his government was overthrown; and thousands of his subjects were put to the sword. Unwilling to live in a country conquered by foreign assassins, the Muscogee determined to seek some other land.

Europe. Vasco N��ez de BALBOA & four of his friends were beheaded in a public execution. The first circumnavigation of the globe was begun under the leadership of Ferdinand MAGELLAN and completed by Juan Sebasti�n ELCANO.

1520

East. A Spanish vessel, commanded by Lucas V�squez de AYLLON , was driven by a violent storm upon the coast of Carolina. The natives were kindly. In return, AYLLON enticed a number of them on board his ship to carry them away to Hispaniola. The Indians preferred death to captivity. They refused to partake of any food & thus died of voluntary starvation.

1524

East. While Spain was conquering from the Caribbean, the French sent Giovanni da VERRAZANO to a more northerly location. He landed in the Carolinas but then pushed north, mostly along the coast, to Nova Scotia. However, even with Spanish explorers venturing along the coast of Georgia & South Carolina, it was the French who claimed the landmass north of La Florida. Still, Spanish priests set about establishing missions among the Indians between the Savannah & the Congaree rivers (southern South Carolina).

1540

East. Spain sent Hernando DeSOTO to North America in search of gold and a short route to the Orient. Altho his exact path is not known, some studies suggest strong possibilities. At best guess he made his way thru South Carolina. It is recorded that he met the Queen of Cofitachiqui at the junction of the Santee & the Congaree rivers (Columbia, South Carolina). DeSOTO also encountered "Chalaque" (Cherokee) as he pressed onward (Union, South Carolina) in his quest for gold & copper. Altho his exact path is not known, some studies suggest he moved on to Xuala (Saluda or Tryon, North Carolina) on the Blue Ridge. It is possible he went across the French Broad to the Cherokee town of Guaxule (Wa-salu-lee or Asheville, North Carolina). From there he likely moved west (via Canton & Waynesville) to Sylva, North Carolina, where he picked up the Tuckaseegee River. The river became larger after the confluence with the Ocono Luftee.

He may have camped across the river from the mouth of Deep Creek (Bryson City, North Carolina). The path from Bryson City led west past Alarka & crossed the Little Tennessee River where it joins the Tuckaseegee. Then to Chiaha, on or near Sawyer Creek (79 miles from Asheville and 15 miles from Bryson City). Chiaha is described by the Spanish as being on a large (13-mile-long) island.

DeSOTO entered Georgia-Alabama and met Lord COOSA. DeSOTO next moved his army to present-day Fort Payne, Alabama. From there he went south and passed the Etowah mounds before reaching the Coosa River, further west. Then he headed into the lands of the Creek to meet Chief TUSCALOOSA somewhere on the Coosa River. The Spanish arrived at a town called Mavilli (on the Alabama River about 100 miles above Mobile, Alabama, believed to be Prairie Bluff). At this place they were apparently ambushed by TUSCALOOSA. A battle ensued with the Creek vs. the Spanish. DeSOTO was injured. The Chickasaw may have been first encountered by DeSOTO at their outpost on the big island (Chiaha?) at the confluence of the Tellico & Little Tennesssee. There, in early 1541, DeSOTO met their major chief.

It is recorded that in 1540 there were sixty different, independent Cherokee villages, each having a separate government & leadership. The whole tribe came together only in times of war and ceremonies.

West. Ozark legend says Hernando DeSOTO ventured into southwest Missouri after hearing rumors once more of Indian silver mines. (The Cherokee called themselves Ani-Yun-wiya, which means "Principal People".) Also, Francisco V�squez de CORONADO was sent by Spain to the northwest thru Mexico.

1541

East. "The chroniclers of DeSOTO's expedition in 1541 locate the "province" or "town" of Alibamu a short distance northwest of the Chicasa, in northwest or central Mississippi. According to the Gentleman of Elvas they found a strongly fortified town, named Ullibahali, on Alabama or lower Coosa river. Coxe (French, Hist. Coll. La., 11, 235, 1850) says that below the Coxa, or Coussa, on the same river, are the Ullibalies, or Olibahalies, according to the French the Allibamons." (Unknown.) The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about six miles above Montgomery.

1558

Europe. ELIZABETH I began her reign as the Queen of England. Ireland & the small islands in the British Channel were the only dependencies of the Crown. Scotland was an independent monarchy. Because of her Protestant beliefs, ELIZABETH I had many who sought to dethrone her, including the pope.

1559

East. When Trist�n de LUNA y Arellano visited the Alabama area between 1559 and 1561 he found the population of Coosa in decline. The political power of Coosa was weakened and its influence had waned. Because of their reduced strength, the people of Coosa enlisted the help of LUNA's soldiers in an attack on their former tributaries near Chattanooga. LUNA's intervention may have slowed the decline but the changes at Coosa were the first stages in the collapse of the paramount chiefdoms. Social disruption caused by Spanish intrusion was one source of change. Another was the introduction of new diseases from Africa and Europe. Malaria, smallpox, cholera and other diseases had a brutal effect on American Indian populations. Without inherited immunities the Indians were virgin ground for infection and the death rate was extremely high.

1562

East. When Jean RIBAUT brought French Huguenots to North America, they landed near St. Johns River (Jacksonville, Florida). Since RIBAUT was wise enough to realize the Spanish would not tolerate French occupation that far south, he moved his party north along the coast until they passed the Savannah River (Georgia-South Carolina border), which would have reasonably been considered north of La Florida.

No coast in the world is much more dangerous to ships than that of the Carolina. The sounds & the rivers which empty into them constitute a network of waterways separated from the ocean by a line of sand banks. RIBAUT brought the Huguenots to Parris Island (near Beaufort, South Carolina). They established Charlesfort at Port Royal Sound. The settlement only lasted about a year before French interests shifted further south (into present day Florida). All the men from RIBAUT's party eventually returned to France except for Guillame RUFFIN. RUFFIN chose to stay behind & eventually married an "Indian princess".

1564

East. Frenchman Ren� Goulaine de LAUDONNIERE built Fort Caroline on a bluff on the south side of St. Johns River (Jacksonville, Florida), which was well within Spanish territory. In response, Don Pedro MENENDEZ de Avil�s was sent from Spain to displace the French. The soldiers of Fort Caroline were killed; and the women and children were taken as prisoners. With the Spanish victory over the French, MENENDEZ established the St. Augustine colony (further south) to cement the Spanish claim to the area. St. Augustine propered.

1566

East. The Spanish took over the abandoned French Fort Caroline (Jacksonville, Florida) & renamed it Fuerte San Mateo. They also established the Santa Elena colony at the site of the abandoned French Charlesfort (Parris Island, South Carolina) & renamed it Fort San Felipe (Port Royal). This site served as the capital of Spanish Florida for about ten years & became a center for Spanish commerce.

Other forts were built on the south side of Parris Island. Hernando BOYANO & Juan PARDO explored for gold among the Cherokee & were reportedly successful. The Spaniards began mining and smelting within the Cherokee Nation. It is said some of these mines stayed in operation until about 1690. Although the mines were kept secret by the Spanish, they were well known in the settlements of Santa Elena and St. Augustine.

1567

East. Captain Juan PARDO built a blockhouse at a Cherokee village, known as Guatari, located on the Yadkin River. It was called Fort Santiago (Rowan County, North Carolina). The Creek Nation was in western South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama & eastern Mississippi. The Choctaw Nation included western Mississippi, Louisiana & Texas. And the Cherokee occupied eastern Tennessee & western North Carolina. The Chickasaw split off from the Choctaw. They moved east & then returned back west, settling north of the Choctaw.

The Creek Confederacy contained about a dozen tribes. It was the largest Indian grouping in the southeast. They were of the Muskogean language group. Europeans called them "Creek" from the tribe found living on the Ocheese Creek (Ocmulgee River). Sometime in the 1500s the Creek & the Cherokee came into conflict, with the Cherokee seeming to be pushing their way out of the mountains and into the flatter lands of north Georgia. There was a large battle at Slaughter Gap (Lumpkin County, Georgia) after which the Creek retreated south of the Etowah River. The Cherokee then drove the Creek further south to the Chatahoochee & Thronateekee (Flint) rivers. Next the Cherokee pushed west to the Coosa River in Alabama, cutting the traditional Creek Confederacy into the Upper Creek & Lower Creek tribes.

1572

East. The Spanish settled on the coast, and used Indians to work their farms. They squeezed hard & demanded much. Even so, along with other prized possessions, European articles were placed in Indian tombs as funerary offerings.

1576

East. A French ship, Le Prince, wrecked at Port Royal Sound. Survivors built a fort that was soon attacked by Indians who thought they were Spaniards. The Indians afterwards befriended the Frenchmen and took them into their villages.

1584

East. Philip AMADAS & Arthur BARLOWE sailed two vessels from England to the west. They first saw the coast of North Carolina & anchored off an island called Wocoken at a spot they named Trinity Harbor. They returned to England with a large cargo of skins and valuable woods. They also carried back the first knowledge of the potato & tobacco.

Europe. Queen ELIZABETH I was so pleased with the glowing descriptions of the new country that she gave the country the name of Virginia, in honor of herself, the "Virgin Queen". After this time the potato became a principle food in Ireland.

1585

East. Ralph LANE was appointed governor of Sir Walter RALEIGH's proposed colony on Roanoke Island. Seven ships brought 108 emigrants. Sir Richard GRENVILLE commanded the fleet. The "Cittie of Raleigh" was built at the north part of the island.

1586

East. The "Cittie of Raleigh" was abandoned by the English. Sir Francis DRAKE took the weary "colonists" back to England, including Ralph LANE.

1587

East. Santa Elena was abandoned by the Spanish.

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