Everything about Tenskwatawa totally explained
Tenskwatawa, (also called
Tenskatawa,
Tensquatawa or
Lalawethika) (
1775 – November
1834) was a
Native American religious and political leader of the
Shawnee tribe, known as
The Prophet or the
Shawnee Prophet. He was the brother of
Tecumseh, leader of the Shawnee. He was originally given the name Lalawethika (He Makes a Loud Noise or The Noise Maker). He fathered a total of 20 children and had 3 wives.
He took out his eye with an arrow in a hunting accident as a child.
Biography
Early years
In May
1805, he experienced the first of several visions. He had a taste for whiskey, and in one of his alcoholic stupors he'd a vision. After he awoke he began preaching and became a
religious leader, and taught that the
white Americans were children of the Great Serpent, the source of
evil in the world. He forbade his people to use
European foods,
clothing, manufactured goods and
alcohol. He changed his name to Tenskwatawa (The Open Door or One With Open Mouth). In 1808 Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh moved their followers to a new village called
Prophetstown (Tippecanoe), near the present-day town of Battleground, near the juncture of the
Wabash and
Tippecanoe rivers in
Indiana.
Tecumseh's War
1811, Tecumseh journeyed south to meet with representatives of other tribes, leaving Tenskwatawa in command of Tecumseh's forces at Prophetstown. Tecumseh had an advantage being a Shawnee. Shawnees moved around more than any other tribe, so Tecumseh knew how other tribes were being forced out of their land. During Tecumseh's absence, on
November 7, 1811, Prophetstown was attacked by a
U.S. force under the command of future
President William Henry Harrison. (See the
Battle of Tippecanoe.) It was a two hour battle that left untold Indians dead or wounded. The indians buried their men in the night, and stripped The Prophet of his powers. The village at Prophetstown was burned down and the defeat put an end to Tecumseh's hope of a broad Native alliance.
100 Years War
With his brother, Tenskwatawa participated in the defense of the
Canadian colonies during the
War of 1812. In 1813 he was present at the
Battle of the Thames, but fled with the
British forces and was absent when Tecumseh was killed.
Later years and death
In the following decade he unsuccessfully tried to regain a position of leadership among Native Americans. In 1825 he returned to the
United States and assisted in removing many of the Shawnees west of the
Mississippi. In 1826 he established a village at the site of modern
Kansas City, Kansas. He died in 1836 at his village in Kansas City, Kansas (located in the Argentine area; the
White Feather Spring marker notes the location).
Tenskwatawa in fiction
Tenskwatawa is one of the major characters in
Orson Scott Card's
alternate history fantasy series of
novels
The Tales of Alvin Maker (especially the second book,
Red Prophet). In those books he's called
Tenskwa-Tawa (previously
Lolla-Wossiky).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Tenskwatawa'.
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