Moytoy II

Infobox Person
name = Moytoy II, Pigeon of Tellico


image_size =
caption =
birth_name =
birth_date = c. 1687
birth_place = Tellico
death_date = 1760
death_place =
death_cause =
resting_place =
resting_place_coordinates =
residence = Chota
nationality = Cherokee
other_names =
title = Leading Chief of the Cherokee
predecessor = Moytoy I
successor = Kanagatucko

Moytoy Pigeon of Tellico, Principal Chief and Emperor of the Cherokee ("Trader Tom" Carpenter) was the leading Chief of the Cherokee tribe from April 3, 1730 to 1760. He was also created "Emperor of the Cherokees" by the British envoy Sir Alexander Cuming in 1730, and had previously been Chief of Great Tellico. He is known as Moytoy II, or Moytoy the Younger, as he succeeded his father, Moytoy I, or Amatoya Moytoy of Chota.

Moytoy II was originally named Pigeon of Tellico (English translation), and was born around 1687 in that town. His father, Moytoy I, was the town chief of Chota ca. 1700-1730. His mother, Quatsy, was from Tellico, so this was his home (Cherokee society is matrilineal and matrilocal, and inheritance for males is avuncular).

Moytoy was crowned with the "Crown of Tannassy," as described by Cuming (the name probably has origins with the traditional capital of Tanasi, near Chota). It is said to have been a traditional Cherokee hide cap covered in feathers and several hanging animal tails. The crown was later taken to England.

Some sources refer to Moytoy II's wife as a woman named Go-sa-du-isga, and title her the "Queen of the Cherokee" (in fact there are no traditional consort titles, so this was a European distinction). They had many children who went on to become prominent Cherokee leaders, among them Oconostota (Stalking Turkey), who succeeded his cousin Attacullaculla as Principal Chief in 1775 or 1777. Moytoy's daughter, Waw-Li, married the Scottish immigrant John Joseph Vann, making the Cherokee town chief, James Vann, Moytoy's grandson. Another son, Amo-Scossite, took the title "Emperor of the Cherokees" after his uncle Old Hop's death. However, his adoption of the European title alone held no political authority, and Attacullaculla was the "de facto" ruler. The imperial title fell out of use after 1761.

Since 1968, Donald Joe Robinson, a Cherokee man from Dallas, Texas, has styled himself "Oukah" (Chief or King) and "Emperor of the Tsalagi" (Cherokee). Although he has received some attention, any legitimate link between his assumed title and Moytoy's lineage has yet to be proven. His claims are largely regarded as false.

References

*Litton, Gaston L. [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v015/v015p253.html "The Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation"] , "Chronicles of Oklahoma" 15:3 (September 1937) 253-270 (retrieved August 18, 2006).