Micanopy

For the town, see Micanopy, Florida.

Micanopy by Charles Bird King

Micanopy (c. 1780 – January 2, 1849), also known as Micco-Nuppe, Michenopah, Miccanopa, Mico-an-opa and Sint-chakkee ("pond frequenter", as he was known prior to accession),^[1] was the leading chief of the Seminoles who led the tribe during the Second Seminole War. Derived from the Hitchiti "miko" (chief), and "naba" (above), and consequently meaning "high chief" or the like.^[1] Micanopy was also known under '''Hulbutta Hajo''' (or "Crazy Alligator").

Although little is known of his early life, Micanopy was born near present day St. Augustine, Florida, sometime around 1780. Succeeding Bolek as hereditary leader of the Seminoles following Bolek's death in 1819, Micanopy soon began acquiring large amounts of land and cattle and, as a common practice among other Seminoles, employed more than one hundred runaway slaves to work his estates during the early nineteenth century. Encouraging intermarriage between Seminoles and runaway slaves, their descendants would eventually gain influence within tribal councils (including several war chiefs).

Following the American purchase of Florida from Spain in 1819 (and the subsequent appointment of Andrew Jackson as territorial governor in 1821), large numbers of emigrating American settlers began colonizing northern Florida during the next decade. Micanopy would soon became a strong opponent towards further American settlement of the region as conflicts began between the Seminoles and settlers, Seminoles would gradually begin to be pushed back from the Florida coast and into the swamplands of the Florida interior.

With the increasing frequency of escaping slaves into Seminole territory, slaveholders, both from Florida and neighboring states, began demanding the return of slaves being harbored by the tribe soon campaigning the government for their removal. With pressure continuing against the tribe, a group of Seminole chieftains eventually agreed to the Treaty of Payne's Landing ceding Seminole lands in exchange for reservations in Oklahoma's Indian Territory on May 9, 1832.

Initially negotiating a peaceful resolution between the Seminole and local authorities, Micanopy refused to sign the treaty instead joining younger chieftains such as Osceola, Alligator and Wild Cat (a nephew of Micanopy) in opposition to the treaty and began to organize resistance among the Seminole. Following the murder of Seminole Indian agent General Wiley Thompson by Osceola, Micanopy (in cooperation with Osceala) attacked forces under Major Francis Langhorne Dade (whose forces were decimated save three survivors in the resulting Dade's Massacre) and General Duncan Lamont Clinch in December 1835, soon beginning the Second Seminole Wars.

Despite the Seminole's early success, the elderly Micanopy eventually became convinced of the futility with war against the United States and surrendered to US authorities in June 1837 and began negotiating to move his tribe to the Indian Territory when he was kidnapped by Osceola. Micanopy would eventually be captured in December 1838 by General Thomas S. Jesup when, under a flag of truce, he agreed to sign a peace treaty. This breach of honor by the United States government would create much viewed sympathy among the country towards the Seminole.

Imprisoned at Charlestown, South Carolina, Micanopy would eventually be released and sent with around two hundred other Seminoles to Indian Territory. Although he attempted to reestablish the Seminoles from Creek domination following their arrival in Indian Territory, Micanopy was unable to regain his previous power. Before his death at Fort Gibson on January 2, 1849, Micanopy would be one of the signers of the treaty giving Seminoles of western Florida semi-independence from the Creek Nation in Indian Territory in 1845, with full Seminole independence only six years later in 1855.

Popular culture

Micanopy is the name of a small town founded at the site of Micanopy's capital town, Cuscowilla. It is mentioned in the John Anderson [1] song, Seminole Wind from the album "Seminole Wind." The song is covered by James Taylor on the album "James Taylor Covers." You can see the lyrics at James Taylor's [2] website.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Simpson, J. Clarence (1956). Mark F. Boyd. ed. Florida Place-Names of Indian Derivation. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Geological Survey. 

• Johansen, Bruce E. and Donald A. Grinde, Jr., The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997.
• Markowitz, Harvey., ed., Magill's Choice American Indian Biographies, California: Salem Press Inc., 1999.

Preceded by Bolek

Leading chief of the Seminoles 1819–1849

Succeeded by ?