Miantonomoh

Miantonomoh (1600? - August 1643), also spelled Miantonomo, Miantonomah or Miantonomi, was a chief of the Narragansett people of New England Indians.

He was a nephew of the Narragansett grand sachem, Canonicus (died 1647), with whom he associated in the government of the tribe, and whom he succeeded in 1636. Miantonomoh seems to have been friendly to the English colonists of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, though he was accused of being treacherous.

In 1636, when under suspicion, Miantonomoh went to Boston to prove his loyalty to the colonists. In the following year, during the Pequot War, he permitted John Mason to lead his Connecticut expedition against the Pequot Indians through Narraganset country. The Pequot were defeated in this war. In 1638, he signed for the Narraganset the tripartite treaty between that tribe, the Connecticut colonists and the Mohegan Indians, which provided for a perpetual peace between the parties, and Miantonomoh was given control over eighty of the two hundred Pequot. However, conflict continued with the Mohegans over control of the Pequot people and land. Miantonomoh tried to organize other tribes throughout the English colonies in a union against the English.

Miantonomo's Monument located in Sachem's Park, Norwich, Connecticut.

The conflict with the Mohegans turned into a war in 1643. Miantonomoh invaded Mohegan territory with nearly 1,000 warriors, but was defeated. Miantonomoh was slowed by his coat of heavy armor and was taken prisoner. Miantonomoh suggested an alliance against the English to the sachem of the Mohegans, Uncas, but instead Uncas turned him over to the Connecticut authorities at Hartford.

Plaque marking Miantonomo's Monument.

Miantonomoh was tried in Boston by the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England. A committee of five clergymen, to whom his case was referred, found him guilty. Although Miantonomoh had made war with their consent, they advised that he should be killed and gave Uncas authority to kill him. Miantonomoh was taken back to Norwich, where he had been defeated, and killed with a tomahawk by Wawequa, the brother of Uncas.

His son Canonchet was a Narragansett sachem. A daughter, Minnetinka, was raised and educated by a Dutch family after her mother died and her father Miantonomoh was killed by the Mohicans. She married John Corey with her Christian name being Elizabeth Gasesett. One of her famous descendants is the rodeo pioneer and cowboy artist Earl W. Bascom

• Four ships in the United States Navy have been named for him, two as Miantonomoh and two as Miantonomah.
• There is a monument to Miantonomo in Sachem's Park, Norwich, Connecticut.
• Miantonomi Memorial Park in Newport, Rhode Island
• A street named after him and Canonicus in bordering Middletown, Rhode Island.