Annawan

Annawan (died 1676) was a military leader and advisor of the Wampanoag. As head captain under sachem Massasoit, Annawan fought wars with rival New England Indian tribes and became renowned as a warrior. Under Massasoit's son, Metacomet (King Philip), Annawan, as head chief, led the Wampanoag war effort against the Plymouth colonists.

After the death of Metacomet in 1676, Annawan succeeded him as sachem and organized the remaining Wampanoag and established a strategic position at Anawan Rock. Later that year, Captain Benjamin Church led a small colonial party to the stronghold and forced their surrender. Annawan presented his royal regalia, inherited from Metacomet—including his wampum belts—to Church, who pleaded for Annawan's life, but was unable to stop the Plymouth officials from exacting justice after he admitted to having tortured and murdered several colonists during the course of King Philip's War. Annawan was executed at Plymouth in August 1676 and his severed head displayed without town.

Titles Annawan served as chief counselor and head captain under King Philip (Metacomet) in the eponymous King Philip's War against the New England colonists, having earlier served under Philip's father, sachem Massasoit, in wars with other New England Indian tribes.

Death The capture of Anawan marked the final event in King Philip's War. Although Church pleaded for Annawan's life, his confession that he had tortured and killed several English captives compelled the Plymouth officials to have him executed and decapitated while Church was away.