FDI - Natchez

The Natchez were a sedentary hunter/farmer monarchy of the Southeastern Woodlands Mound Cultures. They had a complex Sun cult caste system. They were located in the area east of present Natchez, Mississippi on St. Catherines Creek.

The Natchez, along with the Chickasaw, were the most powerful tribes on the lower Mississippi at time of French arrival. After a short period of relatively peaceful coexistence, they were ultimately destroyed in a war with the French and Choctaw. They later divided to join the Creek and Cherokee and many were enslaved and sent tot he West Indies.

Aboriginal Locations (Villages)

MS (Achougoulas, Cogoucoulas, Natches, Ousagoucoulas, Thoucoue, Tougoulas, Yatanocus, Ymacachas

Year	*History*
1540	Met by De Soto, under Chief Quigaitanqui chased De Soto down the Mississippi
1682	Mentioned by La Salle who descended the Mississippi
1683	Conducted negotiations with Iberville
1699	De Montigny and Davion visited tribe, hostile relations with French ended
1700	Iberville negotiations resulted in leaving a missionary with tribe for six years
1713	Trading post established
1714	Killing of four Canadians resulted in war ended by Bienville, Fort Rosalie constructed
1716	War with French
1721	Father Charlevoix visited tribe
1722	War with French
1729	Tribal uprising killed 200 Whites and post and settlement destroyed
1730	Severe battles with French and Choctaw eventually defeated tribe and its smaller allies;
1731	A large number settled on Sicily Island in Louisiana and were attacked by French who sent 450 to West Indies as slaves, a large number of the tribe were received by the Chickasaw in Mississippi
1735	A large band of Natchez settled in South Carolina
1744	South Carolina band joined Cherokee
1799	Remaining band had settle in Georgia, soon joining Creek although keeping their separate identity

Year	Total Population	GA	MS	Source
1650	4,500			Mooney estimate
1686				1,500 warriors per de Tonti
1698	4,000			Swanton
1700	3,500		3,500	NAHDB calculation (300 to 400 cabins)
1702				1,500 families per Iberville
1716				800 warriors per De Richebourg
1721	2,000			Charlevoix
1730	300			Le Petit
1731	200			d'Artaguette
1731	300			Perrier
1732				100 fighting men per Charlevoix
1764	150			Boquet (among Creek)
1800	300	300		NAHDB calculation
1836	300			Gallatin
1900	400	400		NAHDB calculation
2000	500	500		NAHDB calculation

*Ethnie:*	NATCHEZ
*Language:*	Natchez
*Family:*	Gulf Muskhogean
*Stock:*	Muskhogean
*Phylum:*	Algic
*Macro-Culture:*	Eastern Woodlands
Speakers	Language extinct