The True (And Tragic) Story Behind Disney's Pocahontas

Pocahontas' Real Age

In the movie, Pocahontas appears to be about 18 years old when she meets John Smith. However, historical accounts suggest that Pocahontas, whose real name was Amonute, was between 10 and 12 years old when she first met Smith in 1607.

The Meeting with John Smith

Disney's story depicts a romantic relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith. In reality, their relationship was friendly but not romantic. Remember, she was just a kid. John Smith claimed that Pocahontas saved his life by intervening during his execution. Some historians argue that this event may have been a ritual or ceremony that Smith misunderstood.

Kidnap & Captivity

Pocahontas' real-life experiences were far more traumatic than the Disney movies suggest. Captain Samuel Argall kidnapped her in 1613 to use as leverage against her father, Chief Powhatan. During her captivity, Pocahontas was forced to convert to Christianity and take the name Rebecca. Her capture also included the murder of her husband, Kocoum, a harrowing detail left out of the animated story.

The Real John Rolfe & Pocahontas

In Disney's sequel, "Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World," Pocahontas develops a romantic relationship with John Rolfe. Historically, Pocahontas married John Rolfe in 1614, but this union followed her capture and imprisonment by the English. Her marriage to Rolfe, a tobacco planter, was part of a strategy to make peace between the settlers and her tribe. Her earlier marriage to Kocoum is largely overlooked or misrepresented in the Disney films.

Conversion Into English Culture

In contrast to Disney's portrayal of Pocahontas maintaining her cultural identity, the real Pocahontas underwent forced assimilation into English culture. After her baptism and marriage to John Rolfe, she was taken to England and paraded as a symbol of "civilized" Native Americans.

Tragic Early Death

Pocahontas' life was cut short at the age of 21. She died in England in March 1617 under uncertain circumstances, most likely from diseases such as smallpox, pneumonia, or tuberculosis, which were common at the time. Her early death, after enduring significant trauma and cultural erasure, presents a much grimmer reality than the harmonious narrative in Disney's adaptations.