The legend of the heroic Indian Princess has long had a fierce grip on the American, and English, imagination. The story of Powhatan's favorite daughter has been distorted and romanticized since the 1600's, even by those who actually knew her.

This 17th century etching depicts Captain Smith being taken prisoner by Chief Powhatan.

Pocahontas- variously translated as "little wanton," or "favorite daughter" - allegedly had a soft-spot for the English settlers who arrived in her homeland. She is most famous for saving the life of John Smith, a leader among the English colonists. In 1607, Smith was captured by Powhatan warriors and held captive for four days. When two large rocks were brought in, the legend goes, Smith had a hunch his beheading was imminent. But Pocahontas begged Powhatan not to kill the Englishman and, being her father's favorite, the chief obeyed his daughter and spared Smith.

Historians dispute this version of events. John Smith was indeed captured by the Powhatan during a skirmish on December 29th, 1607. But when Smith himself published an account of his ordeal in a report entitled "A True Relation," in 1608, he made no mention of his brush with death or Pocahontas' role in his salvation. Only 16 years later with the 1624 publication of his book, "The Generall Historie of Virginia," did Smith relate- for the first, but not last time- his version of the Legend of Pocahontas.

But Smith did not give rise to what is perhaps the most widely held misconception about Pocahontas- that she and John Smith married. Smith himself never claimed any romantic link to Pocahontas, who would have been about 12 years old at the time she allegedly saved his life.
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Imagess: Princeton University Library