Moytoy II

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Moytoy Pigeon of Tellico, Principal Chief and Emperor of the Cherokee was the leading Chief of the Cherokee tribe from April 3, 1730 to 1760. He was also created "Emperor of the Cherokees" by the British envoy Sir Alexander Cumming in 1730, and had previously been Chief of Great Tellico. He is known as Moytoy II, or Moytoy the Younger, as he succeeded his father, Moytoy I, or Amatoya Moytoy of Chota.

Moytoy II was originally named Pigeon of Tellico (English translation), and was born around 1687 in that town. His father, Moytoy I, was the town chief of Chota ca. 1700-1730. His mother, Quatsy, was from Tellico, so this was his home (Cherokee society is matrilineal and matrilocal, and inheritance for males is avuncular).

Moytoy was crowned with the "Crown of Tannassy," as described by Cumming (the name probably has origins with the traditional capital of Tanasi, near Chota). It is said to have been a traditional Cherokee hide cap covered in feathers and several hanging animal tails.

Some sources refer to Moytoy II's wife as a woman named Go-sa-du-isga, and title her the "Queen of the Cherokee" (in fact there are no traditional consort titles, so this was a European distinction). They had many children who went on to become prominent Cherokee leaders, among them Oconostota (Stalking Turkey), who succeeded his cousin Attacullaculla as Principle Chief in 1775 or 1777. Moytoy's daughter, Waw-Li, married the Scottish immigrant John Joseph Vann, making the Cherokee town chief, James Vann, Moytoy's grandson. Another son, Amo-Scossite, took the title "Emperor of the Cherokees" after his uncle Old Hop's death. However, this European title alone held no authority, and Attacullaculla was the de facto ruler. The imperial title fell out of use after 1761.

Preceded by: Moytoy I

Leading chief of the Cherokee tribe 1730–1760

Succeeded by: Attacullaculla

[edit] References

• Litton, Gaston L. "The Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation", Chronicles of Oklahoma 15:3 (September 1937) 253-270 (retrieved August 18, 2006).