Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Olotoraca

OLOTORACA, Indian cacique, b. in 1548; d. near Fort San Mateo, Florida, in 1573. He was the nephew of Satouriona, one of the three caciques among whom Florida was divided, and at the time of Pedro Menendez's first expedition, in 1565, served as guide to the Spaniards, as the French had refused to lend assistance to Satouriona against his enemies Outina and Potanou. But the cruelties of the Spaniards soon estranged the Indians, and when Dominique de Gourgues (q. v.) came to revenge Jean Ribaut they were willing to assist him. Olotoraca was instrumental in forming the alliance, and led Satouriona's 300 warriors against the Spanish. But for him Gourgues's expedition would have failed. He guided the French, went to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, and in the assault on the first fort was also the first to mount the glacis, driving his pike through the breast of a Spanish cannoneer. Menendez returned a few months later, and, after rebuilding Fort San Mateo, re-established Spanish dominion in Florida. Olotoraca, who had succeeded Satouriona, fought to the end, murdered the Spanish missionaries, and several times burned and ruined the Spanish establishments. He was at last captured and hanged.