Timucua

The Timucua were an American Indian tribe that lived in North Central Florida, mainly around the St. John's River. At the time of Columbus, Timucuan areas stretched from the Altamaha River in present-day Georgia to as far south as Orlando, Florida and from Jacksonville to the Aucilla River, yet never stretching to the Gulf of Mexico. Their name may come from the word atimoqua which means "lord" or "chief" in their own language, allegedly mistaken by the Spanish as the name of one of their chiefs. Another story is that the word Timucua comes from the word thimogona, meaning "my enemy" in the local tongue. Other names for the Timucua include Atimuca, Thimapoa, and Tomoca. The Timucuans are noted for their passiveness as compared to their neighbors, the Apalachee and Calusa as well as the successful missions that the Spanish established in their territory. The approximate population of the Timucua at the time of Columbus is estimated to be around 200,000 people.

Related Topics:
American Indian - Florida - St. John's River - Columbus - Altamaha River - Orlando, Florida - Jacksonville - Aucilla River - Gulf of Mexico - Apalachee - Calusa - Spanish

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