Four Kings and a Queen: Part II— Brant
Four Kings and a Queen Part II— Brant By: Loretta Tucker This article is a continuation in our series exploring the stories of the “Four Indian Kings” who visited Queen Anne in London in 1710. This time we will be examining the life of Mohawk warrior Brant Sagayenkwaraton. He was a member of the Bear clan. As a young man he was known as Thowariage, a name meaning “One whose fence has been broken”. [1, pp. 60–61]. In 1694, he was baptized by Protestant minister Dom. Dellius, who gave him the name Brant. Around 1696, he received a new name from his clan: Sagayenkwaraton, meaning “Disappearing Smoke” or “Old Smoke”. This referred to the duty he would now be responsible for: carrying a smoldering brand from one villag e to another in order to kindle the council fire. [1, pp. 37, 64], [2] He lived at the Mohawk Lower Castle at Tiononderoge with his wife, Margaret Kviethentha, and their five children. Brant was similar to Hendrick Tejonihokarawa (discussed in our ...
