Sassacus

Sassacus (Massachusett: Sassakusu, "fierce") (c. 1560 – June 1637) was a Pequot sachem^[1] who was born near present-day Groton, Connecticut. He became grand sachem after his father, Tatobem, was killed in 1632. The Mohegans led by sachem Uncas rebelled against domination by the Pequots.^[2] Sassacus and the Pequots were defeated by English colonists allied with the Narragansett and Mohegans in the Pequot War.

Sassacus is also a genus of jumping spiders.

Sassacus
Pequot leader
In office 1632 – June 1637
Preceded by	Tatobem
Personal details
Born	c. 1560
Died	June 1637 (aged 76–77) Present-Day New York
Cause of death	Murdered by the Mohawk Tribe
Military service
Battles/wars	Pequot War Fairfield Swamp Fight

Sassacus fled to what he thought was safety among the Iroquois Mohawks in present-day New York state, but they murdered him and then sent his head and hands to the Connecticut Colony as a symbolic offering of friendship.^[3]

Sassacus possibly had a brother who married Ninigret's daughter, and his sister-in-law may have married Harman Garrett.^[4][5]