they returned under Laudonnière to establish the colony of Fort Caroline in 1564. The Chief Tacatacuru mentioned in French records from this time may be the earlier leader who met the initial expedition, or his successor. The Tacatacuru seem to have maintained friendly relations with the French, as well as with the Saturiwa, in whose territory Fort Caroline was established. Spanish forces from St. Augustine destroyed the French outpost in 1565, after which the Tacatacuru, like the Saturiwa, were antagonistic toward them. Both groups were among those Native Americans who aided Dominique de Gourgue in his raid on the Spanish in 1567. After the Tacatacuru made peace with the Spanish, the latter established a fort and a mission, San Pedro de Mocama, on Cumberland Island near the main Tacatacuru town. This was one of the earliest of the missions in Spanish Florida, as well as one of the most prominent; the church eventually built there was as large as that in St. Augustine. For a time, the garrison marked the northern extent of Spanish power, providing defense against the Guale. In the late 16th century the Tacatacuru chief, Don Juan, was a major supporter of cooperation with the Spanish, and joined them in pushing back the Guale in the revolt of 1597. Juan died three years later, and was succeeded by his niece, Doña Ana. Tacatacuru prominence continued in the early 17th century; in 1601 the Spanish noted that the Cascangue and the once-powerful Saturiwa were then vassals of the Tacatacuru. San Pedro de Mocama was on the 1655 mission list, and the Tacatacuru do not appear to have taken part in the Timucua rebellion the following year. However, increased pressure from other tribes took its toll on the Tacatacuru, and all survivors abandoned Cumberland Island by 1675, relocating closer to St. Augustine. The island was subsequently occupied by the Yamasee. The remaining Tacatacuru were absorbed into other tribes in Florida and lost their independent identity. Notes References Deagan, Kathleen A. (1978). "Cultures in Transition: Fusion and Assimilation among the Eastern Timucua." In Jerald Milanich and Samuel Procter, eds. Tacachale: Essays on the Indians of Florida and Southeastern Georgia during the Historic Period. The University Presses of Florida. Timucua Native American tribes in Florida Native American tribes in Georgia (U.S. state) Cumberland Island Former chiefdoms in North America