Donnacona

Leadership

Donnacona was a leader of the St. Lawrence Iroquoian at Stadacona. He protested when Jacques Cartier raised his cross at Pointe de Penouille in Baie de Gaspé in July 1534. He was seized, but after taking part in a feast on one of Cartier’s ships, he agreed to let his sons Domagaya and Taignoagy return with Cartier to France. In 1535, Cartier reached Stadacona. Despite Donnacona's entreaties, Cartier pushed on to Hochelaga (present-day Montreal). Feeling betrayed, Donnacona broke off relations with the French, at first leaving them to fend for themselves during the ensuing winter. But as scurvy ravaged the French, Domagaya was prompted to reveal the cure. Cartier used a dispute between Donnacona and a rival as a ruse to draw Donnacona into a meeting. During this meeting, Cartier seized Donnacona, his sons and others, totalling 10 captives in all. He took them to France. Donnacona was presented to King Francis I. He repeated tales of a rich Kingdom of Saguenay. Donnacona's death in France further embittered relations between the French and the St. Lawrence Iroquoians of Stadacona.