SUMMARY
Political organization in early Virginia Indian society likely was similar across the several distinct and culturally diverse groups that lived in the area; however, due to the records left by the English colonists, the most is known about the Powhatan Indians of Tsenacomoco. The alliance’s six core groups lived along the James, Mattaponi, and Pamunkey rivers, with their capital, Werowocomoco, situated on the present-day York River. Each constituent group consisted of one or more towns ruled by a
weroance, or chief, whose position was inherited matrilineally. For guidance, the
weroance consulted his council, or
cockarouses, and whenever he acted he was first obligated to seek the approval of his one or more