Epidemics, Slavery, Massacres, and Indigenous Resistance 1492-1599
1566
Calusa refuse forced conversion to Christianity (southwest Florida)
Already weakened by disease, the Calusa allow a Jesuit missionary into their territory but refuse conversion. In response, Spain orders and succeeds in beheading the Calusa chief and 20 of his warriors. The Calusa are outraged by this and burn down the fort that the Spanish had established in their territory (Nies, 1966).