On This Day in Alabama History — Tuskaloosa Burning
Because haters don’t want to see us be great, Tuscaloosa has been burned down a few times. Most famously, Tuscaloosa was burned during the Civil War simply because we committed a wee bit of treason. The city itself is named for Chief Tuskaloosa, a 16th-century Muscogee chieftain whose name translates to “winner of many national titles.”
The first burning of Tuscaloosa occurred on this day in 1540. On October 18, 1540, Hernan De Soto, Spanish conquistador and Tennessee Volunteers fan, arrived in Alabama. Nothing was the same ever again.
Hater De Soto
In 1539, Hernan De Soto arrived near modern-day Tampa. He was already governor of Cuba and sought to conquer what was then known as Florida. The 16th century Spanish concept of Florida was likely most of the southeastern United States. De Soto and his goons traveled around the South brutalizing Native Americans and taking chiefs hostage. By October of 1540, they arrived in central Alabama. Nobody invited them, but they showed up anyway.
They arrived somewhere around the Coosa River. Large parts of the area were beholden to Chief Tuskaloosa, a paramount chief. At the time, each tribe had its own chief who answered to a paramount chief, similar to how kings of different kingdoms might answer to an emperor.
Hernan De Soto and Chief Tuskaloosa had a tense meeting in Tuskaloosa’s territory; the meeting proved tense because Tuskaloosa expected to be treated like the king he was and De Soto was a racist. Eventually, De Soto decided to move on, but he demanded male and female servants from Tuskaloosa. After a kidnapping and a threatened execution, Tuskaloosa agreed to give them their servants.
However,
However,
However,
However,
De Soto needed to go the nearby village of Mabila to get the servants. When De Soto arrived at Mabila, he found the grass had been cut and trees removed; the village consisted mostly of fighting-age men.
It’s a Trap
At Mabila, Tuskaloosa’s 2500ish warriors attacked about 200 Spaniards. The Native Americans had the clear upperhand. They fought for over eight hours. However, the Spaniards were eventually able to hack through the log wall protecting the town. The horses and lances of the Spaniards gave them a distinct advantage. They burned the town to the ground. Between the fire and the horseback lances, the 200 or so Spaniards killed almost every one of Tuskaloosa’s warriors.
However,
However,
However,
However,
Tuskaloosa’s body was never recovered. The exact location of Mabila also remains unknown, but many scholars believe it was located somewhere in Marengo County. Chief Tuskaloosa’s death date is considered to be October 18, 1540, but anybody who watches movies knows that the hero is never dead until you produce a body.
For me personally, Tuskaloosa never died. Tuskaloosa represents the life-giving drive to place your heels in Alabama mud, face your opponent, and declare “this far; no further.” That can’t die. That is immortal.
A version of this article previously appeared at christianforalabama.com/blog