Kalinago-European Alliances in the Seventeenth-Century Caribbean

Abstract

Thomas ‘Indian’ Warner is described as a figure who brokered peace between the Kalinago and the Europeans. However, the influence of Warner’s actions when compared to retaliatory measures taken by Europeans against him and the Kalinagos, and the longevity of alliances suggests that the intermediary role often attributed to him is exaggerated. Examining Warner’s voluntary and involuntary association with his Kalinago roots, and his resistance and peace efforts with the Europeans improves our understanding of the nature of Warner’s personal alliance with the Kalinago as well as the Kalinago’s broader alliance with the Europeans. This research examines these complexities to highlight how his presence and absence in the turbulent seventeenth century of Caribbean history influenced his alliances and broader connections.