Quigualtam

Quigualtam was the name recorded by Spanish chroniclers for a powerful Indigenous polity on the lower Mississippi River, as well as its chief and its capital. The people of the river country built large settlements and commanded war canoes. When Hernando de Soto's Spanish expedition approached in 1542, messages passed between it and the chief, although the Spaniards never visited the principal settlement.

After de Soto's death, the surviving expedition built boats and descended the river toward the Gulf in 1543. A fleet of war canoes attacked and pursued them for three days. The Spaniards sheltered behind armour and matting while their opponents shot arrows and sang of Quigualtam's power. The battle revealed the strength of the communities commanding the lower river.