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Saracen (ca. unknown-1839) was a War Chief of the Quapaw Tribe and is remembered as a local legend for rescuing children during a territorial period conflict.

Early life
In the mid-1700s a Frenchman named François Sarazin is recorded living at the Arkansas Post. François was the child of Nicholas Sarazin and Anne Rolland who were French settlers, and based on the available records it is believed François was born about 1724. François was the fort’s interpreter and is widely believed to be Saracen’s father based on the available evidence. Records from this period are not always complete, and this is especially true for any people of color. Therefore, it is not surprising that despite extensive research by many historians, Saracen’s mother’s name is not known. It is known that she was a member of the Quapaw Tribe, and although he received his father’s name, Saracen was raised as a Quapaw.

There are many spellings of the name “Saracen” in use, including Sarazin, Sarasen and Sarasin. It is not clear if Saracen had a preference, however the spelling of "Saracen" seems to be most common today, despite the numerous historical spellings.

Saracen’s birth date does not seem to be recorded. His father married a Frenchwomen named Marie Lepine in 1752. At the time of marriage François would have been about 28, and Marie would have been about 17. They remained married until François’ death in 1763, although they did not have children. It seems likely that Saracen was probably born sometime before their marriage in 1752.

Leader of the Quapaw Tribe
By 1818, after waves of disease and years of war the Quapaw Tribe was down to about 1000 members. Outnumbered by white settlers, there was a large push for Quapaw lands and under pressure the Quapaw agreed to the Treaty of 1818. This treaty ceded Quapaw claim to most of modern day Arkansas, and part of Oklahoma, northern Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta, roughly 30,000,000 acres in exchange for annuity payments. About one and a half million acres was kept, forming the first Quapaw Reservation, and some hunting rights were also retained.

Despite this cession, the demand for Quapaw land continued and in 1824 the Quapaw were again pressured into signing a second treaty with the United States. This time the Quapaw ceded their remaining land in Arkansas in exchange for a tract of land near the Red River in Louisiana, and agreed to live among the Caddo Tribe in exchange for goods and an annuity payment of $1,000 for eleven years. Saracen was one of the signatories for the Quapaw Tribe for this treaty, as well as Chief Heckaton. Though the treaty was signed in 1824, the removal to the Red River did not begin until January of 1826. The removal was completed in multiple groups and was overseen by Antione Barraque, who kept notes. By late February of 1826 all of the Quapaws had reached the Red River, but they did not cross the river until March 1st. The Quapaws were not well received by the Caddos, however they eventually settled on the south side of the Red River near Bayou Treache, on the Caddo Prarie, around thirty miles northwest of present day Shreveport.

In the spring of 1827 the Red River flooded on multiple occasions destroying the fields which the Quapaw had planted. Coupled with disease, many in the tribe perished and that same year in an act of desperation and defiance Saracen led roughly one-third of the remaining members of the tribe back to the Arkansas River. By 1830 the majority of the tribe had joined them, and Saracen along with other tribal leaders petitioned the government to allow them use their annuity payment to purchase land and be able to again live on their own homeland by letting them become citizens of the United States.

The government did not however listen to the pleas of the tribe, and by 1833 the situation had grown disparate. Annuity payments continued to be delayed, settlers continued to move into the area and push out tribal members. Tribal members struggled to obtain income or food. Territorial governor John Pope supported the Quapaw effort to buy land, however the federal government instead decided to negotiate another removal. Without options, the Quapaw again signed a new treaty with the United States.

The Treaty of 1833 relinquished Quapaw claim to their land on the Red River in exchange for 150 sections of land “west of the state line of Missouri”, in Indian Territory, which would become Oklahoma and Kansas.

Removal to Indian Territory
Following the Treaty of 1833 there is some ambiguity regarding exactly what happened with Saracen, which is compounded by confusion over the date of his death as the available sources conflict. Saracen’s tombstone reads that he passed away at the age of 97 in 1832, however this date is certainly not accurate. Saracen lived to at least 1833 as he is a signatory on the treaty which was signed that year. What is not clear is exactly when he passed after 1833, with some historians leaning toward an earlier date and some believing that he passed away as late as 1839.

In 1834, around 179 Quapaw had been removed to Indian Territory. Political division caused the tribe to splinter. Some of the tribe wandered and for a time lived separately, some had left before being removed and others left after arriving in Indian Territory. A band of the tribe eventually established a village near Holdenville, OK, and a separate band moved into southern Kansas, eventually moving near modern day Skiatook, OK. Some years later the various bands of the tribe rejoined with the band on the reservation, in what is now Quapaw, OK. However, due to the confusion and relatively few records from this time some details are not known.

Several historians believe that he moved to Indian Territory however he became homesick and petitioned to be able to return to the land that was granted to him in Arkansas; where he lived when he passed. Velma Nieberding’s research describes the historical discrepancies, and she notes a story that Saracen along with a group of other tribal leaders came to Indian Territory to inspect the land they were going to be moved to prior to the actual removal, however her work states that upon his return to Arkansas he passed before the tribe was actually removed. Other sources believe that he never actually made the move, in part due to his considerable age; as he is thought to have been in his 90s at the time of his death.

Local Legend - Savior of Children
There are many versions with fanciful descriptions of the legend of Saracen that describe him as either a rescuer or savior of children.

An early account of the legend of Saracen was published in 1895 by Judge William F. Pope:
 * “On one occasion a band of Chickasaw Indians stole two children from a trapper’s family living a few miles below Pine Bluff. The white settlers were greatly alarmed. The news was brought to Saracen. Going to the weeping mother, he said, “When the sun is so high (pointing with his hand) Saracen will bring your children. If Saracen no find them, you will see Saracen no more.” Alone and unaided, he overtook the marauding party near Arkansas Post. With Indian war whoop and tomahawk uplifted, he sprang in upon them and took the children”.

This account was widely accepted and probably was the basis for later retellings and publications of the tale. There is however a much older and more detailed version of the event in question. Given the nature of this account, it is possible that it may not be perfectly accurate, but it is likely the most accurate account we have available today. The following information about Saracen is from a letter between George Izard and William Keating of the American Philosophical Society from January 10, 1827. In the letters Izard describes him as “a half-breed… who is the most distinguished of their warriors. This hero, poet and musician ranks as a Chief in some respects; he is permitted to wear medals and assist at their Councils, but his honours are altogether personal and will not descend to his eldest son, as is the case with the other Chiefs whose blood is purely Indian”.

Izard also includes the following note regarding Saracen:


 * “The following account of an early exploit of Sarrasin was given by himself in the presence of the assembled Chiefs. When he was a youth (correct dates are out of the question with these people) the Port of Arkansa was surprised by the Chickasaws. The Spanish Commandant, Villar or Villers, and his two infant daughters were carried off by the assailants. Sarrasin casually visited the Port a few hours after this event; he found Madame Villar in the deepest distress at the loss of her husband and children. Moved by her tears, he determined to attempt the rescue of the prisoners and immediately followed the trail of the Chickasaws. After a pursuit of several miles he overtook two of the latter, who were reprising under a tree, and to his joy & surprise beheld the two babes lying on the ground near them. He sprang forward without uttering a word, seized and threw the two latter over his shoulders and retraced his steps to the Port, unmolested by the Chickasaw who were either too much fatigued or astonished to intercept him. As he approached the little Spanish Fort, the mother flew to meet him; but when within a few steps shrieked with agony at seeing one of her infants, as she thought, dead on it’s Rescuer’s shoulder. The child had fallen asleep and it’s little head nodded with every step of the warrior. She was soon relieved from her fears thanks to her benefactor.


 * Villar, the Father, was yet to be restored to the Family. Sarrasin undertook to bring him back or perish. “If I am killed” said he, “There will be but one Dog less on the Earth; but if I succeed, a whole family will be made happy”. A brother of the Commandant gave him a sack of dollars as ransom for his relation; with this he set out, and made way towards the Chickasaws, who were encamped at some distance above the mouth of White River on the Mississippi, he called on an Uncle of his. The latter, when he had learned his destination, declared that the project was impracticable unless the demand for the captive were supported by a force from their Tribe. All of the latter who were in this neighborhood were immediately assembled; they approached the Chickasaw Camp and, after some negotiation, Villar was returned to liberty & his family”.

Legacy
In 1888 a memorial window for Saracen was placed in St. Joseph's church.

In the city of Pine Bluff, AR Saracen's legacy continues to be honored today. One of the most prominent examples of this is Saracen Landing, which is a large pavilion on the shore of Lake Saracen, which are both named after the historic figure. The area serves as a focal point for the business district in Pine Bluff, and is used to host special events such as farmer's markets, weddings and concerts.

Saracen
Category:Quapaw