Pochahontas, a Native American woman of the Powhatan tribe, is best known for her association with the early English settlers in Virginia during the early 17th century. She played a significant role in fostering relations between her people and the settlers, notably befriending John Smith and reportedly saving his life. Her marriage to Englishman John Rolfe helped establish a period of peace between the Powhatan and the colonists. Pocahontas's legacy includes her representation as a symbol of cross-cultural interaction and the complexities of early American history.