The Third Anglo-Powhatan War began with the strategic planning of the Powhatan leader Opechancanough, who sought to resist English encroachment on Native American lands in Virginia. Tensions had been escalating since previous conflicts, notably the First and Second Anglo-Powhatan Wars, which increased hostilities and mistrust between the two groups. Opechancanough's vision was clear: to expel the settlers once and for all. On March 18, 1644, the Powhatan launched a coordinated attack against multiple English settlements, aiming to kill as many colonists as possible and force the remaining settlers to abandon their farms and homes.This conflict saw the Powhatan employing guerrilla warfare tactics, utilizing their knowledge of the land to ambush settlers, while the colonists were largely unprepared for such an assault. The attack resulted in the deaths of around 500 colonists within the first few weeks. The Virginia Assembly responded to the crisis with a declaration of war and mobilized a military effort to retaliate against the Powhatan forces. The ensuing violence was marked by brutal confrontations, scorched earth strategies, and the systematic destruction of Native American villages as settlers sought to eradicate the threat posed by the Powhatan.Ultimately, the war did not resolve the underlying issues of land rights and sovereignty; instead, it led to further displacement of the Powhatan people and a significant increase in colonial expansion. The conflict continued until 1646 when Opechancanough was captured and later killed, marking a critical turning point in the relationship between Native Americans and English settlers in Virginia.