In the mid-1700s, as France’s influence among midwestern tribes waned during its contest with Great Britain for Native American trade and military alliances, Miami Chief Memeskia, also known as Old Britain or La Demoiselle, moved his village to Pickawillany and British traders were allowed to establish a small post there deep in territory claimed by France. After French demands to evacuate the post failed, Charles Langlade led 250 Ottawa and Ojibwa warriors and French Canadians in a surprise attack on the Miami village on June 21, 1752. The trading post was destroyed, British traders were taken to Detroit as prisoners, Memeskia was executed, and Pickawillany was completely abandoned soon after. As a prelude to the French and Indian War, the Battle of Pickawillany fueled conflicts between France and Britain over land claims and trading rights.