1. Initial Alliance: Initially, the French missionaries helped foster an alliance between the Wendat and the French. The Wendat saw the French as potential allies against their rivals, the Haudenosaunee, who were expanding their territory and becoming increasingly powerful.
2. Conversion and Conflict: The French missionaries actively sought to convert both the Wendat and Haudenosaunee to Catholicism. However, this religious zeal also created tensions and conflicts between the two groups. The Haudenosaunee, in particular, resisted conversion and viewed it as a threat to their traditional beliefs and way of life.
3. Competition for Resources: As the French established settlements in the region, competition for resources, such as land and fur trade, intensified between the Wendat and Haudenosaunee. The French missionaries' presence exacerbated these conflicts, as they often aligned themselves with the Wendat, further straining relations with the Haudenosaunee.
4. Weakened Wendat Position: Over time, the Wendat became increasingly dependent on the French for military support and trade. This dependency weakened the Wendat's position and made them vulnerable to attacks from the Haudenosaunee.
5. Haudenosaunee Victory: By the mid-17th century, the Haudenosaunee had gained the upper hand in the conflicts with the Wendat. The Wendat were defeated, and many were forced to disperse or assimilate into other groups. The French missionaries' efforts to maintain the alliance between the Wendat and the French were ultimately unsuccessful.
6. Loss of French Influence: The Haudenosaunee victory and the decline of the Wendat marked a shift in power dynamics in the region. The French influence diminished, and the Haudenosaunee emerged as a dominant force in the area for several decades.
In summary, the French missionaries' presence and their religious and political involvement in the region contributed to strained relations between the Wendat and Haudenosaunee. While they initially facilitated an alliance, their actions ultimately exacerbated conflicts, leading to the Wendat's defeat and the rise of the Haudenosaunee.