Ocale

Ocale was the name of a town in Florida visited by the Hernando de Soto expedition, and of a putative chiefdom of the Timucua people. The town was probably close to the Withlacoochee River at the time of de Soto's visit, and may have later been moved to the Oklawaha River.

As was typical of the peoples encountered by the Spanish in Florida, the province of Ocale, its principal town, and its chief all had same name. The chroniclers of the de Soto expedition recorded different versions of the name. The town and province were called "Ocale" by de Soto's private secretary, Rodrigo Ranjel. The King's Agent with the expedition, Luys Hernandez de Biedma, called the town "Etocale". The Gentleman of Elvas called it "Cale". Garcilaso de la Vega called it "Ocali" or "Ocaly". Other forms of the name are known, as well. Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda placed the kingdom of "Olagale" between Apalachee and . A town called "Eloquale" is shown on a map by Jacques le Moyne as located west of the St. Johns River and west of Aquouena (perhaps Acuera Province). The Mission of San Luis de Eloquale was established near the Oklawaha River in Acuera Province in the 1620s. Boyer translates "Ocale" (Timucuan "oca-le") as "this-now". Hann tentatively interprets "Eloquale" as "song or singer of admiration or glorification". "Elo" was Timucuan for "to sing or whistle", "singer" or song", while "Quale" meant "exclamation of wonder", "enough" or "admiration".

While at his initial landing site on Tampa Bay, de Soto dispatched Baltazar de Gallegos to the territory of Urriparacoxi, to whom the chiefdoms of western Tampa Bay owed allegiance. When Gallegos asked Urriparacoxi where the Spanish could find gold and silver, he directed them to Ocale. Urriparacoxi told Gallegos that Ocale was a very large town, had pens full of turkeys and tame deer, and had much gold, silver, and pearls. De Soto therefore planned to use Ocale as his camp for the coming winter. De Soto departed for Ocale on July 15, 1539. De Soto reached Tocaste, at the southern end of the Swamp of Ocale (the Cove of the Withlacoochee) on July 24. It took several days to find a way through the Swamp of Ocale and across the River of Ocale (Withlacoochee River).

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