The Cheyenne called themselves Tsistsistas ( The People ). The tribe split (c.1830) when a large group decided to settle on The Upper Arkansas River and take advantage of the trade facilities offered by Bent's Fort.
This group became known as the Southern Cheyenne. For the next few years the Southern Cheyenne, allied with the Arapaho, were engaged in constant warfare against the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache.
Peace was made c.1840, and the five tribes became allies.

The Northern Cheyenne continued to live about the headwaters of the Platte River.

The Northern Cheyenne joined with the Sioux and overwhelmed Custer and his 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.