Akechi Mitsuhide (March 10, 1528 – July 2, 1582), initially known as Jubei within his clan and later as Koreto Hyuga no Kami by title, was a notable Japanese samurai general during the Sengoku period. He is most famously remembered as the assassin of Oda Nobunaga. Mitsuhide first served as a bodyguard to Ashikaga Yoshiaki and later became a distinguished general under the daimyo Nobunaga during his campaign for political unification in Japan.
Mitsuhide's rebellion against Nobunaga in the Honno-ji Incident of 1582, for reasons unknown, led to Nobunaga's tragic seppuku in Kyoto, as he was left unprotected. Mitsuhide then sought to establish himself as shogun, but was pursued by Nobunaga's successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and was ultimately defeated in the Battle of Yamazaki.
Mitsuhide was believed to be born on March 10, 1528, at Tara Castle in Mino Province, which corresponds to modern-day Kani, Gifu Prefecture. He hailed from the Toki-Akechi family, a branch of the shugo Toki clan, and was rumored to be a childhood friend or cousin of Nohime. Raised to be a general under the governance of Saito Dosan and the Toki clan in Mino Province, Mitsuhide sided with Dosan when his son, Saito Yoshitatsu, rebelled in 1556.
Mitsuhide's service extended to being one of the guardians of the "wandering shogun" Ashikaga Yoshiaki under Hosokawa Fujitaka. At one point, he suggested Oda Nobunaga as the official protector for Yoshiaki, who had initially sought Asakura Yoshikage for the role.
By 1567, after Nobunaga's conquest of Mino Province and the subsequent passage through Omi Province to Kyoto, Nobunaga, Yoshiaki, and Mitsuhide arrived in the capital, where Nobunaga facilitated Yoshiaki's ascension as the next shogun. Mitsuhide played a crucial role in the defense of Yoshiaki during the "Honkokuji Incident" in 1569, ultimately solidifying his loyalty to Nobunaga.
Mitsuhide continued to distinguish himself in various campaigns under Nobunaga's banner, including the Siege of Kanegasaki in Echizen Province and the Siege of Shigisan against Matsunaga Hisahide. He also played a key role in the Siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji against Ikko-ikki rebellion in 1576.
However, tensions between Mitsuhide and Nobunaga escalated over time, exacerbated by public insults directed at Mitsuhide. The breaking point came with the Siege of Shigisan, which is often linked to the Honnoji Incident.
The Honnoji Incident in 1582 marked a pivotal moment in Mitsuhide's history. Ignoring Nobunaga's orders to march west, Mitsuhide led an army against Nobunaga's position at Honno-ji. The temple was surrounded and set ablaze, leading to Nobunaga's demise. Mitsuhide claimed responsibility for the act, shocking the capital.
In a bid to secure his position, Mitsuhide looted Azuchi Castle to reward his men. However, his attempts at garnering support from the Imperial Court and other clans were in vain. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, alerted to Nobunaga's assassination, swiftly marshaled his forces and confronted Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki on July 2, 1582. Outnumbered and unprepared, Mitsuhide was defeated in the ensuing battle.
See also
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Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada (1557 – June 21, 1582) was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, known for his active role in several battles during Japan's Sengoku period. He led armies under his father's command in campaigns against Matsunaga Hisahide and the Takeda clan.
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Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Ujizane (1538 – January 27, 1615) was a Japanese daimyō who lived through the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He became the tenth head of the Imagawa clan, following in the footsteps of his father, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Ujizane was the father of Imagawa Norimochi and Shinagawa Takahisa.
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Hojo Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
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Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
