The late Muromachi period, also known as the Sengoku period, was an era of continuous conflict and upheaval, often likened to periods of chaos in Chinese history. This turbulent era was brought to an end by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, with the support of loyal retainers, established the Edo Shogunate and became the ruler of Japan. Among Ieyasu’s descendants, Naomasa Matsudaira, his grandson, played a significant role during the Osaka Siege. He earned praise from his adversary, Nobushige Sanada (Yukimura Sanada), for his valor as a young warrior and maintained strong relations with successive Tokugawa shoguns.
Naomasa was born on August 5, 1601, in Nakagouchi, Ika District, Omi Province, as the third son of Hideyasu Yuki, lord of Echizen Kitanosho, and Gesshoin. His father, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was estranged from Ieyasu and denied the opportunity to become his heir. At birth, Naomasa was named Kawachimaru, later changed to Kunimaru.
In 1605, at the age of four, he was entrusted to Shigemasa Asahi, a loyal retainer, who raised and mentored him. Two years later, in 1607, Naomasa’s father, Hideyasu, passed away, leaving him under the guardianship of his elder half-brother, Tadanao Matsudaira, Hideyasu’s successor.
On April 17, 1611, Tadanao arranged for Naomasa to meet their grandfather, Tokugawa Ieyasu, at Nijo Castle in Kyoto. As Naomasa matured, he adopted parts of his brother Tadanao’s name, "Nao," and his guardian Asahi Shigemasa’s name, to become Naomasa Matsudaira.
During the Osaka Winter Siege in 1614, Naomasa, despite his youth, displayed exceptional courage. His bravery in combat at Sanada Maru, defended by Nobushige Sanada, earned him admiration even from his adversary. Yukimura reportedly praised Naomasa’s skill as a young samurai and gifted him a military fan, a token that became a treasured artifact in Naomasa’s family.
The following summer, Naomasa participated in the Osaka Summer Campaign alongside Tadanao, achieving military success, including contributing to the defeat of Yukimura Sanada. For his valor, Ieyasu personally commended Naomasa and gifted him a prized uchai-bukuro (a bag for food and money). Tadanao also rewarded him with 10,000 koku of land.
In May 1616, Naomasa received another 10,000 koku from the Kazusa Anegasaki domain, and by June, he held the Junior Fifth Rank Lower court title, Dewa no Kami, officially becoming a daimyō. These honors marked an extraordinary rise for someone initially considered unlikely to succeed in his family.
In 1623, Tadanao Matsudaira was forced to step down as family head due to misconduct and tensions with their uncle, Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. This allowed Naomasa to further ascend. In 1624, he was granted the Echizen Ono Domain with a stipend of 50,000 koku. That same year, he was promoted to Junior Fourth Rank and appointed Chamberlain, demonstrating continued favor from the shogunate.
Naomasa relocated to the Shinano Matsumoto Domain in 1633 with an increased income of 70,000 koku. As lord of Matsumoto Castle, he undertook significant projects, such as repairing castle gates and turrets, minting Kanei Tsuho coins, and instituting tax reforms that benefited local craftsmen and townspeople. His leadership earned him a reputation as a wise ruler, and his transfer to the Izumo Matsue Domain in 1638 was met with regret by his former subjects.
In Izumo, Naomasa was assigned 186,000 koku, along with 14,000 koku in Oki Province, solidifying his position as a prominent daimyō. He implemented strict governance, including the suppression of Christianity within his domain, aligning with shogunate policies. Despite his harsh measures, he effectively managed the domain’s resources, encouraging economic growth through monopolies on key commodities such as wax, ginseng, cotton, and iron.
Naomasa’s achievements were recognized by the shogunate, and in 1663, he was entrusted with escorting Emperor Reigen’s enthronement envoy to Kyoto. However, his health began to decline that year, and he passed away on February 3, 1666, at the age of 66. His posthumous Buddhist name was Kōshinin Kinyoichiku Dozen, and he was interred at Gesshoji Temple in Matsue, which became the family mausoleum.
See also
-
Kyogoku Tadataka
Kyogoku Tadataka (1593–1637) was a Japanese nobleman and the head of the Kyogoku clan during the early 17th century, a pivotal time marked by the Tokugawa consolidation of power. His childhood name was Kumamaro, and he hailed from a lineage claiming descent from Emperor Uda (868–897). Tadataka was the son of Kyogoku Takatsugu and one of his concubines, with his paternal grandfather being Kyogoku Takayoshi.
-
Ishikawa Kazumasa
Ishikawa Kazumasa (1534–1609) was a prominent Japanese retainer who began serving Tokugawa Ieyasu during his youth. Their relationship began in 1551 when both were hostages under the Imagawa clan. Kazumasa remained a loyal companion to Ieyasu, participating in key events such as the Siege of Terabe in 1558 and the Siege of Marune in 1560. After Ieyasu broke away from the Imagawa following the latter event, Kazumasa became a trusted retainer and administrator in his service.
-
Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
-
Ikeda Terumasa
Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
-
Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
-
Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
-
Sanada Nobuyuki
Sanada Nobuyuki was a renowned samurai of the Sengoku period and the eldest son of daimyō Sanada Masayuki. He was the elder brother of the famous warrior Sanada Yukimura. Nobuyuki’s mother was Kansho-in, Masayuki's wife, and he was married to Komatsuhime (Inahime), the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu and the adopted daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nobuyuki also had two other wives: Seiin-in, his cousin, and Ukyo, the daughter of Tamagawa Hidemasa.
-
Date Hidemune
Date Hidemune was a Japanese daimyō during the early Edo period, born in 1591 as the eldest son of Date Masamune, one of Japan’s most prominent feudal lords. His mother was Shinzo no Kata, a concubine, which affected his future prospects. As a young man, Hidemune lived under the care of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was given the adult name "Hidemune," adopting one character from Hideyoshi's own name. Hideyoshi granted Hidemune the court rank of junior 5th, lower grade, along with the title of ji-jū, and appointed him as a page to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori.
