Niwa Nagahide, born in 1535 in Aichi, Owari Province (present-day Nishi-ku in Nagoya City), played a crucial role in the historical landscape of feudal Japan. Directly serving Oda Nobunaga, he earned a distinguished position as one of Nobunaga's most esteemed senior vassals.
Throughout his career, Nagahide actively participated in numerous significant battles, showcasing his unwavering loyalty. The Battle of Nagakute in 1584 stands as an exception, as illness prevented his direct involvement in the fighting during that campaign.
Nobunaga held Nagahide in high regard, exemplified by Nagahide's marriage to Nobunaga's adopted daughter. Additionally, his son, Nagashige, wed Nobunaga's fourth daughter. In recognition of his leadership prowess, Nagahide was granted Wakasa Province (currently southern Fukui Prefecture) and Sawayama Castle in Omi (Shiga Prefecture). Nobunaga entrusted him with the construction of Azuchi Castle, showcasing the deep trust between lord and vassal.
A significant honor came in 1581 when Niwa Nagahide was selected to lead a grand military parade orchestrated by Nobunaga. This spectacle served both as a demonstration of authority and as public entertainment for the Emperor, the Imperial Court, foreign missionaries, and the people of Kyoto.
Tragedy struck in 1582 when Nagahide accompanied Oda Nobutaka on a campaign to quell Shikoku, following Nobunaga's orders. However, the campaign was abruptly halted by the Honno-ji Incident, where Akechi Mitsuhide betrayed and felled Nobunaga. Promptly abandoning the campaign, Nagahide joined forces with Toyotomi Hideyoshi to avenge their fallen master. He continued to support Hideyoshi during the Kiyosu Kaigi, a pivotal meeting held at Kiyosu Castle to determine the future of the Oda clan.
Nagahide played a crucial role in the conflict against Shibata Katsuie at Shizugatake under Hideyoshi's leadership. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded Echizen and Kaga Provinces (present-day Fukui and Ishikawa Prefectures), attaining daimyo status with an income of 1,230,000 koku.
Regrettably, Niwa Nagahide passed away on May 15, 1585. While some records attribute his death to illness, others suggest that he committed seppuku, driven by a sense of guilt for inadvertently playing a significant role in Hideyoshi's rise to power within the Oda clan.
See also
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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.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
